Arizona republican., 1912-02-26
Proceedings of the Annual Congress Held last Week.
 Officers Reelected and New Depts. of Work Gre ated and Officers Named.

Mrs Walter Talbot, in charge of the juvenile court work; Mrs. T. E. Irwin. press and publicity Several informal talks were given and two very fine Iapcrs were read. by Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Fowler. In the evening Mrs. A. T.. Westen gave most in- teresting talk; all who heard her felt they were very materially helped Mesdames Harrison and Roebuck gave q mandolin and guitar duet and Mrs. l.. D. Cameron sang in her usual sweet voice. Coffee and cake were served and pleasant social hour spent.
 Address by Mrs. J. C, Norton. To the Mothers. Fathers, Teachers
 and Friends. We extend hearty
 welcome to this. the seventh con
 vention of the Arizona Congress
 of Mothers:
 Six years ago last month a union meeting of the various Mothers cir cles in Phoenix was called and the Arizona Congress of Mothers was or ganized, to further the work of Child Welfare throughout the territory.
 owing to the fact that cities and towns were so widely separated. rail- road rates high, and the congress had no funds, the task of extending or ganiZation throughout the state had to be done almost entirely through ccrreSDondencc
 Much work in this way has been Couraging results, and yet as the continued dropping of water will wear away the hardest stone so are we beginning to receive letters from the various points in the state asking for information and assistance in or ganiZing child study circles.
 As long ago as 1906 we hoped and planned to meet and hear one of the national officers but circumstances conspired to prevent a visit from Mrs. Schoff, the president of the na tional congress. and not until 1911 did we have the Hleasure of meeting and listening to Mrs. Thatcher. na tional auditor.
 In 1907 we had three representa- tiVes at the national congress which convened in Los Angeles. They brought back such glowing accounts as inspired us to fresh enthusiasm. Mrs. Phelps also cheered Us on the way by her reports from the New Orleans convention a couple of years later. and last spring We had as our representative at Washington, Mrs Walter Talbot, who will tell us this afternoon some things about the Second International Congress.
 In regard to what has been accom- plished in the past years, many of you know that the different circles have studied various phases of the care and training of the child, have improved the school grounds, bought pictures, pianos and furniture for use | in the schoolroom. and have installed emergency supplies and rest rooms for use in case of accident or sudden | illness.
 As to the past year, we feel we cannot. like the politicians. point | with pride to the record of work Gone, though the individual circles HOW in operation are forging ahead. We have lost two of our circles. ] have added three and are in corre- sIrondcnce with mothers and teachers ! in several communities who are anx- ious to organize shortly
 ] So. as the apostle in olden times. Forgetting the things that are behind, we press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling" know | ing that ours is a great work. di- vinely appointed, for, as God gave to us the holy gift of parenthood. so we must realize the responsibilities. not only for our own children, but all of the children in the world. and ask ourselves the question, What can 1 do to further the welfare of the chil- dren of the world?"
 This month marks the fifteenth an niversary of the founding of the Ma tlonal Congress of Mothers and over all this country begins a three months child-welfare campaign from which we expect a wave of interest and enthusiasm which will carry us all to greater and more intelligent zeal.
 - As Arizona is taking on the greater responsibilities of statehood. so must | we go on to higher things. cooper ating with any organized or unor- ganized interest which will better the condition of childhood and moth erhood
 l Beginning in our own homes, like charity. to study the best interests of our own children. then to those of our neighbors' children. whose lives touch those of our children; not to criticize what other mothers are or are not doing, but to cooperate. all working together. learning from each ether, then on to the children of the city and to those of the nation.
 But the very busiest people in the world are the mothers; and, no mat ter how interested she may be. the mother of small children feels that her time is not her own and she can not be relied on, as the calls of her home must come first.
 It has been suggested that after the children are out of arms and have
 been in school for short time, the mothers lose interest in this work.
 Surely. the mothers responsibility is only growing greater and we have Inruch to learn. It was even given at the reason for dishanding the higl 'school circle that the children Wcrr