Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-23
MOTHERS lCSORE MEETING
Omaha Women Show Slight Interest in
Mothers Congress Wsrk.
PRESIDENT MD SECRETARY ARE HERE
Effort 20 OrEnniEe a Local Branch
Meets Little announcement Among
Those who DO Attend the
Session.

While there can be no question OF the
interest OF Omaha mothers in all that per
tains 70 the betterment Of the home and
the children, II is question whether they
have inclination for any further organiza-
tion to that end. The audience that
greeted Mrs. Frederick Schon and Mrs.
Edward Grice, national president and sec
retary Of the National Congress Of Moth
ers, at the First Congregational church
Friday afternoon, indicated decidedly that
they have not There has been no branch
organization OF the society in Nebraska
and as Mrs. Schoff and Mrs Grioe were
passing through the city Friday they asked
that a meeting be arranged at which they
might present the aims and work OF the
organization. While practically all OF the
women's organizations OF the city were
invited and urged TO attend, only 1Os women
were present Rev. H c. Herring opened
the meeting with prayer and Mrs. Mary
/ q. Andrews extended a welcome. Mrs.
II. J. Penfold presided.
Mrs Schon was the first speaker and
/ she told Of the conditions that necessitated
such work as the Mothers Congress Is
/ doing After a vocal solo by Mrs. A. L.
! sheetz, Mrs. Grice spoke OF other phases
| Of the work and the organization, all OF
which was more or less familiar to the
women and is being covered by them in
their various clubs. At the conclusion
Mrs Rheta Chnde Dorr OF New
| York city, the chairman Of the
| Industrial committee Of the General Fed
Grafton. was introduced and spoke briefly
OF the effort to be pade by the women
this fan and winter TO interest the repre-
| sentatives in congress from the various
states in passing bill carrying an sppro-
| priation for an official investigation by the
| Department OF Labor OF the industrial con-
| ditions OF women and children in the
| United States. President Roosevelt, who
| heartily approves Of the plan. promised tc
| recommend such bill in his message tC
congress and Commissioner Neil Of tbs
| Department OF Labor has promised all pos
slble assistance.
Steps Toward Organization.
The meeting adjourned without any or
ganization. an informal tea following in th'
club rooms adjoining. Unwilling to de
part without effecting an organization, Mrs
schon called the meeting to order agar
and asked that a temporary chairman ant
secretary might be selected. This thu
women reluctantly did. Mrs George Payne
being elected to the first once and Mrs
Edward johnson to the other. At this juno
ture Mrs. Andrews arose and discouraged
any further attempt at organization at tina
time saying the small attendance presen
represented an already heavily taxed or
Eanization Of women, while the mother
most in need Of the help Of the congress
were not present
Mrs. H NJ. Bushnell OF Lincoln, presiden
Of the Nebraska Federation OF Women
Clubs, who was present was called upoi
and she too discouraged further organizs
ton among the club women who were al
ready covering the essentials OF the con
gress work and have little time for furthe
responsibility. She did not discourage tn
new organization or its work. but though
that the school patrons work should b
] taken up more with reference TO district
/, than in one general association. Upon thl
: | suggestion women were appointed froI
: | Park. Columbia, CASTELAR,, Central, Maso
: and Lake school districts, and from Sout
Omaha, who will try TO work up an intereI
=, in their respective neighborhoods. Mr.
: George Tilden was appointed assistant ten
. porary chairman in the absence of Mr.
- Payne, and there will be another meetin
= after the various subdivisions have bee
"A formed.