New-York tribune., 1907-10-31
DRAPER TALKS TO UOMEN
Tells What Their Clubs Can DO for
Schools.

Troy y. y. oct. 30-Dr. Andrew S. Draper
State Commissioner of Education. the principal
speaker to-day at the second days session OF the
annual convention Of the New York State Fedora
tion Of Women's Clubs which is in progress in this
city. A large number Of delegates were present
and all took great interest in the remarks OF the
state educational officer.
Or. Draper spoke on What the women's Clubs
Can Do for the Schools saying in part:
Il shall use no part OF my brief time in common
place p!easantries which easily TO the surface
when man speaks OF or TO the womens clubs
look upon !ou the representatives of substan-
tlal women. who have organized for intellectual
self Improvement, and arc anxious to be useful to
the towns in which you live and to the state OF
which you justly proud. Your committee has
asked me 10 tell you what an educational officer
of the state thinks you can do for the schools.
DO not lose sight of the fact that all public
dcrtakluGs in which both are concerned VIII
he better managed through the cooperation OF both
men and women. Their qualities supplement each
the election or appointment OF decent and capable
mon on school boards, and II You Will insist that
boards, however composed. shall honestly and
pletely perform their duties you will accomplish
more than you viii by contendinE for the election
or appointment Of women thereto.
Tho law requires that every child under fourteen
years old and every child between fourteen and
sixteen no is not work shall be In school when
the public schools in session. The trustees
and boards Of education are required to know Of
all Such children in their districts and towns and 10
that they IL school. Nothing, not even
poverty or the need OF the labor of the child,
the wishes Of the parents. is allowed by the law
to deprive the child OF an elementary education.
Yet many a child IS kept from it. The percentage
OF illitcracy in the State Of New York is many
times greater than I'm Great Britain, or France or
the German Empire or Switzerland. Scandinavia.
Japan. Anything that you will do to support
force school officers to exact the complete at
tendance or al children OF school age Will be
substantial public service. II they refuse, after
their attention is called to a specific case YOU may
be of help from the attendance division Of the
state department.
You may help tho schools by insisting that they
shall never bc a football of politics The msn who
ti..4t
schools is perhaps ignorantly, but the less
effectualIy an enemy of the schools and
10 the people.
81 believe In prayer. but there is a difference
between praying to the Almighty and the Legis-
latUCe." said the Rev. Anna NJ. Shaw. of Phladel-
pha. this afternoon. at the session of the fedora
tion. She speaking In favor OF woman's
suffrage, and maintained that while the silent
nuence' was good n its place. the silent influence
plus the ballot is the only influence that counts"
The day was given over to the consideration of in
dustrial and educational topics and the afternoon
marked by many impassoned speeches
The presen tation this morning of statistics by
Miss Grace 9. Strachan regarding equality of sal
aries of teachers for the same work while inter-
estlnS and convincing did not stir the audience
the consideration OF matters like child labor and
depIorabe conditions affecting women and chill
dren These grippcd the hearts OF the delegates
and aroused them 10 great enthusiasm.
Miss Helen Narick Boswell who was sent to
Panama by the Secretary of War to investigate
social conditions and suggest bettcrments
Quoted symposium on Industrial conditions affect
ing women and children, calling various women
10 speak ON particular phases or the work.
The interest Of the day, however, reached its
highest ponD in the suffrage question. Anti
suffrage was presented by Mrs. Barclay Hazard
New York Her argument based on the
great power of the silent influence. She advocated
the formation Of third party by the women of
the country who, having afiliation with other
parties and being under political obligations
could exert their influence for good on various
questions
The sympathy OF the convention was with the
Rev. Anna Shaw in the closing speech favoring
suffrage. She summoned by telegraph from
Philadelphia yesterday to take the place Of Mrs
Carrie Chapman Gait, who has not arrived.
THE only advantage a democracy has over
monarchy. she said lis that it teaches self-gov-
ernment, self-control and love of order. We have
no city in this country which is comparable
Berlin it's cleanliness. its protection of life
property and the freedom TO enjoy life But would
not exchange dirty Philadelphia for clean Berlin
because the power in Berlin that makes for clean
illness and protection is d compelling force from
without. while I'm Philadelphia, If conditions are
bettered. II is due TO impeling force from
Within
The number of delegates was Increased to-day
that standing room was at a premium this
afternoon.