The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-06-12
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF STATE FEDERATION
OF IDAHO.
Edited by Mrs Byrd Trego, Of Backfoot.

EcnOoS Is IN receipt OIL lcIteT
from the chairman of the program
committee for the first district fed
GRAFTON, that meets In Mackay in the
early fall. She does not receive the
response from clubs and club men,
bers that suggests good full pro-
gram. Immediately upon receiving
this letter, we felt 1t our duty as an
individual club woman, as member
of the program committee, and as
editor of Echoes to become actively
engaged in securing the wishes Of
the district in regard to subjects to
be discussed at this time. We could
only reach personally, the Current
Event of Blackfoot, or rather the
district committee women of this
club. A meeting was called Monday
afternoon that met with very graft
flying and hearty response. There
were present Miss Gillespie of the
educational, Mrs. Hansbrough, chair
man yof arts and crafts, Mrs. Ben
nett of the forestry, Mrs. B. w. Hol-
brook of the legislation, Miss Nora
Jones of civil service reform and
Miss Alice Beach who has been in
Montpelier during the past club term
and acting on the district press COM
mittee. Mrs. Hoover, chairman Of
the reciprocity, was detained at
home, and Mrs. Gagon of the look
out committee was absent from roll
call. Oh, yes! The editor Of Ec-
hoes was there, too.
We went over the district work
quite thoroughly and concluded that
much of it was unsatisfactory be-
cause of a lack of knowledge of the
subject, unfamiliarity with district
work, and shortness of time to get
information and put 1t into action.
Committees do not generally consid-
er themselves officially appointed
until the year book is issued, which
Is usually so late the clubs have only
one thing in, mind, and that is get
ting through with work already
planned before adjournment for the
summer. Under present accepted
rules or customs, there seems no
remedy in regard to this matter. The
newly elected president is unfamil-
lar with district work from the view
the official chair must take it, and
has perhaps new work, created by
her predecessor that she knows
nothing about, and must gain knowl-
edge of before she can intelligently
place 1t In the hands of competent
district workers. Again, she per-
haps knows but few of the women
of the. district and must appeal to
presidents of individual clubs, who
are newly elected, and unable to rec
ommend members suited to this par
ticular demand for intelligent ac-
ton. In view of all this it was WISE
ly concluded that both district pres
idents and committee women spent
about all of the first year after cleo
ton and appointment in getting
properly equipped for all around
good, effective work. For those rea-
sons and many others that will ap-
peal to the reader, the committee
women assembled considered it best
to continue both the district presi-
dent and the appointed committees
for two year term. This discus
sion you will note was on committee
work in general.
The ladies next considered the
work assigned them separately, with
the following conclusions. Arts and
SAoieo, Wuo GouuICu u USduLlluI WOTk
theoretically, and adapted to practi-
cal use In the east and longer settled
state, but taken as whole, could
not be considered a subject for ag-
gressive study for the clubs as dis
trict. That it is now studied in
practical way in Kensington and
economics and is being unconsciously
taken up and applied to civic work,
In beautifying our town. Should 1t
be continued as district work, it
Nshould be encouraged in these de-
partments OF the work and the COM
mittee woman should present the
subject to her club once each year
by well written paper or an intelli-
gent talk giving information of what
the club world Is doing and concise
instruction that will have tendency
to broaden the mind of the individ-
ual club woman in the general trend
of arts and crafts work. That the
larger clubs should take it up in
department work at their will. 1t
was also concluded that directors of
county fairs could promote work
OF this kind by offering prizes for
new handwork that would come I'M
der the heads of arts and crafts, and
that then attention should be called
to the matter. Clubs might offer
special prizes for some work of this
kind to be exhibited at county fairs.
Mrs. Hansbrough has been in cor
respondence with leaders of this
work in the east but received little
to encourage activity in Idaho un-
der present conditions. She appeal
ed to the clubs through Echoes but
received no response.
Forestry was considered in much
the same light. Mrs. Bowerman, the
chairman, has been earnest and per-
sistent. Mrs. Reesor has been
hearty advocate of the cause and
each club woman feels the need of
forestry protection, but has no def
mite knowledge beyond this and is
not in position to gain information
that would enable her to intelligent
ly analyze the question The Ma
tional Lumbermans' association as
well as all other representative cit
liens favor protection to our forests,
but the present system is in its in
fancy and therefore very imperfect.
Club women cannot better conditions
other than voice protection in gen.
eral way. The matter should be