Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07


About one-f1fth of the present member
ship of the federation here is secured
through the cooperation OF the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. body or
ganized in this city in 1874 and now hav-
ing thirty branches Another organiza-
ton which helps to swell the federation's
membership is the Woman's Suffrage AS
ISOLATION, formed in 1857.
Large membership. however. is not
necessary to be eligible to the local fed
Grafton. as some of the clubs have hardly
more than the prescribed membership,
which is twenty-five. Then. too. in order
to be member of the general federation
it is not necessary to belong to the local
ton dues a club can belong directly to
the general association. Among those
CLUBS which. comparatively speaking, can
be classed among the smaller ones. is the
Excelsior Literary Club. organized in
1887 with the aim of intellectual and So
cial culture The Pro-Re-Nata, too,
comes under the same heading. This So
ciety. organized in 1899, has for it's OBJ
ject the study of parliamentary law and
extemporaneous speaking. Matters of
vital interest to women, such as rights
of ownership. personal rights and social
questions, and other subjects touching on
this society. A mock congress is assem-
bled. and before this body bills are pre-
scented. causes upheld and questions de-
bated, in order to increase the members
knowledge of parliamentary law.
Organized in 1892. the Legion of Loyal
Women stands for the patriotic work of
the federation. It's aim is to
fatr1oClc unite fraternally loyal wom-
Work en- for mutual improvement
and the benefit of the COM
munitf. 1t strives to stir patriotism in
the hearts of its members to maintain
true allegiance to the United States and
preserve the memory of our patriotic
dead. Its endeavors. however do not
stop here, as assistance is given needy
widows relatives of marines. sailors
or soldiers who fought in the Union army
during the civil war.
About one thousand members are added
to the federation fold through the men,
bership Of the Woman's Bindery Union.
which was formed with the object of
maintaining uniform rate of wages
and to keep in touch with matters affect
ing the interests Of the trade in which
it's members are employed. The Wom-
ans Clinic was formed in 1890 for the
purpose of securing a suitable institution
in the District for the medical and sur
gical treatment Of women and children
by women, and the establishment of a
hospital and sanatorium for women and
instruction in both institutions. This
organization. has had the effect of in
creasins the medical profession among
Washington women. while many patients
not able to pay for medical trea tment
had received care and attention. Ten
cents is charged. this serving partially to
support the clinic. and do away with the
feeling patients would otherwise have of
being charity objects
The Washington kindergarten Club
aims at the promotion of the principles
and practice of the kindergarten system.
and was organized in 1880. Its first presi-
dent. Mrs. Louise Pollock presented Con-
gress, through Representative James A.
Garfield with a memorial for the intro
duction of kindergarten in connection with
the public school system. This. however
was not finally accomplished until 1897
The Woman's National Press Association
ranks among the oldest woman's clubs in
this country. First organized in the Dis
trict in 1882. the movement spread until
today practically every state I'm the
Union has branch.
The Capitol Hill History Club. organized
in 1897, bears its object in its name. while
the Phiio-Classcs, organized
Latest in 1896, is also club along
c literary lines. The latest two
00AAoAS' Corners into the federation
are the Evermay Club. formed in 1905,
and the Housekeepers' Alliance. organized
in 1907. the latter having for its aim the
betterlnent of domestic problems. from
the standpoint of both the mistress Of
the house and the servant working there.
So much for the separate societies which
go to make up the federation. The feder
alton itself was organized in 1, by
few women. The first call was sent out
by the National Press Association in De-
cember of that year. the object then being
"the advancement Of the interests Of the
Girls Reform School, the better care and
protection of woman prisoners, there now
being but one prison for men and women,
the promotion Of wOmen's interests in
medical and law schools and other institu
tons of learning. and the erection OF
building devoted to the use of wOmen's
organizations The call was answered.
meeting held and in January, 1895.
the permanent organization founded
with an election Of officers. Among
the women who helped in forming the
new body were Miss Clara Barton, Mrs.
Mary.S. Lockwood. Miss Kate Field. Mrs.
Sarah E. Stevens. Mrs. A. W. Greedy.
Mrs Louise Pollock. Mrs; John a;
others equally prominent. Men,. too,
there were who lent a helping hand.
among them being Carroll d. Wright, DR..
William T. Harris and B. Pickman Mann.
OF the many movements which the fed
Grafton has aided since its organization
those intimately touching
Legislation women have always been
first. OF the victories &C
0ecuieu' complished by the organiza-
ton perhaps none was greater than that
achieved in 1896, when a bill was put
through Congress fixing the legal status
of women. and thereby making them the
owners of their own property. Before
that time the husband was given entire
right Of possession over the earnings OF
his wife. Then in the same year an ac
tive campaign was carried on against the
alley slums which abounded here The
next year the federation succeeded in
euualizing the right of parents in regard
to minor children. Perhaps of less magni-
tude, but nevertheless of considerable
Importance, are the improvement Of the
conditions of shop girls, larger appro-
preparations for the public schools, child
labor, children's fairgrounds. pure food
and compulsory education. in all Of which
movements the federation has taken &C.
tive measures.
The motto Of the District Federation Of
Women's Clubs is I'm Essentials, Unity;
in Non-essentials, Liberty: in All Things.
Charity" The club colors are purple and