Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-31


| or not you have complied with the commit
| tees request, as it is important that we
know the exact number of letters sent to
RHETA CHILDE DORR,
| Chairman Industrial Committee, General
Federation of Womens Clubs.
The following is the form Of petition rec
commended:
! The Hon -, L. s. S. COR NJ. c..
Dear Sir: Following a recommendation
embodied in the presidents message to con-
! gress, n bill is to be introduced in congress
during the present session in which the or
ganzed club women OF the United States
l'are deeply interested. The bill provides
for an appropriation to enable bureau OF
experts to make scientific Investigation
into industrial conditions of women Of the
United States. This is the first federal
measures to be advocated by the federated
clubs, and your attention is earnestly di-
rected to the following reasons why the
club women of your state and al other
The United States census of 1890 reports
100000 women engaged in gainful occupa-
tons and of this number 100000 are re-
ported to work in manufacturing establish
mentS.
This influx of women into the Industrial
field is a social phenomenon that gives rise
to many complex questions. 1t is claimed
that women have affected the labor market
to the demoral ization of wage rates; that
home life has been affected; that marriage
has decreased; that divorces are inCrcas-
ing; and that the birth rate barely exceeds
the death rate. 1t is both claimed and
denied that the social and economic welfare
of the country is menaced by this army OF
wage earning women. We feel that sane
conclusions can be reached only by having
accurate data. II is the facts that are
sought through the proposed government
Investigation No such Investigation as
this one asked by the federated clubs has
ever been made before and its execution by
our country would put scholars and legis-
lators of all countries in our debt for hav-
ing made the first thorough examination
into one of the most important sociological
questions of the country. The result would
be Of great value as basis of general
as well as local investigation. We earnestly
beg your support of this bill.
This petition is to be signed by the club
president. stating her town. the name Of
her club and its number of members.
Mrs. Dorr adds the following information
that the women may understand how much
depends upon their efforts:
The committee expects to work untiriugiy,
but all its work will avail nothing unless
women can be secured. II is not the rec
ommendation of the industrial committee,
but the petitions, OF thousands of the in
{ telligent women OF the country. which Will
bear weight With congressman Therefore
the committee begs for unanimous response
to this appeal. 1t will cost each club presi-
dent about five minutes of time and cents
in postage to forward the three petitions.
Especially does the chairman OF the COM
nlIlee Deg tndl tne pTeSlueDJS VIII not ran
TO return the enclosed postal card. as il
is most important to know how many pc
titions have been sent to congressman.
The committee has been warned that the
bill will meet with opposition. There are
many manufacturers in the country, who
for obvious reasons, do not desire such an
might follow it. We have the spectacle OF
rich corporations like certain insurance
companies now under investigation in New
York paying large salaries TO men whose
business is to watch legislation in the
various states. The man at Albany not
only watches" legislation Involving mat
tiers OF insurance, but bills affecting hours
OF labor, etc, of girl stenographers and
other women employees Such corporations
toward the relief Of working women. These
people will be active against the bill: the
club women must therefore be doubly active
for it. Indifference alone can Kill the meas
ure.
The Young women's Christian associa-
ton will hold it's annual New Year recep-
ton Monday between and o'clock in the
association rooms In the Paxton block
program will be presented between = and 6
o'clock and the reception will follow.
The Omaha Woman's clue will hold a re-
ception and present program New Years
afternoon between and o'clock Miss
Alice Howell of the department of oratory
of the University of Nebraska will give
several readings and Mrs. ]. b. Scannell
and Mrs G. W. Thomas will sing. Tho
program will begin at O'Clock and the re-
ception will he held from to 3 Each
member will he privileged to bring an es-
cort or one guest this Limitation having
been made necessary that the committee
might know for how many 10 arrange.
nh
Mothers has been postponed until the aft
ernoon Of January Il.
The art department Of the WOman's club
will meet at 10 o'clock Thursday morning,
Mrs. A. W. Bowman to conduct the lesson
with the stereopticon. Dona Tello and
! Della Robbi will be the subjects
The domestic science department will
meet Thursday morning at 1879
| The literature department will meet at IN
( o'clock Friday morning. Mrs. Fred Crowley
leader. Miss Louisa May Alcott will be the
| author.
The treasurer OF the General Federation
| OF Women's Clubs calls attention TO the
! fact that $50 clubs are still delinquent In
[ their payment of membership dues. Only
; half Of the Nebraska clubs have paid up
| for this year and it will not take much
longer to bar them from representation at
! the ST. Paul biennial.
The December meeting OF the Woman s
Club of the Railway Mail Service was held
| last week at the nome Of Mrs F. II. Cole,
| with twenty-four members present. Pure
food was the subject of the afternoon, the
| program being presented under the leader
| ship Of Mrs u. G. Hudson. Mrs Mary
Moody Pugh. chairman Of the household
economies committee Of the General Fed
Grafton Of Women's Clubs. was guest OF
the afternoon and rave an interesting and
instructive talk. Mrs. Harriet s, MaeMur
ply was also guest and speaker. tellin-
something of the work done by the state
legislature for pure food laws.
Mrs J. T. Johnson and Miss Mary Taylol
contributed to an ENJOYABLE musicale pro
era I'M he az ro,,rlnIl,r Witt