Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-07-31

| DOe
ton. to the Massachusetts State FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs. and to TIL
hearts of all, by first, the States ex
} ecutive, Governor Guild, second b,
Boston's reform mayor, George Hib
bard, third by Mrs. Alden Ward, ;
prominent candidate for the cominl
president of the General Federation
and lastly by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe
The latter, now in her ninetieth year
and justly called the grand, old womer
Of America. occupied the foremost
chair on the stage, where the beauti
full. venerable lady was the cynosurc OF
all eyes AS | glanced around the
brilliantly Illuminated auditorium
filled with white gowned women, with
the stage occupied by the heads of
the state. city, and of this gitlnd
women's organization. and heard the
female orchestra discoursing sweet
music at intervals. could not but
wonder what is to be the outcome of
the concerted energy and enthusiastic
! devotion of the 100000 club women re-
presented on this occasion 1t is a
tremendous force. force which has to
be reckoned with in everything per-
tanning to this land of ours That our
wide awake President. Theodore
Roosevelt, sees this fact is evident
from his including in his invitation.
the representative of all these women.
together with the governors of the
states, TO the meetings in the interest
OF preserving the natural resources of
the country. held last spring in the
White House. In her reply to the ad.
dresses of welcome given the fedora
ted clubs, Mrs. Platt Decker said that
she thought this invitation meant the
beginning OF new era in the affairs
Of women and marked an important
epoch in the history of the world.
Notwithstanding that this conven-
tion is so entirely feminine one. the
leading addresses. thus far, have been
given by men. They have spoken upon
topics pertaining to the present. upon
no to date and current topics. which
it is presumed that the modern woman
Is fully competent of grasping. Among
some Of these speakers were Profes-
sor Zeublin of the Chicago University.
a noted authority upon sociology;
Thomas Nelson Page, author of Mars
Cham and other stories: Mr. Clements
the veteran journalist. for a term of
years editor Of the Boston Transcript;
Mr.. Mills, the lover of nature, particu-
larly of forests; and Senator Beye-
redge of Indiana. Each of these able
speakers have delighted their large
audiences by the lucid, forcible and
eloquent manner with which they
have pleaded their special subjects.
Sena or Beveredge. with his splendid
talk upon the iniquity Of the employ
ment Of over one million children in
unsuitable labor throughout this coun-
try, awoke a tremendous feeling
among us all and desire to do
something to change these unnatural
conditions among these little inno-
cents.
But one of the most interesting ses-
sions was the reports of the State
Presidents regarding their federations
since the last Biennial of Women's
Club. held in st. Paul. They appeared
in groups. beginning with the thirteen
original states, followed by the presi-
dents Of those states which were cary-
ed out Of the various acquisitions TO
the United States since its first organ.
| iZatiOn as a nation. Each grop1e
| stood in row until each of the presi
dents composing it had finished her
| report. They were a very fine look
ing set of women. with as a rule, beau
tiful gowns. AS they had but two
minutes each in which to report
'"Sio was Dul iIttic llIIlc lot 1lOWery
speaking. and those who were rash
enough to attempt it regretted having
dcne so when in the middle of their
attempts at eloquence their discourse
was cut short by the fall of the presi-
dents gavel. from which there was
no appeal. FOrty-five states were re-.
presented, all of which are working at
very much the same things, for it is
the wish of the General Federation
Board that in the line of work which
tLeir exeprts have planned for the
clubs the same things should be adopt
ed, as much as possible, by every state
federation in the General Federation
OF Women's clubs. Many of the states
have taken up this idea so that among
the reports of their presidents were
shown the work being done for child
labor, Pure Food. Forestry, and other
laws affecting the welfare of thee oun-
try. Play grounds. civic improvements,
household economics, and the study Of
politics. were among other subjects told
o: as the work of the clubs. In short
women are beginning to take up with
everything pertaining to the lettering
Of the public veal.
Thursday afternoon was entirely de-
voted to social functions, with twenty
receptions and garden parties to be
attended. There delegates from the diff
fehent States were assigned to certain
ones of these places so that all were
able to attend one or more functions
without overcrowding any one of them.
Everybody was invited and went to
the Governors reception held in Men,
orial Hall, in the rotunda of the State
House, as the Capitol building of Mass
achusetts is here called. This beauti-
ful old building. with its Bulfinch
front. so called after the famous arch
-