Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-11
Organized Women En-
gagged in True Religion
Says Federation Head.
DISCOURAGED LIFTED
Big Question Facing Nation Is
Held to Be Betterment of
Rural Existence.

Chicago, ILL.,, June lit became
evident at today's session of the con
vention of the General Federation OF
Women's Clubs that the suffrage fac.
tion had concluded to make a fight for
endorsement in the regular way
through the resolutions committee.
Suffragist leaders are confident that a
resolution endorsing the principle of
suffrage will be reported favorably by
the committee. A dozen or more res
olutions on the subject are in the
hands of the committee.
The report of the credentials COM
mittee, presented by Miss Grace Tenn
pie of Chicago, showed 1,516 delegates
present Illinois. suffrage state, has
297. The next largest is 81, Ohio
There was much confusion in the fore
noon in seating the delegates.
Chicago, June 11.-Declaring her be-
lief that club work is true religion"
and proposing that the federation
join in an earnest campaign for the
betterment of rural life, Mrs. Percy
V. Pennybacker, president of the Gen
eral Federation of Women's clubs, to-
day addressed 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 declarations and primarily by in
dividual effort
Let us cali for volunteers" said
Mrs. Pennybacker, ito carry the gos-
pei of the general federation work to
every individual club at least once a
year. l would not hesitate to ask
these women to offer their services in
the highest missionary spirit, for YER
lily the message they will bring is
of religious nature.
IF you could hear IS | have heard
stories of how 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 those hungering in spirit have
been comforted and refreshed you |
would not feel that l have overstated |
the matter when l claim that club !
work is true religion.
''If we could bring about these three
-hings during the next two years. if
We could deliver our message before
every other state organization, if we
Gould have a live general federation
session at each state meeting, if we
;ould secure fervid, consecrated wom-
IN to carry a message to every individ-
lal club, we would find it easy to ac-
any reform we undertook"
The rural betterment campaign pro-
posed by Mrs. Penny hacker which she
declared would be both inspirational
nd concrete accomplishment, look
d toward providing comfortable
ZONES for country school teachers.
"As a country" said Mrs. Penny
acker, I'VE are almost united upon
he fact that the great question facing {
s is the betterment of rural life 1t is ,
D produce more in the fruits of the !
eld, they must have opportunity to /;
We more. II we, the million women
! this federation, would concentrate 1
1r the next two years in an effort to I
ring about a model settlement, and ,
specially to establish teachers homes,
r teacherages. as they are called. in
with at least one school
uilding in each county. we would be
crying the entire nation.
For Permanence of Teacher.
"The day will come when a poet will .
rise to sing the virtues and unselfish
ervice OF the country teacher. If the |
:hooI is to be a real center OF the I
est social life in the community, il
ust be presided over by a teacher
no has at least some degree of per-
anency. Nothing will sooner give
lis permanency than a comfortable
1use. with a plot of ground. where
e teacher can have a settled feeling.
by giving the teacher a home where
: might become a dominant force
the community life, We would be
wing every department in our fedora
ln a new avenue for reaching the
,ople Art, civics, conservation. civil
rvice reform. home economics, in
Istrial and social condition. legisla-
re. literature and library. music and
Iblic health. would be called upon to T
rye in such a community as this. =
There are today other forces think :.
2. planning and working along the u
Ie I have indicated. All stand ready p
cooperate with US in this service. al
III you ask me how shall we go d.
work to secure this. would not n
re answer. We must study before re
ting But this Anow full well, II We n