The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-11

FORUMS SPECIAL
new YORK LETTER |
New York, May ITO The Forum:
In the periodical devotions Of the Ro-
man Catholic church the month of May
is called the month OF Mary. There is
in the mild manner of the month some
thing feminine, a certain softness,
graciousness which covers over the re-
solute %fecund1ty OF nature, which now
is burgeoning on every side. In choos-
ing the annual date for general ex-
preston of their hopes n status the
suffragists seem to have recognized the
purely feminine characteristics or May
and, as one of the dailieS put 1t, Satur-
day Miss Suffrage was queen of May"
In this city instead of the annual par
ade speeches were delivered in quarters
accessible to the crowds which the brill
liant spring sun was entlclng into the
streets, and a grand rally closed the
day at Carnegie hall. A very genuine
disappointment came to the equal sum
al workers when Mayor Mitchell ad-
dressing the assemblage in a speech of
welcome avowed his belief that the
vote was not necessary to women to
accomplish their work in the world. He
is evidently an advocate of the indirect
influence, and if such Is a very brave
man, but the kind of brave man whose
futile efforts were first cause for the
trite proVerb, Discretion is the better
part Of valor. A few years ago the
equal suffrage proposition was put up
to Theodore Roosevelt and to the
amaZement Of many Of his followers he
lodged, Roosevelt lodged. 1t seemed
impossible but it was a fact; for he
took refuge behind the barricade, that
he hadn't given it thought because so
many more things now before the pub-
lie were more important, and while not
condemning the movement, really
damned it by faint praise. At least,
that was the impression his article
made on earnest suffrage workers. In
the course of time Roosevelt gave a
whole hearted espousal of the suffrage
cause, but the indecision Of an earlier
day had worked against him and by
indirect influence his vote was lowered
in such states as North Dakota, where
he had had the status OF a favorite
adopted son. The repetition Of history
is proyerbial, and Mayor MttchslpS I'M
necessary, uncalled for espousal of the
negative attitude in q public assembly
called for the purpose of advocating
and furthering Suffrage may prove 10
down. He may realize the strength of
indirect influence.
The breadth and depth of the femin-
list movement grips the observer who is
part of any big assemblage of women.
Possibly the absence of the average
man from such audiences accounts for
his inability to grasp the significance
street treats the demand for suffrage as
a fad. OF course, an impertinent de-
mand but as a subject of conservation,
tango, the hobble skirt The pur-
veyors to the thirst of mankind have,
however, naked up. The brewer and
d~istiller are seeing a great light. The
l ~ YJtVyIinnJy Nyarinfy nf uTnr1 ans aRfi-
vities vas apparent in the one hundred
eighty-nine clubs which sent represen-
tatives to the annual convention of the
New York City Federation of Women's
clubs on May /. The grand ballroom
Of the Hotel Astor held about seven
hundred women when the session was
in full swing, and the delegates covered
antrophy, pure food, hygiene. child well
fare, Widows protection, vocational
education, suffrage, ~anti-suffrage, art,
drama and trade unionism. In the mat
ter of the business brought before this
convention, the real character Of the
endeavor which brings together this
council-the feminist movements
emphasized although many a club wo-
maj there does not take in as yet this
} significant fact. The topics concern ma
ional and city housekeeping; the main
tenance Of just relations between the
employer and the employed; the safe
guarding of the peace relations be-
tween our country and sister common
. wealths. Thirty years ago would they
have been the subjects of discussion?
l Such meetings are a clarion voice
l speaking of the determination Of wo-
} men to be factors in the life of the day.
Modern industry, born only a hundred
years ago, removed from the homes the
creative Industries, the work whose
. successful pursuit made woman a fac
! tor of life. When industries were COM
mercialized n capital invaded, her
field removing her work from the
home, they could not remove the crea-
tive ability. Nature has always had a
> the skirt when giving out talents and
capacity. o the creative ability
robbed OF it's outlet is making its great
. protest and we have the disquieting
e feminist problem. Inasmuch as the
ballot will help for self expression, II
must surely come.
A special feature of the convention
was the proposition of Mrs. Belle dc
T Rivera, founder and honorary president
: of, the New York city federation sug-
8 costing that a roll Of honor be estab-
;, lished among club women. She plead
= for the formation of a standard OF
3 ethics for clubs and club members an6
as the Victoria Cross or the Legion OF
s Honor emblem stood for heroic achieve
ment-the something done beyond oul
common duty-so an emblem might be
designed, a course of conduct outlined
for the aim and ideal of club women
Club ethics-we all have a vague idea
what it would mean but IL the clut
n women succeed in establishing a cod,
of ethics whose adequacy shall appea
a to the higher intelligences, surely the!
will " accomplished much to gain
say the dictum that abstract justice il
not a quality of the feminine mind.
Mrs. B. Jack Boynton formerly Mis-
i Zoefel OF Fargo) of Burlington, VT, i!
n making a short visit to the city. Sh,
: was the dinner and theatre guest o
Mr.. and Mrs. Lee Pelzer Muckenfus
2 on Tuesday. The friends of Mrs. Muck
enfuss will be pleased to hear of tn
great improvement In her health. Mrs
Muckenfuss is looking forward to AM
preparing for a visit in June from, he
W mother, Mrs. Melissa Clarke Of Fargo
s Mrs. Clarke will be accompanied b,
her daughter and son-in-law on he
visit to her son Ross Clarke in Toront
= later in the summer.
g Barnard college Is raising money b
a big oriental fair and fete which take
place Saturday. Miss Beulah Amidor
d will personate al oracle of Isis as
h fortune teller at the affair.
It. Former Fargoan.