Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-14
CLUB WOMEN MEET
Nebraska Federation Represented by
Delegates from Hundred Towns.
SECRETARY REPORTS 121 CLUBS
Thirty Three Aft with General
and Member 4. 5000.
- ~.
DUTY OF WOMAN IN r. NMENT
Miss Anna L. Clark Say ~ qas
Real Work to Do.
JOHN J. RYDER ON CHILD LABOR
DUTY OF WOMAN IN
JOHN ]. RYDER ON CHILD LABOR
state COmmissiOner Makes INTEREST
ing Address, re- Does DR.. Jonas
on Merit system in Pub
lie Affairs.

towns the Nebraska Federation OF
women's clubs opened its fourteenth an
nual convention Tuesday afternoon at the
rooms OF the hostess organization, the
Omaha Woman's club, IN the First Con-
gregational church. Committees of local
women have been meeting the afternoon
trains and It is anticipated that by Wednes-
day morning the majority of the $50 dele
gates expected will have arrived. The con-
vention will continue through Thursday,
concluding With banquet at the Rome
hotel Thursday evening
The executive officers, speakers and COM
mittee chairmen are being entertained at
the Rome to facilitate conference work and
the district vice presidents and delegates
are being entertained In the homes of the
city. Through the courtesy of local mer-
chants the club parlors have been con-
verted into the most inviting reception
and rest rooms with comfortable chairs
and rugs and fine collection of pictures
on the walls. Here the delegates are be-
ing received and assigned to places of en-
tertainment as they arrive.
Opening of Program.
An invocation by Rev. F. T. Rouse
opened the program, Mrs. H l.. Keefe OF
walthnl, president of the federation. pre-
siding Mayor Dahlman, speaking for the
city hHu MIS- NEuWdIu JOIHSOH bHe
womens clubs extended cordial welcome
to the visiting women, which was responded
TO by Mrs. Carrie NJ. Peterson of Aurora
on behalf OF the state.
Reports OF officers and committee chair
men and a vocal solo by Mrs. w. f.
Conyn of Warren. Ill, followed. At $50
the civil service program opened, Mrs. Mar
garet Carnes of Lincoln. chairman OF the
committee presiding. The Merit System
in Our Public Affairs" was discussed by
Dr. A. f. Jonas, chief surgeon of the
Union Pacific Railroad company, and was
followed by an address Practical Patriot
ism-Woman's Place In Creation Develop
ment," by Miss Anna l.. Clark OF Boone
Vile. NO.. vice chairman of the civil SER
vice committee of the General Federation
OF Wnmen's Clubs. -
The corresponding secretary reported 121
clubs In the state organization, with a total
membership OF about 5000. Thirty-three
clubs are affiliated With the General Fed
Grafton.
The constitution committee reported
proposed amendment to the bylaws that
will make the president of the state feder-
alton delegate to the biennial convention
of the General Federation by virtue of her
office.
WOman's Duty 20 Government.
Miss Clark called upon the women to do
their duty In the preservation of the gov
ernment. She assured them that It is as
much their duty to use their influence for
better government as It was the duty of
the revolutionary mothers 10 do what they
did.
I'VE have plenty of patriotism" she said,
but too few PATRIOTS
She assured them that It is not pol
81 Int. IN, ,fx,n
and that II is their duty to be 'the woman
behind the man" and bring UP their sons
and daughters to do their share for better
government.
DR.. Jonas said that the average Amer
lean man was too much engaged with his
private affairs to concern himself with the
affairs of the state even to the extent of
knowing whether candidates are fit for
the office they would fill and much less
to the extent of assuming such work him
self
And not being Informed regarding the
candidates he faithfully votes the straight
ticket and then forgets all about public
affairs until the next election the time
for paying taxes. With such ndlffer-
ence existing he pictured the conditions
that might arise from the spos system
whereby the chief qualification OF an office.
holder is his ability to carry a certain
ward or influence SO many votes. 1t Is
the public institutions that suffer espe-
oially from such management under which
extravaganza and wastefulness are certain
to exist, and he regretted that Nebraska
institutions were not under civil service
regulation.
Pointing out the system by which meT
are advanced according To merit in privat,
business he contrasted the utter neffi
ency that exists among many public Off
cials TO whom are entrusted interests fai
greater than those of private concerns thai
are so carefully guarded.
Discussion over Bylaws.
At meeting OF the executive board held
at the home Of Mrs. Edward Johnson Mon
day evening two amendments to the feder-
atior5s bylaws oceasioned chief discussion
one tends TO uniformity iu the club year
providing that all dues shall be paid by
May Is, instead OF September Is, the chang,
going into effect in May. 1910. There wa,
also discussion of establishing a defnit,
time for all clubs 10 hold the election oi
officers. These changes would greatly IA
ciltste the work Ct getting out the yeal
book as well as organizing committees FOL
the next years work.
The second amendment provides tha
clubs two years IN arrears may be rein
stated after lapse OF two years. Tn,
two years suspension is intended as
penalty. Many Of the officers and other
feel that one year would be a sufflcien
penalty. and that two years. added 20 tn,
two years already lapsed. would tend {,
make the clubs lose interest The sam'
matters came up Cor discussion in tn,
conference Of officers and directors Tues
dav uaoruing, but no Recommendation wa
made.
A successor TO Mrs. II. l. Keefe as presi
dent OF the federation is oocasioning muel
interest, Mrs. Keefe being ineligible TO re
election. having served two years. Mrs
r. III. Cole OF Omaha who had perhap