The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-01-05
Asserted Male Organizations
Do More to Disrupt Homes
Than All the Women's So
cieties of the City.
SAY THE IDEA is ABSURD.
SEVENTY WoMEN'S CLUBS IN |
THE CITY OF RICHMOND OF
VARIOUS CHARACTER.

The club women of Richmond. have
one and all "tabooed" the idea that
the club Ia the is the cause of the di-
vorCs epidemic which is now raging in
Wayne county. When seen yesterday
they were unanimous in saying that
. the club builds up homes instead of
tearing down. THE club is a grand
thing" 'It is one Of the greatest cul-
ture agents that this country ever
knew" During twenty years connec.
tion with my club 1 have not known
one OF it's members to get a DIVORCE
are some Of the statements which these
ladies made. The mildest statement
which was made was to the effect that
there are both good and bad clubs,
and some of the clubs by making ex-
cessive calls upon the time Of women
who have household duties, may break
into home life. One lady raped the
male population Of this old world
roundly, by saying that II the men
would stay at home as we'll as the wo-
men do. there would not be SO many
divorce proceedings.
Out in Oakland, California, an enter
prising minister conducted an inves-
tigation into the cause of divorce He
consulted forty well-known lawye
and a large majority of them gave as
the first reason for the severing Of the
sacred bonds of matrimony-the wo-
mems clubs of our cities.
&c 70 tn hot ha nj
tleman who cleaned these opinions
should land in Richmond, he would
receive reception which would re-
semble very strongly the polar zone in
winter. One prominent club member
said 1T is simply awful that men
should say such things. Everyone
knows that the clubs are doing great
good in the home life. They give wo-
men culture, make them broader, and
consequently better wives, mothers and
companions. AS for me, l laugh at
the idea that our meetings foster the
divorce evil" When asked about the
mems clubs, she shrugged her shoul-
ders, and with a twinkle of fun in her
eyes, said. We'll, they are not as bad
las they might be-"
Richmond might be known as q city
of clubs. There are yer seventy clubs
10 which ladies belong Many of the
leaders in these organizations stand
high in national circles. and are known
throughout the country. They do not
hesitate to express an opinion on the
divorce agitation. All of them de-
plore the fact that Wayne county
courts broke all previous records last
year by granting a divorce for every
five marriage licenses that were is
sued. but they were certain that the
clubs Of the city have not fostered the
great American evil.
Mrs. Nj. F. Johnston, a leading club
woman. whose interests are in art
rather than social clubs. said: There
is nothing in il. l must laugh at the
whole idea. The women who are good
club women are also good wives and
mothers. ! do not know the cause OF
divorce, but | am sure that the clubs
are not at the bottom of it,"
Mrs. Erie Reynolds, of the Magazine
club, said; The idea that the clubs
are responsible is preposterous They
have kept women from getting divorc-
eS. | am member of six clubs and in
none of them have | seen any thing TO
foster divorce. On the contrary. the
women of the clubs are better house
teepers and more Intelligent compan-
Ions TO their husbands for being mem
herS or clubs. 1t is true that some
club women | know have been di-
Norced. but in every case the separa-
ton has arisen from causes wholly
Without the club. do not know what
part mems clubs have played in this
nuestion, for never had the opportu-
nifty of belonging to any of them.
Perhaps If knew the inside workings
Of them | could give You more infor-
tnation, but ! can say as to women 5
organizations. and unhesitatinglv
pronounce them grand thing for the
women of our country"
Mrs. \. c. Heironimus. president of
phe Aftermath club made the following
ttatement: Il really know little about
Y. because during the twenty wears
(COnflnnai m paro