The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-21
100000 WANTED.
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Seeks Endowment Fund.


Chicago May 2l.--The General Fed
GRAFTON OF Women's Clubs is attempting
to raise an endowment fund of 100000,
and one OF the features of the biennial
convention, to be held in Chicago June
0-lg, will be the report upon this fund,
which will show that it is fast nearing
completion. In response to the inquiry,
"Why does the general federation need
an endowment" its president, Mrs.
Percy V. Pennybaeker, said:
Some nine years ago, when, under
Mrs. Sarah Plat Decker's administra-
ton, the bureau of information was
founded, Mrs. Decker warned MS that,
while the bureau was absolutely nee
essary, the expense of maintaining it
(something over $1,000 a year, would
gradually eat up the surplus that we
at that time proudly exhibited. You re-
member she told us in her wonderful
last address at San Francisco just what
she foresaw. In addition to this new
expense you, in convention assembled,
have at various times increased the
number of departments of work. We
now have not only IL departments, but
many of these are divided by your di-
rection into subcommittee that rank
nearly equal in Importance to the de-
partments themselves: for instance, I'M
der the head of education the San Fran
cisco convention ordered subcommittee
on peace and political science to be or
ganized. The addition of every new
line OF work means additional expense;
at the same time, it means growth, it
means progress, it means inspiration,
without which we cannot live. Under
Mrs. Moore's presidency the federation
became co-ordinated, with various other
national bodies we are consequently
asked TO advise with these organizations
and to send speakers to their conven-
tions, which facts, desirable as they are,
mean expense to some one"
To meet this expense the work of
raising an endowment fund was begun.
For instance, il Idaho, taking up the
subject of child labor laws, wishes to
be informed of what is being done in
Massachusetts,, the general federation
endowment fund would allow some rep
resentative woman of Idaho to have her
expenses paid to go to Massachusetts,
and investigate conditions there. If an
other state is taking up the question OF
a living wage and needs speakers to
influence the state legislature, the en-
dowment fund would provide the means
whereby speakers might be sent to that
state. The expense of the bureau of in
formation, continually extending its
help, not only TO every state federation,
but to every club and to every individ-
ual in club if it is asked, would have
the funds necessary to carry on the
work. There are IL departments in the
general federation-civics, civil service
reform, conservation, education. with its
four subdivisions of peace, political sci
ence, social hygiene and voca tional train
ing and guidance, household economics,
industrial and social conditions, legisla.
ton, literature and library extension,
art, music and public health--all fitting
women for the broader duties of citizen
ship and a clearer understanding of the
vital questions before the nation to-day.
To carry on the work of these depart
ments the women's clubs of the country
are endeavoring to raise the 100000
endowment fund which will make the
work possible. Mrs. w. X. James, st.
Joseph, Mo-, is chairman of the field
committee on endowment, while the
trustees of the endowment fund are
Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, president of
the general federation; Mrs. William B.
Lapeer, Mich; Mrs. Catherine
Carter Warren, Princeton, n. j.; Mrs.
Robert j. Burdette, Pasadena, CAL; and
Mrs. Philip n. Moore, st. Louis.