The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-06-02
CLUB WOMEN AT
ST. LOUIS FAIR.
Continued from FIRST page.)

the club, and an altogether delight
full woman Mrs. Henrontin in one
of the rooms, Mrs. Philip N. Moore
in another one, Miss Helen Gould in
another, were constantly the center
of a group Of friends and admirers,
The greater crush than this was on
Thursday when invitations had been
given to officers, delegates and speak
ers to be present at luncheon given
by the Board of Lady Managers of
the Exposition. Little did they dream
that instead of the seven hundred in.
yited guests, there would swarm in
upon them some three thousand nun
cry women. These three thousand
did not stand upon ceremony. For a
spoonful Of salad and a two-bite sand
wich they stood ready to risk their
reputation as gentlewomen. AL
though. had a special invitation from
two members of the board. tried
hard to get out when realized the
situation. But failed to stem the
tide and was carried to point be-
yond the kitchen door. / saw twelve
women with their priceless trains
over their arms, their diamonds less
bright than their eyes, swarm into
the kitchen despite the entreaties of
servants, and help themselves to ev-
erything in sight. So I knew the
current newspaper tales were not ex-
aggerations.
One of the most glorious opportun-
tiles Of the whole convention was alb
solutsly lost. 1t was on Thursday
that Louisiana Purchase Day was cell
ebrated in the magnificent Festival
Hall in the Fair Grounds. Ten thou
sand people filled the temple The
semi.light with an added glory sifted
through the splendid windows against
the white walls the flags bloomed in
living colors. 1t was a moment for
eXaltation, for memory and for tears
of gratitude. The organ was not
ready. But Innes' band played glori-
ously. l was thinking as sat there
in the hush preceding the opening Of
the program, of my father, who al
ways seemed a part of all the great
and grand things I have ever known
in life. A lady came into the seat
beside me. II see you are from
Iowa." she said. Yes, I was born in
Iowa-in OskaIoosa." She exclaimed,
$50 was l." u told her my name. She
said she had heard my father preach
many times. She was Mrs. Horace
Gpnod ForYo,a,1y, Misc Mood pouy Iiy
ing in Oklahoma. 1t was such curl
Gus coincidence that I am sure my
Oskaloosa friends will appreciate it..
But the program, well,-the
speeches might have been spoken in
the language and in the voices of an
gels. But the audience could not
know it--for nobody could be heard.
A few scattering remarks of Presi-
dent Frances were audible Those
were all. Why do public women not
learn to use their voices? So the
program fell fat and great oppor-
tunity was lost.
The real thrill of the convention
came on Friday morning. The Indus
trial Committee held the boards. Mrs
Frederick Matthew gave her report as
chairman and was followed by Miss
Mary Mcdowell, of the Chicago uni
versity Settlement, who spoke brief,
ly and pointedly upon Organization
Among Working Women, urging that
women of all emploments should have
their unions as do men. Then came
moment for discussion. There
from the seats of the Kentucky dele
cation their president, Mrs. Perkins,
of Covington. She is a handsome
woman. She faced the convention
and in clear, resonant voice, spoke
against the labor trust among women
She said that what was wanted, was
needed, was intelligence and capacity
for good work and that when women
or men know how and have intelli-
gence equalling their skill, organiza-
ton as we now know it will not be
needed. Rounds of the widest ap-
plause greeted Mrs. Perkins after
each telling sentence. believe Mrs.
Perkins is the coming woman Of the
was seen as this, although the speak
er was entirely new and unheard Of
Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker. the new
president, then spoke upon the sub
ject, SIS the Ballot of Real Value to
Working Women?" Mrs. Decker en-
phasized her affirmative answer to
this question, both by reasoning and
examples from real life. Just here
want to say. that Mrs. Deckers cleo
ton as president is one of the most
wonderful and swift workings out or
the inevitable evolution of things that
one could dream Of Suffrage has
been one of tie tabooed subjects Of all
federated clubs. The suffragists, the
short-sighted ones, have bemoaned
the influence and growth of the club
movement. But right IS mighty and
the principle of truth can not be kept
down. So the club movement has
been first and last and all the time a
movement in favor of suffrage. 1t has