The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-20

10 assume that the propagandas of women's
CLUBS are always wise. 1t Is not necessary that
they should invariably be successful Women
are ready in adjustment and when upon the
wrong track they can quickly acknowledge err
ror ana change their tactics, and they seldom
are overborne by disbursement
these airs all practical facts In relation to
the spirit and purposes Of the clubs maintained
py women that bear saliently upon the present.
DAY problems of society. In other times Gull
tured and earnest women did their work through
salons, and only privileged few could unite
IN the quickening and forceful conferences that
often originated from these frequently brilliant
assemblages- With the broadening of the field
OF culture for the female and the widening
| o. the scope Of influence women came out from
the salon and formed the more democratic
clubs Yet these clubs carry with them the
Iaoltions Of the assemblies of picked women
OF the centers of the world. While at times
salon gatherings were marked by the element
of pleasure rather than profit. sun the fact
mains that select gatherings of this
the progenitors of the modern clubs.
The women Of power All influence to-day
the women whose position in society affords
them the leisure and the means to enter into
active endeavors for the benefit or others
for the broadening of their own outlook,
doing great work Of social elevation and must
be reckoned among the truly conservative forces
OF the country. Maryland is among the States
which foster women's clubs, mere, else
where, the club idea has so broaCened that
the Federation of Womens CLUBS is upon a
purely democratic basis. No section OF the sex.
no necesstous elements of the reputation. no
condition of society but receives from the fed
Grated women's clubs, through some OF their
affiliated bodies, the consideration that cannot
otherwise be derived.
The fncaleulable power of the federation of
women's clubs of the States wnen banded to-
gether over the country has not been enough
appreciated outside of the circles OF women
even II the women themselvs have adequately
guaged their power No campaign upon which
the women of these clubs might enter would
| fail of success. The power they could bring
| to bear for the correction of any abuse, for
the furtherance of any interest, for the creation
| of any reform. would be tremendous The evo-
| luton of the clubs has not yet advanced to the
point at which absolute conference and unity
/ of purpose affords the leverage for uplift that
the women of the land will possess when they
are prepared to use their clubs for this pur-
| pose.
! In the meanwhile the clubs separately are
doing fine work in their respective communi-
ties and 1t would be difficult to overestimate
the good done by the clubs in the Maryland
| federation. The lcaVening influence of the wo-
mems clubs reach every strata of life and
thousands of homes deprived of sunlight and
comfort are made bright through some of these
| agencies and the general potency for uplift is
| felt by those who most need such power. Yet
there is a vast field yet to be covered, The
need advances for womens applied activities
more swiftly than it can be met But the
| time is approaching when these clubs will enter
into the larger circle Of service and be made
| the truly recreating forces they are capable or
| becoming
! The politicians who afraid to confer the
ballot upon women may well take heed OF the
growing conference of the sex; for. while the
subject of the suffrage is a mooted one, yet the
trend of liberty and liberalization is toward
/ the Improvement of women in this vital par
icular. 1t Is not q question Of particular de-
| sign it is question OF implied necessity.
SO that the time Is rapidly approaching when
the united agencies represented by the women $
clubs of this country Will speak with mighty
voice and the country will heed their tones
Whatever may be the outcome of the suffrage
proposals, the fact remains that the fun eman-
cipation Of women Ia heraded by the clubs
that present herein the full use of her activi-
ties and presenting industry and range OF
culture and human interest unparalleled by any
similar organizations among men. Not antago-
! nostfc, but co or dnated, the OF the land
, and the OF the land will ultimately be upon
i. an equal plane in the prosecution of those in
, terests of society and individuals that must be
3 furthered in order that the generations to come
may be advanced further in the direction Of
Ideal society than those of the past-Baltimort
e American