Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-27
HERE'S THE WOMANS WOMAN
Traits Of the Leaders in the Suffrage
Cause.
GOOD CLOTHES AND ABILITY
Character study BASED on the Women
selected ~ the Heads OF the
Great Organizations Of
women.

There have been many references TO the
mans woman" and the "woman's
woman" with more or less discussion OF
their respective qualities. 1t Is doubtful II
any one could ever tell what a woman's
woman was untl the present day.
Woman had 20 reach that point Of CO.
operation and organization where they
could put forward members OF their own
sex to represent them, before IL could be
told what a woman's woman was like.
During the first campaign to elect Mrs.
Sarah Plat Decker Of Denver president OF
the General Federation Of women's clubs,
an eastern clubwoman remarked that she
did not think the federation wanted a voter
for president; Il wanted a feminine woman.
To which another woman responded that
a woman who could get three husbands
must be pretty feminine. Mrs. Decker has
been a widow three times. The reply In
dicated what is a fact, that the woman
put forward by women as the heads OF
their big organisations are generally women
popular among men and women both
Mrs. Decker's FOLLOWING.
Few women have ever had q wider or
more enthusiastic following among women
OF the United States than Mrs. Decker.
The General Federation has over 10000
members, nearly all women OF leisure,
many Of them Of great wealth. Mrs, Decker
refused to be a candidate for the presi-
dency at an election several years before
the one at which she was elected. She
served two terms and would probably have
become q permanent occupan OF the office
had the constitution not limited the term
Mrs. Decker never had any training as
a public speaker. Until she came into club
work she had been unknown further from
home than the ladies' aid society Of the
Episcopal church. But she is a natural
orator. She has a keen sense Of humor
and is famous for her good stories. Were
she a man he would be an after dinner
speaker.
She Is not a college graduate, nor is she
a studious woman or a great reader. She
is a great woman Of affairs, competent IN
business. full Of executive ability. She has
travelled over most OF the country as the
quest OF women's clubs, speaking at
receptions and public meetings. She has
pleasant manners, Astounding health
strength and vitality and is a clever
politician.
Though well-to-do now, she was origin
ally a ~self-supporting woman, a music
teacher. She has two grown daughters,
ope Of them married. Mrs. Decker Is the
oily woman ever invited by a president
OF the United States to sit in a conference
OF the governors as a representative Of
the women OF the country.
Carrie Chapman Cats Activity.
Were the men of the world without the
franchise and did the men Of twenty-onc
countries organize to secure this result,
the man they elected president might rea-
sonably be called a representative man.
on the same basis Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait might be called a representative
woman's woman. The s%uffragists Of the
world have given her the highest office in
their power.
Beginning as a farmers daughter, a
school teacher. a local speaker for the
cause In country towns, the ~suffragists
have made her successfully president Of
the national organization, then Of the In
ternational, finally chairman OF the first
Npmah suffrage party in history.
Mrs. Gait has distinction in dress and
appearance. She is a college graduate and
cultivated. She is an able and polished
public speaker, though not of the stam-
peding kind. She has Travelled over 100. coo
miles for suffrage, stumplng nearly every
state In the union for II and nearly all
the countries OF Europe. At a banquet Of
Che Lyceum club in London a few weeks
ago Lady Frances Balfour declared Mrs.
Gait the best presiding officer she had
ever seen Of any organized body and OF
either sex.
we had a convention of delegates from
twenty-one countries in London" said
lady Frances. 1--WE had a new constitu-
tion TO adopt, as complicated as only
Americans can make q constitution. We
discussed IL all day in the three official
languages Of the convention, with occa-
slonal INTERSECTIONS In the remaining sew
enteen. Mr.. Gait guided us through that
polygot and intricate discussion without
one moments hesitation. the loss OF ono
thread of the discourse or the offense OF
Q single individual
But It is not as a speaker or a presiding
officer that Mrs. Gait has won her power
among the women, but through her or
gaHizing ability. With her came in the
era OF organization in the suffrage move
ment; before that It had been a propa-
ganda Of agitations.
Her Ceaaeless Efforts,
From the day when she began 10 stump
her own county back In Iowa she has been
ceaselessly knitting the scattered forces
into one homogeneous movement. Those
who know Mrs. Gait personally wonder
Cat the enormous amount Of work she can
accomplish, considering the fact that she
IA at all times under the DOCTORS care.
Like George Eliot. much Of her work is
done IN pain and suffering and still she
puts in regular office hours and handles
an nOrmous correspondence from all parts
OF the world when she might be living an
easy life.
Mrs. Cats personal popularity among
women OF all sorts and kinds rests upon
the unfailing courtesy with which she
treats every one and upon her democratic
feeling. She never looks up or down to
anyone. socially sneakiug Sha naver "a.
CARDS eXterRals. Nevertheless personal
friendship and loyalty viii not lead her to
do anything which she considers unwIse
Tor the suffrage cause. She can DO very
polite for suffrage work, and she can be
stern and incorporating. when 1t is nee
essary.
Grnna glrachan OF Rrn,L-rn - ~.