The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-12

! included In the state organization. The
tax had been five cents. No objection
was made to the amendment at EN-
pOria and the rank and file OF club wo-
men forgot all about it, but at the
meeting of the First district federation
in Leavenworth this fail a fight was
started on its adoption, on the ground
OF nconstitutionalitys by some of the
members Of the faction opposed to Mrs.
James NJ. Lewis of Kinsley, president
of the state federation, with the pur-
pose, it is charged, Of detracting from
the success OF her administration. The
amendment was defeated at Leaven-
worth with the result, unexpected as
FAR as the promoters of the fight against
it were concerned. Of withdrawing the
First district from the state federation.
They had thought the dues paid up a
year in advance but as a matter of
fact they were only paid up to about
the time of the meeting and the fedora
ton having voted against paying the
increased dues the. result was that 1t
was separated from the state organiza-
ton and its members can only have
voice and vote at the state meeting in
Topeka in May by joining individually
or through their individual clubs.
Although Topeka is in the First dis
trict, the Topeka federation is fed
Grated by itself, as it would be an
overpoWering force in the district fed
GRAFTON If it were included in that
organization. Some individual Topeka
women and clubs, however, belong to
the First district federation. All the
other district and county declarations
voted in favor of the increased tax this
fall but a fight was expected here and
would undoubtedly have been made
were not the next state meeting to be
held here next May. In view of this
meeting it would not do for the hos
tess federation to withdraw from state
so the leaders of the Op-
position drew in their horns and al
lowed the amendment to be adopted
- r1.-r~
1t is not likely, however that they
would have been able to do so in any
ease as Mrs Lewis, the state presi- |
dent is we'll liked here and her
friends are undoubtedly in the ma
iority among Topeka club women.
At its last program meeting, at the
state house in December, the fedora |
ritorial committee Of the United States
senate protesting against the wording |
Of the statehood bill now pending and |
which makes a classification of the i
female suffragists in the federation. |
This is the provision which says that /
he proposed states shall pass no laws /
limiting or prohibiting the right of /
suffrage except on account of i'm !
Oecility illiteracy, Criminality or sex, /
1r words to that effect. This protest /
IF the federation was sent to the SEN
atorial territorial committee of which /
senator Beveridge of Indiana is chair 1
man. and to the Kansas members of /
he senate. A letter was read yester-
lay from Senator Beverage inform
ng the federation that a change OF /
he obnoxious wording had been rec
0mmended by the committee and this
Will probably make the gentleman
from Indiana very strong with the
'Rebellious Susans'' of Topeka.
Mr. George Barlow Penny, dean of
the school of fine arts of Washburn
college, made a short talk asking the
aid of the federation in bringing an
art exhibit to Topeka some time in
Mrs. E. w Hoch. wife of the new
governor of Kansas, was made an
honorary member Of the federation on
notion of Mrs H O. Garvey, in ac-
with a custom of the fedora
ion of extending this courtesy to the
mistress of the Governors House. Mrs.
1och Is q member of the Fourth dis
riot federation of women's clubs and
las been much interested in club
work. in Marion. She was mentioned
or one of the state Offices at Wichita
Wo years ago.