The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-21
News OF Women.s Clubs.


News of WOmen's Clubs.
The Kansas club women who are at
tending the biennial meeting of the
General Fedora ton of Women's clubs
at st. Louis, seem to be doing what
they can to make up for the attention
they have failed to attract otherwise
by wrangIing over the offices to which
they aspire. To be fair, it must be ac-
knowledged that this is true not of the
whole Kansas delegation but only of
certain ambitious women and the re-
ports received here indicate that the
other Kansas representatives are not
IN sympathy with them in their bel
lgerent assault on the federation Off
ceS ana regret the unpleasant nOtOr1ety
10 which their ambitions have led. The
Associated Press accounts of the al
tercatton between Mrs. w. A. john
ston and Mrs. H. o. Carney, who want
to succeed Mrs. James Humphrey of
Junction City as. a member of the
board of directors of the general fed
Grafton were read in Topeka with much
surprise Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Gar
Vey have been members of the same
machine in state federation politics
and have worked together very sue
cesSfully in one anOther's interests and
the report of. their falling out at St.
Louis has created considerable gossip
in club circles at home.
But the wisest and most sensible club
women Of the state, the women who
are not sofIice-saekers feel that these
petty ysquabbles oyer club offices are
unworthy OF women Who have been
honored in Interstate and city fedora
tions and that they reflect little credit
upon the club movement in Kansas.
The fact is that every quarrel Of this
kind works a direct injury to the club
interests. Two years ago at the bien-
NAL at Los Angeles two prominent To-
peka- club women one OF whom is
prominently concerned in this trouble
at St. Louis, had a disagreement and
the result was a feud which has d.
vided the Topeka federation into two
factions which have never since been
united although the tactful and diplo-
matte administration of Mrs. A. H.
Horton, the present president of the
federation has perceptibly narrowed
the gulf. This St. Louis quarrel will
doubtless split the federation into 9TH
er factions, the personal friends and
admirers of each contending woman
taking sides with her and there will be
more work for either the peace-makers
or the undertaken. The Los Angeles
quarrel resulted in a split in one of the
individual clubs which barely escaped
new one which although it includes
some of the most desirable women in
Topeka has never yet come into the
federation.
The fact is that Kansas women and
don't very much care who get the state
and national clubs offices so long as
they don't have to be bothered with
them. And considering that the ma
jority of the club women of the state
have more sense than ambition isn't
it a shame that the foolish ambitions
of three or four should create scan
DIAL for which all must suffer and give
the women of the state reputation
for belligerency abroad which they do
not deserve? Mrs. Johnston and Mrs
Garvey have many friends among the
club women of Kansas who would De
gratified to see them elected to mem
bership on the board of directors of the
general federation if the honor were
thrust upon them as it was upon Mrs
Humphrey two years ago. There is no
real reason why a Kansas woman
should succeed Mrs. Humphrey. The
Office is not an inalienable Kansas
right. It was given Mrs. Humphrey as
personal compliment and if it came
to either Mrs. Johnston or Mrs. Carney
in The same manner they nave many
friends in Kansas who would rejoice
with them but even if either of them
should be elected now, the triumph
would be spoiled for their friends by
the remembrance of their quarrel which
has occasioned such unpleasant notori-
ETY..
Mrs w. A Johnston is a member of
the library extension committee OF the
general federation and was one of the
ference at the Odeon, st. Louis, last
Wednesday. Her subject was How to
Reach the People Who Need the
Books" Mrs. Kate Arlington, of Coun-
ell Grove, vice president of the Kansas
Federation of Women's clubs, told
How to Secure Pictures for a Travel
ing Art Collection
Next Wednesday evening, May 25,
will be Presidents Night at the bien-
NAL and Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter
of Topeka viii be one of the speakers.
Her subject is An Empire of EN-
pfres." Others on the presidents pro-
gramne are Mrs. May Alden Ward of
Aassach usetts, Mrs Ellen NJ Henrotin
of Chicago, Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd
of Massachusetts, and DR.. Yamel Kin
of China
The Louisiana Purchase memorial
committee of the General Federation
made much of the celebration of their
day" Thursday Of this week There
was a programme in the morning when
the bronze tablet placed by the fedora
ton over the entrance of the art build
ing was unveiled and presented to the
cffv of St Louis Mrs. DIMES T. s