The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-03
Governor Tells Them He Favors
Their Cause.
Wants to See the Right of Suf-
frage Extended.
DOING A GOOD WORK.
Says That Trend Is Toward
Greater Progress.
Touching and Helping Every
Branch OfHuman EndeaVOr.

In spite of the very formidable wealth
er there was an average audience at
Unity church ye2Sarday afternoon for
the February programme meeting OF
the Topeka federation of women's
clubs. Governor Hoch and Mrs. James
Lewis of Kinsley, president of the state
federation. were the speakers and the
very good attendance was doubtless
owing to the interest in the new gov
ernOr whom many of the club women
heard for the first time yesterday, and
the popularity of Mrs. Lewis whose adj
ninistration OF the state federation at
fairs, now drawing to a close, has been
notably successful and who has always
been greatly liked and admired by To-
peka women However, the success nt
the meeting. the last of the programme
meetings under the present administra-
ton Of the city federation, was consld-
erably hampered by the climatic condl-
tons The church would certainly
have been filed to capacity if the day
had been less disagreeable.
Mrs A. II. Horton, president of the
Topeka federation. presided and on the
platform with her We're Governor and
Mrs Hoch and Mrs. Lewis. The latter
spoke first. combining her able address
to club affairs, especially with the an
nual meeting of the state federation
which will be held in Topeka in May in
mind. She talked about the federation
work, past and future. outlining some
of the things that have been done aad
some of those that will be done in the
immediate future. Among the latter is
the establishment Of a scholarship fund
for the girls who are awarded the
scholarships in Kansas colleges anu
schools which the federation has at its
disposal. The number of these has
grown remarkably in the past two
years so that now there are few schools
in the state which have not granted a
faf 10 7nd n
on the matter of the travelling art gal
leries, an institution of her administra-
ton which il is hoped viii in time be
taken UP by the state under the direc-
ton of the federation as the travelling
libraries have been. Among the posi-
bilities for growth and strength in the
federation she mentioned the country
clubs. organized among the wives and
daughters of farmers which have been
formed in large numbers and have come
into the state declarations during the
present administration.
Perhaps because the church was cold
and Governor Hoch noticed that none
of the women removed their wraps and
furs while part Of them stood over the
registers most of the time, his address /
was very brief The press of official |
duties undoubtedly had something to
do with this and there is no question OF /
the solidity of the federation with the /
chief executive of the state since he |
gave to it an hour of his valuable time ]
tration-
The club women yesterday were
granted something which a good many
place hunters would undoubtedly give
ned promise to do what / can for
you" AS Mrs. Lewis said in her ad-
dress this shows what an advantage it
is to have the wife of the governor a
club woman The governor said:
Il come direct from the shop and
have had no time to prepare my address
or even my dress for this occasion But
I want to congratulate you on the evil
dence of your interest in your work
shown by the presence of so many of
you on this disagreeable day
Even the ground hog. whose day we
celebrate. has not had the courage to
come out. 1 know of no greater exhibit !
ton of courage than yours in facing
this terrible weather unless it is that
which I exhibit in appearing here. the
only man in such an audience. Your
president has apolOgized for the small
attendance. 1t seems remarka bly, large I
to me But I do not estimate an au-
dience by its size. ! value in an au-
dience quality more than quantity I
think the most eloquent and the most
successful speech / ever made was
made to an audience of one" with a
bow to Mrs HOch-
Il bring you no message today bur
simply come TO express the admiration |
I have for and sympathy with and in
terest in the work in which you are
engaged. I believe the trend of civilz- |
alton is better marked by the progress /
of women than in any other way. In 1
all the departures of human thought |
and endeavor I see the greatest evil /
dence of the advancement of the race
in the advancement of women And |
my notion is that a man may be esti-
mated more correctly by his opinion of |
womanhoo6 than in any other way. As
/ say I bring you no message but am ]
simply here for a little heart-tO-heart |
Inn
than a heart-tC-heart talk with the
ladies.
Il don't know specifically what is |
involved by this organization I
know in a general way that the club
movement touches every phase of
l11lr,aara ar.laat-c.. Nnl1 III. .c