Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-10-24

which appeared in the Denver Tlr
fwonder how many Coloradans know
that this country this state and particul-
arly the farm women of this state. were
signally honored this last summer whe n
on June IL, at Ghent. in Belgium. Mrs.
Van Dorm Harbert of Manzanola, Colo,
was selected from among 10000 dele
gates from twenty eight different ooun-
tries. as the first president of the Inter-
national Congress of Farm Women. an
organization with nearly million MEM
bers IN Europe. South Africa. Australia.
South America. Canada and the United
States?
1t was superb compliment to re-
markabe woman. woman OF whom
every American should be proud.
Three years ago this summer the In
ternational Dry-Farming congress was
holding its fifth annual session at Colo
RADIO Springs. 1t was an enthusiastic
meeting in which good many women in
terested in farming participated. Two Of
those women. Mrs, Belle ". D Harbert
and Mrs, Eleanor L. Burns, both practi-
cal farmers were especially interested.
and with the consent and CO operation OF
the men who controlled the Dry-Farming
congress. they organized and started the
American movement known as "The Ma
tional Congress of Farm Women" as an
auxiliary to the Dry-Farming congress.
That was in 1911,
their own, pocket and set about their self
appointed labor of love for the farm
women of the country.
There were twenty-five women in that
first organization but when year had
rolled around, and the international Dry
Farming congress met at Lethbridge,
Canada, the National Congress Of Farm
Women numbered o.ooo members. Dur
ing the Lethbridge meeting the women OF
Canada organized, and united with the
American women calling the amalgamat-
ed organization the Information Congress
of Farm Women and electing Mrs. Belle
v D. Harbert OF Manzanola. Colo. as
president. and Mrs. Byrtha L. Stavert of
Calgary, Alberta. first vice president:
Mrs. A. T. Watt Of Victoria. British Col
umbia, second vice president; Miss Irma
Mathews of Oklahom City. Okla, as
chairman Of Oklahoma board of control,
and Mrs. Eleanor L. Burns as secretary.
with big executive board composed Of
well-known Canadian and American farm
women.
That was in 1912.
Early in 1918 this international Farm
Women's congress was invited to par
ticipate in a Farm Women's congress
which was to meet in Belgium from the
9th to the 9th of June 1918. Mrs.
Harbert as president Of the congress. ac-
cepted the invitation.
Between the meeting at Lethbridge
and Mrs, Harbert's departure for Europe
in May, less than eight months. the Amer
lean Farm Woman's congress had grown
in membership from 10000 to 100000.
with very large growth in Canada,
where the women have been deeply in
terested in the movement.
In Brussels. and later in Ghent, Mrs
Harbert found hundreds Of delegates from
many different countries, each of which
had started its own independent organiza-
ton for the betterment of its farm women
and drawn by singleness Of purpose
and thought had come together to CO.
operate and learn from one another.
1t was wonderful congress, with dele
gates ranging from princess of Spain
down through all the social grades to the
simple. hard working farm woman her
self. A congress whose spirit was mark
ed by democracy as sweet and friendly
as it was noble and uplifting. and that
found its final expression in the address
- ,kA ~ c
became practical farm woman, mount
ed the platform. and looked out over the
delegates. among whom sat many women
of great wealth and exalted social posi-
ton. made her simple, straightforward
talk IN a manner that won the hearts oi
those women Of a more effete civilization
women who are personages in their cou-
ntries, Nine. de Velmouir of Paris, Fran
ce; Baroness Rosart de Hartong of Ger
many. pei sonal friend Of the empress OF
Germany, and a woman of great wealth
who has contributed fund of $4,000 a
year to the European division Of the
congress; Countess of Aberdeen of
Scotland, another delegate Of wealth and
Importance, who enjoys the friendship of
Queen Mary Of England. who is deeply
interested in the movement: England's S
Nine Botha of South Africa, wife of
General Botha; Madame Stewart, wife
of the educational commissioner of Hol-
land; M. Jules Melotte. owner Of Ram
court. Belgium; the Baroness Agnes Della
Faille d Huysse of Huysse, Belgium, and
hundreds more who. with one accord,
took the American farm woman to their
hearts. cheering her with enthusiasm. and
when the opportunity arose. with un-
animous voice selecting her as their first