The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-14
WOMAN'S CLUB MEETING.
An Important Meeting and intercstin:
Matters are Discussed.

The general meeting of the Wo-
mans Club WAS held in the Raney Lib
rary hall on Friday afternoon. Some
very important matters were presented
for the consideration and endorsement
of the club. Much interest was man
ifested in the, resolutions Introduces
by Mis- Daisy benson in regard TO the
Reformatory. which it is hoped viii
be established in North Carolina at no
distant day. The resolutions are as
follows:
After years of earnest thought ana
effort, philanthropists agree that IN
the prevention of poverty. disease and
crime lies the hope of the race. We
cannot hope to attain this ideal eXls-
tence, for the poor are to be always
with u.s. and so will disease and crime.
but they can be appreciably decreased
b. saving the children Never in the
history Of the world has the uniform
development Of the mind. body ana
moral nature of the child so held pub
lie attention. Such WeaklInSS as
Sparta east out the modern State
gathers into institutions for remedial
or custodial care, mindful OF the Dl-
vine word. "Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one Of the least OF theSe-ye
have done it unto Me.
The Commissioner of Education re-
ports ninety-two reformatories, with Il
population of 29.6I2 in the United
States. More than 100000 children
have parsed through these Institutions
the percentage of reformation IN these
schools ranges from IS to 90 per cent
OF the inmates. In the educational OPP
portunities which surround the happy
healthy children of the State. TO n de-
gree Of which their forefathers never
dreamed. are these children who make
mistakes often due to abnormal,
physical or mental development, the
result of the sins of others. and no.
fault of their own. are they TO nave
no share? Therefore the following
resolution are presented:
Whereas. il is the duty Of Christian
Womanhood to proteIc, guide and care
for childhood: be it therefore
Resolved 1St. That the Womcn's
Club of the city of Raleigh do believe
that The establishment of a Reforma-
tory for youthful Offenders an ur-
gent need for the reclamation of the
Children of the state who are falling
nto vicious and criminal lives
RESOLVED end That they earnestly
hope that such an institution may be
established by the General Assembly
OF North Carolina now in session as
SembIcd.
Mrs w. \. Smith arose and stated
that she wished not only to make
motion to accept the resolutions. but
also TO offer an amendment which was
that the club not only accept Miss
Denson's resolutions but to have them
printed and that all members OF the
club be expected to stand by the de-
and that each department
of the club wonld support Miss Den
son as chairman of charities and that
all meet in the Legislative halls when
the Reformatory bill is brought up
and thus show by their presence their
belief in the need OF a reOfrmatory.
While the husbands of the members of
the club may object, a writer has said:
"A woman's sphere is a circle whose
diameter is everywhere, circumference
/ do not think any lady
would go outside Of this circle by 60
ing To hear this bill discussed. While
we want to support the bill from a
higher and better motive our interest
in Miss benson would cause us to do
so. who had worked with her father.
who had given his untiring labor and
was only able to leave his influence,
she has taken it III, where he laid it
down. Miss Kate Mckimmon seconded
the motion for the resolutions ana
the amendment. The club by a stand
ing vote unanimously accepted both.
by request Mss Ada Womble pre-
scented and explained bill for the en-
dorsemcnt of the club. This bill pro-
yides FOR compulsory education in Raj
eigh township of children under the
age of thirteen. and VIII DC introduced
at this session of the Legislature. Miss
Womblc spoke earnestly and intelli-
gently of the needs of this bill and
said should ii become a law, She felt
sure it would greatly lessen the need
of a rcformatory. The club heartily
endorsed the bill AL the close of the