Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-07
WOMAN IN CLUB AND CHARITY.

Notwithstanding the cry Of the opposi-
ton that the club movement IL on the
wane, the eighth biennial convention Of
! the General Federation Of womens Clubs
to be held at st. Paul, MINI, May 81 to
/ June z promises to be the largest in point
| Of attendance and in scope OF interest OF
| any in the history Of the organisation.
/ While there are all manner OF rumors
! ahoat regarding propositions Of q more or
less radical nature TO come before the con-
vention, there has as yet developed no real
issue. Appended to the call of the conven-
ton are several proposed amendments to
the bylaws Of the Federation. but in the
main. with the exception Of two, these are
in fact Of little Importance. 1t has long
been considered that the bylaws were
poorly, even awkwardly, worded and the
majority Of the proposed amendments are
TO the end of clearer and more concise ex-
preston only.
There are two really important amend
ments. however, the first providing for an
increase in the size Of the board OF direc-
tors and the second relating TO dues. At
present the board includes the seven execu-
tive officers and eight directors elected by
the convention. Two means Of increasing
this board Of directors are offered, the hrst
by the addition Of two vice presidents and
the second by having director from each
state represented in the Federation, In addi-
ton to the regular oficsrs.
There are also two propositions relating
to dues. The first provides that clubs Of
from twenty-five to 400 members shall pay
10 cents per capita annually, and all clubs
Of over 400 members shall pay $40 annually.
The second is that the dues OF clubs OF
twenty-five and fewer than 100 shall pay
10 cents per capita, clubs of from 100 to 200
members $40 and clubs of more than 2JO
members cents per capita. These amend
ments should be given careful considera-
ton. At present the dues OF clubs Of less
than twenty-five members is $3.50 year
and of all clubs of over twenty-five mem
bers 10 cents per capita. This assessment
has been complained of as too heavy by
the large city clubs and the argument that
they can afford it is Offset by the claim
that the big city club has all 1t can do to
meet the local demands upon it. These
are demands Of which the smaller clubs,
and especially those of the smaller towns.
know nothing, and while 10 cents per capita
is small amount when taken out of the
treasury Of the large club, it is a goodly
sum.
Many club women are interested To know
in just what form the much discussed Eng
fish scholarship proposition will be pre-
scented from the Society Of American
Women in London. 1t was something over
a year ago that the London organization
made the rather extravagant proposition
that the clubs of the General Federation
establish scholarships for American girls
| In he Ifab tpft H.,
ss generally circulated, being estimated at
about 100000. AT first club women
thought the report a mistake, so inconsist-
ent did 1t seem considering the many other
demands upon the Federation's treasury,
and even yet the proposition as generally
circulated Is not accepted seriously A
permanent meeting place for the biennial
and headquarters for the General Fedora
ton is another proposition that rumor has
said would come up for consideration at
the St. Paul meeting. but it is a question
whether such a plan would ever be en-
dorsed by the convention.
The annual election OF officers for the
Omaha Woman's club. which takes place
at Monday afternoons meeting, has been
the subject of much discussion among club
women of late, and those most closely in
there has never been a time when the
selection Of a president has been of more
vital importance than now. The disbanding
of FIVE of the departments and a consider
able falling of in membership during the
last two years has resulted in scattering
Of interest and small attendance at tho
general meetings that has materially weak
eneG the club and its influence. Because Of
this scattered interest much depends upon
the election OF a president who will bring
together all factions and all departments.
Many members have felt that the intellec-
tual side of the club has suffered during
the last few years through the tendency
toward the philanthropic, while others
claim that the greatest possibilities Of the
club today lie along the lines Of the
altruistic.
OF the several women who are being dis
cussed for the presidency Mrs. Edward
johnson has perhaps the largest support.
From every department OF the club sho
has been urged to accept the nomination
and this general popularity Is the result OF
her efficient work in both intellectual and
philanthropic branches. During the week
the report was circulated that Mrs John
son had declined the nomination. but this
is a mistake. She has neither declined nor
consented to accept. Mrs. A. B. soners
and Mrs. H. J. Penfold are the two other
most talked Of candidates and both have
demonstrated their efficiency.
The probation system OF the Douglas
county juvenile court is promised material
assistance from the volunteer service OF
number Of club women and prominent men
of the city, who are willing to stand
sponsor for juvenile delinquents while on
probation. This system has been 80 sue
cessfully employed in Chicago, Denver and
other cities that its adoption here is gratify-
ing. Among those who have volunteered
to serve are Superintendent W. NJ. David
son and A. H. Waterhouse OF the high
school, Secretary Dennison OF the boys,