Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-17

history of the chapter. 1t was the De
ginning of a series of outdoor meet
ings suited to this semi-troplcal Iand,
and with a Sky overhead and the grass
under their tired feet, busy men and
women of the American Woman's
league experienced a pleasant relaxa-
tion from their many cares ana re-
sponsibilities.
On Friday afternoon the members
assembled on the picnic grounds TO
hold the usual monthly meeting, with
DR.. Henriette E. Sweet presiding. DR..
Sweet was elected delegate to the first
great national convention of Amerl-
can Woman's league at University
City, June 8, 10 and IL, and her re-
port was heard with the keenest inters
est If all the vows made that sum-
mer afternoon are kept, it will require
many special trains to carry the Los
Angeles members to the second ma
| tional convention, to be held at UNI
versity City next June.
Dr. Sweet gave a spirited account
of the long five days trip, the delight
full day at Denver and Colorado
Springs and the cordial welcome given
at every station. She dwelt upon the
spirit of fine fellowship that pre-
vailed among the thirty-two chapters
In the special train, during the long
overland journey, and gave resume
of the stirring events of the three
days convention, relating many per-
sonal experiences of interest to those
remaining at home.
Stephen Bennett of Pasadena gave
an address on the fundamental prin-
ciples of the league, and recounted the
most interesting events of the con-
Vention. Mr.. Bennett is a hearty be-
lever in the league, and has long been
identified with Mr. Lewis varied in
terests. While at University City, he
asekd Mr.. Lewis who was the first
member of the American Woman's
league. Mrs. Lewis was the reply.
1.-The second? Well suppose | am"
answered Mr.. Lewis. Then" ex-
claimed Mr.. Bennett, ST have the honor
of being third, as my application is
marked No. 81 And the first and sec
ond man shook hands cordially. Mr..
Benefits speech was in part as fol-
lows:
'I am aware that the women Of the
league do not expect much from US
mere men who have been shorn Of the
power to make motions and vote in
league matters. But Notwithstanding
this slight on the part of our sisters
l am proud of having my name en-
rolled in the American Woman's
league and I pledge myself anew TO
do all the women will permit me to
make 1t grand success.
This is the first women's organi-
zation l ever took any interest in.
Not that 1 did not greatly desire their
protection, elevation and liberation
from the narrow and poverty stricken
condition which has been the lot of the
great mass of women through all gem
erations, but because women's organi-
cations In the past have lacked the
two vital features necessary to sue
cess-competent leadership and the
sinews of war.
This league has the leadership and
when it's organization has been per-
manently established 1t will be as
solid as Gibraltar Standing upon it's
own basis, rich in its own right, in
dependent of the spindling props of
charity or philanthropy, it will be
fully competent to protect its own
and also to give battle to its enemies.
The leagues annual income will be
simply enormous as the days, the
months and the years go by and the
glory of it all is that none of this
vast wealth will go into the Golfers
of little band of promoters, but will
be dispersed among those who are en-
rolled in the leagues great family
register.
1.-THE question naturally arises,
Where is this great revenue coming
from?' What produces it? and the
answer is, When the American Wo-
mans league is in control of the sub
scription business of these United
States it's income will be many mil
lion dollars annually, for it is esti-
mated that the people of this country
spend from sixty to seventy millions
of dollars every year in the purchase
of literature for their homes exclusive
of the daily newspapers. And the
publishers of these periodicals are al
ways ready to pay large per cent of
the subscription price in return for a
large subscription list. And the larg-
er the list the better for that increased
the value of the publishing plant from
the advertisers point of view many
times
ITO illustrate the point will quote
Mr.. Lewis. who as founder of the
league is now engaged in educating
the league members along these lines:
He says: If a man would come into
my Office tomorrow morning and say:
"Mr. Lewis, I have a million sub
scribers to the Womans' National
Daily. What will you give me for
them?" I would answer immediately "I
will give you a million dollars for
them, and if you will wait on me for
a little while l will give you half
million dollars more!" the man would
probably say "Mr. Lewis, you certain
ly cannot afford to do that, as the price
of the Daily is 81 a year, and you
would be half a million dollars out of
pocket. and judging from your beau
tiful surroundings, it does not seem
that you are doing business at a loss"
Then I would have to tell him the Sc
cret of making money at a loss. l
would confess that 1 was half a mil
lion dollars out at the subscription
end of the proposition, but I should
also have to tell him that his million
new subscription list would add to the
value of my publishing plant at the
advertisers end of the deal at least
five millions of dollars. l therefore
can we'll afford to lose money that
way
"Now this vast subscription business
does not have to be built up. 1t is
already established, for from one to ten
magazines may be found in almost
every home. And the demand con-
tinually increases. But the business is
at present in an unorganized condition.
There is not much system about its
present state. 1t is done on a catch
as can plan by agents and agencies
canvassing the nation, offering all
kinds of schemes to induce people to
subscribe or resubscribe.
"This Is the business that the Ameri- |
can Womans league is going to organ
ize systematize and control. When its
membership reaches the million mark
and the members realize what this
great proposition means to them, they
will see to it that their own annual
contribution to this vast sum of sixty
million dollars worth of business goes
through the channels of their own
organization, because they know that
at least so per cent of each subscription
lw ENNE -