The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
WANT A WOMAN
IN THE CABINET
CLUB WOMEN WOULD HAVE NEW
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT..
The New Secretary Would Direct the
Department of the Home,' Which
Would Deal with Domesticity and
Youth - Mrs, Sarah Platt Decker
Would Have Education Included.

WOuA0 AaVe 1,auca9AoA AASAuoo0"
Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Herbert, an
educator of Evanston, wants the child
and the home represented in the presi-
dent s cabinet and she thinks President
Roosevelt is just the man to recognize
the need of such representation. Mrs.
Boynton IS views on the subject were
expressed as follows in an address be-
fore the Lake View Woman's club of
'There ought to be q government
department devoted to the child and
the home. Do you know that the cod
fish is represented in the presidents
cabinet and that the American boys |
and girls are nota Uncle Sam spent |
$4,000 last year studying the ;coa dSi1
9Fenf
"a movement looking to the ,estab-
Hishment Of such a department already
has been started and has met with con-
siderable favor in the national congress |
= Of mothers. Every mother and every
elubwoman ought to support pI i. II I sneh
ute material from all over the world
on child study, child labor and the
home.''
THE child and the home were topics
Of serious and earnest discussion this
week in the convention OF the MINNIE
sofa Federation of Women 3 Clubs, held
= In Minneapolis, and this ProPosltllGon
interested the delegates greatly, altho
to most the idea of department. OF
the home with it's head represented IN
the cabinet was rather startling. The
idea of a woman cabinet officer did
not strike any one favorably as pres
ent move. Some thought such "a plan
correct in theory but inadvisable at
present, others thought the cabinet an
- unsuitable place for the exercise ~, OF
feminine abilities at any time. The
proposal of such a department. under
q man was enthusiastically favored.
Mrs. Decker's Views.
Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker, president
of the General Federation OF Women 8
j Clubs, interpreted the desire as what
80 might properly belong to q department.
think it is time to ask for national
policy in education and the welfare OF
children and that the officer charged
with this important work should belong
to the cabinet. There is urgent need
of Investigations Of educational condl-
tions. In my going about the country
have learned that there are millions
= Of children without educational aav van
tages and these children grow up and
fiji our criminal and charitable inst1tu-
tions. The greatest menace OF the
country is ignorance. Such depart
ment must come and now is the time
for it. We spend millions on fish hatch
/ ING and improving stock, while we are
doing nothing to improve the e q
tional advantages OF our ch!oren' 1,;
Mrs. Frank IS. Allen, retiring. presl-
1 dent, felt very strongly that the pre:si-
i dents interest in American families
was misguided or unfortunately ex.
pressed, She said: ct think President
Roosevelt has done untold harm by his
utterances on the subject of large faml
II lies. Such advice is utterly Wlthou'
+ furnishes the lower classes a Justlhca
ton for following their animal ten
denotes regardless of their ability tf
care for their offspring. Instead Of
il encouraging large families parent;
# should Be encouraged to restrict then
to that number Of children to whom
they can give good eonstitutlons' pro
lection and education.
Mrs. Allen saw no need Of the crea
ton Of new government department
to foster home interests, she though
it could be better done by privat
agencies. She thought the club move
ment was quite competent to do sue
work as was needed outside OF tn
Il homes and she deplored the tendenc
4 to faddism in child study and In dea
ing with child labor, which she though
r ; were fostered by the kind or 1nvestlgs
A tions contemplated.
Mrs. Birch Opposes.
IA Mrs. II. S. Birch, chairman Of th
N mothers clubs committee, sald -
should not wish at all to see q woma
in the cabinet; l think woman . pupil
work should be along quieter and LEI
lin
influential when conducted in this wa
IA woman cabinet officer would
ii out of place, for women do not wo1
III and think by the same processes as me
ii and q woman in the cabinet would DE
Id block on public business. But l thin
III having the home and it's interests repr
III serted in the cabinet would be fine al
that this should be done.' -.
Mrs. G. L.. Atwood, Of st, Cloud, pr
nounced the home department splendi
H. Such Investigations are needed al
III valuable and need behind them tt
power and financial support Of the 60
4 eminent"
Mrs. II. @. Marshall, of Duluth, fear
that woman at the head Of depal
i crease the present dangerous tenden
to the feminizatioT of education. S
III thought men and women worked bett
3~separately coming together only oce
sionally in conference for adjustme
of their ideas.
Mrs. G. E. Conart thought that
spite of the obvious objections to
woman in the cabinet, she only cot
appreciate fully the problems Of
home, which she thought should ha
cobinet representation, as the funt
mental interest of the nation.
r Mrs. Annie s. Iumley, president
the South Dakota federation, said:
don It think we are ready for women
such positions. In national affairs
think we should go slow. Preside
Roosevelt certainly should encoura
4 such a movement If any public m
would. ,"
III
FLOUR RECORDS BROKEN
$4,000 Barrels Were Sent Out by r