The National tribune., 1909-08-26


The 27th National Convention of the
Woman's Relief Corps is now as a taie
that is told. It was a hot tale during
the telling, too. Salt Lake certainly uiu
her part in the matter of fervidnesS Oh
welcome 1t seemed as tho II wouiu pe
quite impossible for the sun TO snlne
any brighter or hotter. The SKY was
sometimes overcast for Few moments
and it looked as tho one mlsnt i've
again, but the relief was brief.
As is now too often the case, there
was altogether too much entertaining.
There were receptions every night;
sometimes there were half dozen OF
them. The same people and in the
same hotels. Delegates who travel 1000
miles to attend to the business of great
organizations cannot afford to permit
two-thirds of the week that they spend
in an Encampment City to be taken up
with social affairs in which the same
people stand in line, and shake hands
with the very same people six times IN
one night
As the small boy would say. Cut it
OUT
One big reception, with all the Off
GERS of all the patriotic organizations
of women in one receiving line, would
do the business up in one evening, and
nobody would be worn out, either The
parade could then come one day earlier.
Oilt lilOit Dt given W
in conventions. Under present condi-
tions everybody is in a hurry all the
time, and the social part of the program
absorbS all the attention. of the dele
gates, all their time and their energies,
in fact. and they are already weary
when they enter the convention hall,
hence all the business is made of sec
Ondary interest. The time has gone by
when the Grand Army of the Republic
should be held a whole week in any To-
cality just to draw crowds and money.
1t is urged that the Patriotic Socie-
ties of Women" do not want to hold re-
ceptionS together and that the reason is
largely prejudice, for the reason that
they have their little prejudices"
against each other. That is, alasi too
true; but one must surely quest on the
patriotism" of the National President
who would not be willing to save the
members of her organization, so that
they may be able to do the work for
which they are sent to National Con-
ventions.
There is another good reason for cut
ting out all these receptions The Com
Hander-in-Chief and the National Pres
idepts are supposed to be in the receiv-
ing line at each of these great func-
tions Ry the time Commander-in-Cn
NeTius had attended each of the three
big camptireS and half a dozen of the
smaller receptions he was practically
worn out, and could not take his place
in line for the larger ones, having to
send one of his staff officers for that
purpose. when each reception was
scheduled in his honor He came to
preside over the National Encarnpment
of the Grand Army of the Republic in
an exhausted condition. just because he
had tried TO do too much in a social
waY. 1t is simply case of cruelty TO
animals. and for one protest against
so much entertaining.
Hospi,abIe Salt Lake City.
The wonnan's Relief Corps came near
after collapse from overindulgence in
social functions. Some dozen or more
Departments held receptions, and the
National President. Mrs Mary L. Gill
man, was expected to at least look in
on each. She was the guest of honor
at at least three city receptions and
gave one reception herself, all this in
five days time, to say nothing of pre-
siding over convention of unruiy, be-
cause weary, women for two of the very
hottest days in the calendar. Nc wo-
man VINO is not made of cast iron can
do that and do justice to herself or her
organization.
And so ] say cut il out. There is yet
another reason for cutting down the
number of the social functions. The
them. They go to one or two and then
dodge the rest. They say that they see
the same women in line at each, and
do not see the necessity for going to
more than two, so that the purpose for
which the receptions are given is pri-
marty defeated.
The reception received by the women
Of the patriotic organizations in Salt
Lake City was hospitable. generous.
soul-satissying. We felt as tho we had
known the people OF the City of Zion
all our lives. The decorations were
probably more lavish than in any other
Encampment City. We had a visit
without price to beautiful SaItair
where those who cared could loIl around
on its placid, CLASSY surfaEe without
fear of not being found if drowned. be-
cause you simply cannot sink in il and
stay suak. you know.
We were taken without price, also,
out to old Camp Douglas, and saw the
giories of the Salt Lake Valley spread
out before us. home-dotted and tree
shaded. and then we were told that just
& little over half century ago the val
ley had not house and but one lone
some tree. The citizens gave US recep-
lions, and the Mormons entertained us
with wonderful campfires in their vet
more wonderful tabernacle. the like of
which was never built before and the
copy of which has not been achieved
since. TO hear the great organ. until a
few years since the largest pipe organ
in the world. was worth even the hot
"trip across the Rockies and the deserts.
Mrs President Gilman.
The National President, Mrs Mary
L. Gilman, gave 2 reception in honor of
Commander-in-Ch Nevius, but he
was worn out, and so sent in his stead
DR. Spence. Chaplain-in-Chief of the
Grand Army, TO take his place. Mrs
Gilman was assisted by her entire staff
officers with two exceptions, these not
being in the city Those in line Were
Mrs. Anna E. Howe. National Senior
Vice President; Mrs. Clara A. Lukens,
Junior Vice President: Mrs. Maria w.
Going, Secretary; Mrs. Charlotte Z.
Wright, Treasurer; Mrs. Maria L. Num-
ford, Chaplain; Mrs Alice Dean
Schneider. Inspector: Mrs. Harriet j.
Bodge, Counselor; Mrs Nettie McGow-
an, Patriotic Instructor; Mrs. Mary NJ
North, Press Correspondent; Mrs Jen-
ME l. Berry. Senior Aid and Chief OF
Staff: Mrs. Ida Shots Pentreath, Chair
man OF the Executive Board; Mrs. Isa-
bel Wcrrel. Ball. Mrs. Armilla A
Cheney and Miss Henrietta L. Briscoe
with Past National Presidents Mrs. En-
ma Stark Hampton, Mrs. Emma r
Wallace, Mrs. Mary l. Carr. Mrs. Sarah
D. Winans, Mrs. Abbie Asebath Adams
assisting. The reception was given a,
the Commercial Club, which was hand
somely decorated for the purpose That
IL was largely attended goes without