The National tribune., 1908-09-17
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
The 10th National Convention Memorable.
Address Of National President Kate 6.
Jones-Reports of Other Officers.
Patriotic Progress and Growth of Mem
bership-AndersonviIle Prison Park.


All the National Conventions of the
Woman's Relief Corps are good, and
we are apt to think that the last one is
the very best, don't you know, and SO
it seemed of the 26th National Conven-
ton held in Toledo, two weeks ago.
Toledo is just one of the prettiest OF
Western towns-possibly western" is
a little strong, but at least it is in what
would be called the Western belt OF
States-and Toledo had no latchstrings
hanging out Not one. The big, wide
doors had simply been taken off the
hinges and you could drive a regiment
thru the openings, and nobody would
have objected The National Tribune
has already paid its respects and COM
pliments to the decorations, the courte-
sizes, the genial, open-hearted hospitali-
ties Of Toledo, and 1t is not necessary
to repeat these, but it Is safe to say that
if Toledo ever whispers to us to come
again." we shall "come a runnin'," as
they say out West; we certainly will.
The headquarters of the National Wo.
mans Relief Corps, Mrs. Kate E. Jnoes.
Ilion, N. Y, National President, were at
the Secor Hotel This is a very hand
some, great big hotel, only partly fin
ished, but it proved adequate for the
different headquarters of women that
were established there.
Every day beautiful flowers were fur
nished by the ladies of Toledo, who
showered them on the various Depart
ment Headquarters by the bushel. Such
beautiful flowers, many of them planted
and tended by loving hands just for this
purpose, SO that they seemed to breathe
love and patriotism to us all the time.
Mrs. Ida A. Oldroyd, of Potomac, Past
National Senior Vice President, was on
duty three days as Chairman of Head
quarters Reception Committee.
The days from Sunday, Aug. 80, to
Saturday, Sept. 5, were simply too full
for comfort. There were things doing
all the time. Lots of things, all OF
them jolly, all of them patriotic, and
oratory was on tap till you dreamed red.
white and blue-if you got chance to
sleep, which most of us didn't. And as
for eating-why, Toledo seemed to
think we had come to her for succor
from starvation, and We were stuffed
with good things till most of us felt
like pate de fol gras geese-or Is It
ducks they stuff--anyhow, we had
more than we ought to eat. and most of
us are suffering from it now.
There isn't any question of the hospi-
tality and patriotism of the Toledo peo-
pie, and Toledo people did it all.
The Convention.
The National Convention opened in
the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, on
Wednesday afternoon at O'Clock, Tor
the purpose of hearing the address of
the National President, and receiving
greetings, and the giving of the many
presents which the various National
women receive at these Annual Re-
unions. The church was handsomely
decorated with flags and bunting, and
admirably fitted for such a purpose.
The exercises were opened with pray
er by the National Chaplain, Mary E.
Hartwell, of California.
The National President, who was sur
rounded by all her National Staff, was
greeted with tremendous applause as
She came forward to read her address,
which she did in good. round tones
that could be heard to the farthest parts
of the room.
Mrs. Jones said in part that when
elected she deeply appreciated the hon
or. fully realized the great responsibility
laid upon her, and determined, with d.
vine help, to the best of her ability 10
meet all requirements. "I have freely
given my time, strength and best
Thought" she said, ito the work. Not
all has been accomplished we hoped to
do, but with the encouragement, con-
slant loyalty and faithful services of
officers and members we have marched
together, the work has moved steadily
on, and the high standard of my pre-
decessors has not been lowered"
Memorial Day.
OF Memorial Day she said:
"The observance and services of Me-
mortal Day is the greatest object-lesson
to teach patriotism to the children in
this or any other country day when
the people turn aside from the busy
haunts of life to honor the Nations
dead; to hold in grateful remembrance
those to whom we owe the blessings we
enjoy to-day, both the living and the
dead.
"A Memorial Day to decorate the
graves of members of the w. r. c. Is
fitting, but it should be another day
than May 80, and the Stars and Stripes
should not be used. If a flag is desired,
let it be a white flag"
She then recommended that a white
flag with letters w. r. c. be placed on
the graves of members of the Woman's
Relief Corps.
Mrs. Jones then stated that the ap-
propriaticG from Congress for flags for
graves in the South fell SO far short Of
what was needed that the Woman's Re-
lief Corps contributed $3.50 to the fund
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