The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-09
TO HAVE new HOME
HOUSE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL
CLUB FOR WOMEN, NOW uN-
DER CONSTRUCTION.
MRS. HENDERSON GAVE SITE
Organization Is One of the Most In
terestins institutions in Washing
ton-Its Great Value to Con-
aressmens Wives.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington.-The corner stone OF
the new club house for the Congress
sional Club of Women has just been
put in place. Champ Clark, speaker
of the house of representatives, made
the principal address. His wife has
been one of the moving spirits in the
club for good many years.
The club house was made possible
by a deed of gift of land from Mrs.
John B. Henderson, widow of the for
mer Republican senator from Mis-
souri,. The new structure will stand
at New Hampshire avenue and U
street and also virtually on Sixteenth
street, sometimes called the Avenue
of the Presidents. 1t is a command
ing site and it is understood that the
building will be worthy of its location
and its purposes.
This Congressional Club of Women
is one of the most interesting institu-
tons in the City of Washington. 1t
was organized a little less than ten
years ago by few women whose hus-
bands were in congress. Under its
rules any woman member of the family
of a representative in congress or OF
a senator of the United States is elig-
ible to membership. Women whose
husbands, fathers or brothers are in
congress or who were in congress at
the time of their joining and who re-
main in Washington after the terms
of their husbands expire, can retain
their membership, ..~-4,a -
Free From Politics.
The club is absolutely non-political,
for of course Democratic, Republican
and Progressive women are eligible
to membership. The women have sue
ceeded in keeping politics entirely out
of the organization. Since the Demo
Gratis have been in control of the ad-
ministration of the government the
wife of a Republican member of con-
gress was elected to the presidency
of the club. The vice-president today
is Mrs. Frank H. Briggs, a daughter
of the late Senator Frye of Maine.
Mrs. Briggs father was a Republican
and her husband is Progressive and
yet the Democratic majority of the
club elected her as first vice-presideIit.
The club, however, has what might
be called it's social politics 1t was in
this club, although not as a part of the
organizations proceedings of course,
that the first protest was made against
the announced intention Of the wives
of the cabinet officials not to return
the social calls which were made upon
them by the wives of the represen.
tatives and senators of the United
States.
The women of the club were deeply
angered by the decision of the cabinet
women. 1t is perfectly true that the
wives of the various secretaries made
up their minds that they would not re
turn calls simply because of the i'm
mense amount of labor which the call
ing imposed upon them. To make mat
tiers worse for the cabinet women it al
most invariably has been the custom
of the congressional women as SCOT
as their first calls were returned tt
call again on the cabinet women.
A compromise has been reached il
this momentous matter and the cabi
net ladies will return one call anC
then send cards in recognition of call!
which are made after the first visi
has been returned.
Now Occupies German House.
The present home of the club is il
the residence once occupied by Sena
tor Arthur Pue German of Maryland
who died some years ago. Member
ship in the organization virtually il
socially necessary to every congress
sional woman. 1t enables her to NEE
and to get intimately acquainted witt
people whom she is expected to NEE
and it makes for good comradeshf'
among the women. In the old days be
fore the club was established man
of the congressmens wives knew eac
other only slightly. Today they NEE
once or twice week at afternoon te
or at bridge at the club and as rt
suit the whole circle of congress is lik
one big family.
The meetings of the club are col
Quoted on as high plane Of order an
preliminary procedure as are those c
either house of congress. The officer
make a study of parliamentary La
and they have to know it from A to
because there are many members nc
in Office who from their place on tn
floor make points of order fly fast an
furious if they think anything is goin
counter to the laws which should go
ern deliberative assemblies. The men
bers of the club also are interested
philanthropic work, although labc
along these lines is made more matte
of individual than of organized effor
The club is formed for social purpose
largely, but the women at their NEE
ings learn of worthy institutions an
worthy objects needing help and al
in the form of work or money alway
is forthcoming