Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-11
MRS. PENNYpAckER TELLS GEN.
ERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN
OF GREAT WORK.
SPLENDID FIELD FOR
LARGER WORK OPENING
Urges Women to Join in Campaign For
Betternent Of Rural Life = Fsvors
Comfortable Homo and Plot Of
Ground For Special Use Of Country
School Teacher.

Chicago, June n.-Declaring her be-
lief that club work Is true religion"
and proposing that the federation Join
in an earnest campaign for the better
ment Of rural life. Mrs Percy v. PEN
nybacher. president Of the General Fed
GRAFTON Of Women's clubs. today adj
dressed the biennial convention Of the
general federation.
She asked that the federation work
be widened by being presented before
other organizations: by conferences at
state federationse and primarily by In
dividual effort.
Let US call for volunteers" said
Mrs. Pennybacker, "to carry the gospel
of the general federation work to every
individual club at least once year
would not hesitate to ask these
women to offer their services in the
highest missionary spirit, for verify the
message they will bring Is oftimes Of a
religious nature"
Much Good Accomplished.
stories Of bow sick babies had been
saved, of how women to whom every
door Of life was closed have had their
lives made full Of hope and courage:
Of how these hungering in spirit have
been comforted and refreshed you
would not feel that have overstated
the matter when I claim that club
work is true religion.
III we could bring about these three
things during the next two years, II we
could deliver our message before every
other state organization II we could
have a live general federation session
at each state meeting II we could Sc
cure fervid, consecrated women to
carry message to every individual
club. we would find 1t easy to accom-
plish any reform we undertook"
The rural betterment campaign pro-
posed by Mrs. Pennybacker which she
declared would be both inspirational
and concrete accomplishment. looked
toward providing comfortable homes
for country school teachers.
Rural Life eetterment.
"As country" said Mrs. Penny
hacker, I'VE are almost united upon the
fact, that the great question facing us
is the bettcrment Of rural life. 1t Is
not enough for our rural people
to produce more in the fruits Of the
field, they must have opportunity to
live more. II we, the million women
in this federation, would concentrate
for the next two years in an effort to
bring about a model settlement. and
especially to establish teachers homes.
, or teacherages. as they are called. in
connection with at least one school
building In each county. we would be
serving the entire nation.
"The day will come when a poet will
. arise to sing the virtues and uneelfish
service Of the country teacher II the
school is to be real center Of the best
social life in the community. 1t must
be presided over by teacher who has
at least some degree OF permanency
Nothing Will sooner give this perman-
ency than a comfortable house. with
plot Of ground. where the teacher can
have settled feeling.
There are today other forces think
ing, planning and working along the
line have indicated. all stand ready
to operate with us in this service.
"1f you ask how shall we go to
work to secure this. I would not dare
answer We must study before act
ing. But this I know full well, II we
go at this conscientiously. thought
fully. prayerfully, the way will open"
"Are you willing to work for this
concrete Accomplishment and two years
!; from now report what we have been
able to help to bring to pass?"
Growth Of Federation.
f. The national president told Of the
/ increase in the ranks Of the genera
J federation since the last biennial con-
veption go clubs having been ad-
mitted. leaving no state unrepresented
I; in the fereration roll. She spoke OF the
! routine work attached to the presi.
Dental office and jokingly observed
| that 1t might be we'll to have three
! presidents. "one to stay at home, Il
answer the enormous mall to think and
! study and to plan: second to trave
| and accept hos. of invitations to speak
and a third. social and eating presi.
dent
Mrs. Pennybacker touched feelingly
on the help she had received from
former officers and from club womer
throughout the country. She suggested
that the establishment OF an efficiency
! commission to work out the problems
of the federation would be a step for.
ward. W
Her closing words were: Thankful
for the past, hopefa! FOR the future. le
us gird on our armor and press for.
ward"
Look For Suffrage Endorsement.
Chicago. June 1l-Belief Of suffrag
ist leaders that the votes for women
cause will be endorsed by the Genera
Federation OF Women's Clubs in con
vention here, today led the suffrag
faction to decide on taking the PROPOSE
] ton up in the regular way thru the res
| olutions committee.
| While no announcement OF thi
| change in attitude was made by tn
leaders 1t was declared to be apparen
In absence Of opposition to the adop
!! ton OF the rules and regulations pre-
sented by Mrs Andrew J. Gorman. o
eaN Lake City. chairman Of the com