El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-10

THE tenth biennial convention OF
the General Federation of Wom-
ems clubs will meet today III
Cincinnati. This organization repre-
serts 46 state declarations of women S
clubs, more than 5000 individual clubs
having an aggregate Of S50, 900 mem
bcrs. No other organization of women
in the world represents such a power
fUl and active militant movement for
social betterment. WOmen'S clubs, in
the first instance, may have been organ
lied for literary or social enjoyment,
but they long since have extended
their scope until now they are vitality
interested in every phase of social ac-
tivity from the church to the kitchen.
Old Clubs Represented.
SOrosis of New York, and the Won
ems club of Boston once were rivals
for the honor of being the Oldest wom-
ems club in the United States each of
them having been founded in 1868. But
upon investigation it was found that
priority belongs to the Ladies Lii
brary society of Kalamazoo Mich,
which was founded in 1852. The Mi
nerya club of New Harmony, Ind, is the
second oldest, having been organized in
1859.
Sorosis, however. was the leader Of
the federation movement and was re-
ganization. for broadening the scope of
Women's club work. Sorosis called
meeting of clubs in 1889 for the pur-
pose of mutual improvement. The fol-
lowing year several state declarations
were formed. The first biennial con-
yention of the General Federation of
Women's clubs met in Philadelphia in
1894. There were then five state fed
erations, Maine, Utah, Massachusetts.
has its federation while the insular
possessions and the canal zone also
are represented in the General Fedora
ton.
Labors of Clubs Varied.
The work of the clubs included in
the federation is as widely varied as
the many sections they represent. Ev-
cry movement having for its purpose
the betterment of social conditions has
its active supporters among these clubs
While devoted to children, kitchen and
church. the American club woman
takes broad view OF, her duties and
responsibilities and uses every effort
TO make not only her own. but all 9TH
e. children happier and more useful,
by throwing around them the safe
guards Of better laws, better education
al facilities and healthier environ
ments.
only. her own. but all her neighbors',
kitchens well kept, in competent hands
and stocked with pure food, believing
that the health of the nation depends
upon the cleanliness and wholesomeness
of its kitchens. She uses every effort
to make her own and every other
church stronger, broader and more pow
solution of perplexing social problems
Exert Powerful Influence.
The club women are not content, af-
ter the fashion of so many organiza-
tions Of men, to meet and pass reso-
lutions. They actually do things. and
they are not satisfied with anything
short of concrete results. At the same
time they exert a vague but pow erfuI
influence upon the community In gem
eial by virtue of the educational fea-
lures Of their work. While this is
vague, so is all education vague. and
the women's clubs are none the less en-
titled to the credit of a large share in
the general awakening of the American
conscience to sense of civic unright-
eousness.
Cover Many Phases of Work
During the sessions OF the convention
in Cincinnati this week reports will be
heard from committees and from state
federations covering more than 200 diff
ferent phases of active club work Con-
servation of natural resources. civil
service reform, pure food, education,
juvenile court extension. child labor
Fairgrounds, mountain missions free
circulation libraries. children's gardens.
The sane Fourth of July, sanitation,
anti-tuberculosiS crusade. civic i'm
provement, municipal government re-
form. household economies. and Amer
lean art and literature are New of
the subjects which serve family TO sug-
gest the broad scope and wonderful ac-
tivity Of this federation of women's or
Ganizations. Almost every one Of the
5000 clubs has taken some measure OF
active interest in all of these things
although some clubs specialize on some
particular branch of work
The federation being a permanent
institution. acts as a clearinghouse for
al; the clubs and is able to enhance
the value of individual club effort. by
furnishing facilities for intelligent CO.
operation. For instance a club in
Massachusetts makes a special study
of home economy. Naturally one woman
becomes the leader in this work, be-
comes thoroughly acquainted with the
needs Of the average housewife, learn