Imperial Valley press., 1914-05-19
CONGRESS OF WOMEN
GET TO WORK TODAY
Omitted Press Day Service)

Omitted Press Day Service)
Rome, May 18.-The readjustment
of woman's sphere of action in the
home, in the field of labor, and in
social work, to meet the changed con
ditions of today were the problems
with which the International Congress
of Women had cut out for itself to
solve when it reconvened here this
morning.
The opening session of the congress,
which has been organized by the Ma
tional Council of Italian Women, was
attended by nearly 1900 women. OF
these, nearly one-half were delegates
to the Quintennial Meeting of the
International Council of Women,
which closed it's session in Rome Fri
day, hut who remained over to parti-
cipate in the Congress. 1t was in fact
owing largely to the holding in Rome
of the International Congress at this
time and as a result the opening ses-
sion this morning had amongst its
audience such distinguished women as
Lady Aberdeen, president of the Coun-
Gil; Princess Laetitia, Duchess of Aos-
ia, Mrs. Ogilvie-Gordon, Countess
Spalletti-Rasponi, Frau Hainisch of
Vienna, Mrs. Mary Sewall, Madame
Ayril de Ste Croix, Countess Danieli-
Camozzi, Rev. Anna Shaw and in fact
practically all of the best known lead
ers of the Feminist movement from
all of the leading countries of the
world
The opening session, declared to be
the most representative gathering Of
women of the world that has ever
taken place, was held in the perma-
nent art palace erected by Italy in
the Vale Giulia for the exposition of
three years ago. AS the building was
taxed to its capacity arrangements
were made for the holding of overflow
meetings hereafter in the American
pavilion, permanent structure erect
ed for the exposition and which is
still standing. Queen Mother Margher-
ita was also one of the conspicuous
attendants this morning, while Queen
Elena sent formal greetings. The Con-
gress will continue in session until
May % when the greater part of the
delegates will go to Vienna as the
guests of the Woman's clubs of that
city.
In the formal outlining Of the work
of the congress, as announced this
morning that which relates to the
home will be disposed of under three
heads. First, the necessity of an or
ganization of the home more fitting to
the new moral and economical condi-
tions, social ambients, morals and hy-
giene of today. Secondly, the city
home, the laborer's home. Thirdly, the
Garden City.
The work of the Congress as relates
to the readjustment of woman's posi-
tion in the sphere of labor will in
clude the conciliation of the mission
of woman in the family with the ex-
igencies of labor; the influence OF
woman's labor on the physical and
moral conditions of the family; the
full recognition of the child's social
Importance, and the opening of new
fields for feminine activities that find
no employment in family life.
AS regards woman's social works
the Congress will take up the ques-
ton of moral and legal aid to minors:
protection of emigrant women, paup
erism; woman as regards hygiene and
sanitary aid and the question of how
society helps the subdued in the strug-
gle for life.
The work program of the Con-
gress has been interspersed with
pleasure program which includes visits
to all of the famous antiquities of
Rome, and receptions at the Vatican
and Qurinial.