Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-27
Meeting Of the Maine
Federation in Augusta.
Large and Enthuiastic Gather.
ing at the Capitol.
Papers Read and Legislative Recon-
mendations Made.

capitol. rrrIt sentatives of clubs from
AL parts nc the State being present.
This is the sixth Legislative winter
III WuicH the meeting has Deca held ~
th" Si"tc House. and the success o.
tEr Federation in suggesting and Sc
cnrn% =; liable legislation for the pro-
motion IT public welfare is no longer
Il mater Of speculation. one move
mcnt. f"f instance. which is now high
Is appreciated by citizens III al parts
Of the :-;at" is that Of the travelling
libraries. a movement originated by the
Noincn's Clubs. And i! was due 10
their influence that the State took the
matter in hand, and carried il to its
present beneficial and successful Ca
pacitaY the public.
The morning session Of the meet
ing, held IN the room % lii" State jul
dietary committee, was executive in
character, made up of the officers and
heads Of Commuters Of the fedcrl-
ton. Prominent among those present
were the president. Mrs. Frye of Port
land; vice president Mrs. Eurp"c Of
HOulton; acting SECRETARY. Mrs. Mason
Of Biddeford; treasurer MIS-. Mower of
Wat"rviile; Mrs. Albion Jordan Of Bar
Harbor. Mrs Fredcrci; JGncS Of Port
land, and many Others. TIE meeting
was devoted to discussions of the work
outlined by the various committees OF
the Federation, topics manly of in
tcreSt to club members. and to the
reading of papers on several inter
eStinG subjects. The following are
tn" subjects of the papers and the
names of those presenting them Art
by Julia May of Lewiston. "Historv'
by Fanny Lord Of Wcstbrook. Club
Calendars" by MIS-. Carrie Johnson of
Watervill" Literature" by Mrs. Har-
rict Reyes of Portland. The discus
sions and papers held the large at
tendance of members attentive and and
enthusiastic until long after the noon
hour.
The general session of the afternoon
WAS held in the chamber of the House
of Representatives in order to give op-
poltunity for all who were interest
ed III the proceedings of the Fedora
ton to be present and listen To the adj
dresses which were delivered The
floor and galleries were fairly we'll
filled with members and friends of the
Federation, and a goodly sprinkIing Of
legislators WAS noticed in the audi
ence.
The first speaker of the session was
Prof. ~. II. Hartshorn of Bates Cot
lego. who presented the report OF the
library commission. Prof. Hartshorn
emphasized the value of the travelling
library to small towns and villages pro-
Viding as it does the best literature
where otherwise only the lowest grade
would be read or perhaps none at all
ne influence ON the minds of school
chlldren and young readers thus dis
Semnatcd is in2sl ina bic In speaking
or the work accomplished by the Ii
brary commission the fact WIS brought
out that J00c books had by this means
reached Il circulation of 10000 during
the year. An outline of the few but
necessary legal requirements for Sc
curing Il library WAS given and Il short
description of the scheme now in its
inception. of founling public libraries
Passing notice WAS given to the sum
mer Institute Of Library Instruction.
ana the report that a resolve for an ap-
preparation of $500 would be presented
to the Legislature.
The report of the Forestry commits
SUI w piiiiii'lit''l tllt IEtSSdSt OF leg
islati"n prohibiting the display of ad-
Nrrti*inE uIon trees along the public
hi-hwaysc ana suggested that some
system be adopted by which the plant
ing Of ShHdc trees would be cncour-
aged. The growing interest in the
course of Forestry ut the state I'niver-
sity was noted with satisfaction.
brief report Of the Educational COM
mite" by Mrs. ChaS. Black of Portland.
gave an idea Of the Investigations
which axe heinr carried on in regard to
the subject Of child labor in Maine Cir
cultrS have been sent out for the pur-
pose of promoting Interest i'm the well
fare % the children. and Mrs Ella J.
Mason Of Biddcford. has been nominate
ed as assistant factory Inspector.
At the close Of this report the prcsi-
dcut announced that it had been i'm
possible for Miss Florence Kelley to be
present but that Miss Jessie r. Bcal.,
of Boston. would speak upon the same
topic which is forming one of the lead
Ing campaigns of the Federation.
Miss i;eaIc spoke convincingly Of the
necessity for interest and action by in
tclligent citizens in behalf OF the chill
ur"n OF parents VINO nave no COnceD-
tion of children's rights. but whose sole
thought IS to secure some income from
their labor. The great danger lies in
the fact that the children now en-
ployed lit the mills will in Il few years
h" the citizens who make up the COM
ni"nWeaith, Miss Beale mentioned the
fact that laws governing child labor
have become operative i'm several
states. notably Massachusetts New
York, Illinois and Vermont. and made
an appeal that similar action be taken
by the legislators Of Maine before the.
system of ehiid llbor becomes more
threatening than at present.
Following Mis- Beale, Mrs. Johnson
of Watcrville. said on behalf of the leg
is'atiNe committee that its work WAS
mainly that of assisting the other COM
n''tees in securing results for their or
CARNATIONS.
Mrs. Newell of Auburn. gave some in
teresting facts in regard to the exist
ance of child labor i'm Lewiston and de-
scr:l ed briefly the work of the Socia!
Settlement among the poor families OF
the manufacturing communities.
before closing the session a rising