The Twin City star., 1916-08-05
Empire State Federation Re-
elects Mrs. N. C. laWtOn.
; ECHOES OF REGENT SESSION
Reports Read at Annual Meeting Held
In Poughkeepsie Show Increase In
Membership and an Unfagging In
terest In Constructive Effort For
Racial Advancement.
By N. BARNETT DODsON.

By N. BARNETT DODSON.
New York.-The notable growth of
the Empire State Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs during the past five years
Is high compliment to the industry
and executive ability of the women
of our race. Through the untiring eff
forts Of Mrs. M. c. Lawton of Brook
lyn as state organizer the federation
has advanced from weak and halt
ing position to that of matured expert.
ence with a force of workers in the
various clubs which covers every
phase of racial interest. When Mrs.
+, Lawton was elected as organizer there
were possibly not over six clubs in
the federation; now there are fifty.
At the 1915 meeting of the fedora
ton Mrs. LawtOn was elected to the
presidency and was continued in that
Office for another year at the meeting
held at Poughkeepsie in July. Mrs
Lawton Is woman Of culture and
wide experience. She is intensely in
terested in race work, and as an agi
tator for fair play and equal justice
her voice has been heard on many
occasions. For fourteen years she has
been contributor to the Brooklyn
Daily Standard Union, portraying the
aspirations, struggles and achieve
ments oftthe race in every department
of its activity.
The eighth annual meeting of the
federation was held recently at POugh-
keepsie The roll call of clubs repre-
sented showed that seventy-five dele
gates were present. They came from
clubs at Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Ithaca.
New Rochelle, Syracuse, Tarrytown,
Yonkers, Jamaica, N. Y, Manhattan
and Brooklyn. Six new clubs were
added to the membership. After the
presentation Of credentials, receiving
Of badges and seating Of delegates. the
address Of welcome on behalf of the
sclubs Of Poughkeepsie was delivered
by Mrs. M. J. Golden, which was re-
Ssponded to by Mrs. Charlotte Bell
Governors island.
Rescue Work" was set forth in a
strong talk by Miss Grace p. Campbell.
superintendent of the Empire Friendly
Shelter, 116 West One Hundred and
Thirty-third street, New York. A me-
mortal service was held in honor of
Miss Fl. Cordelia Ray, first secretary
of the federation and author of the
state song of the same. The life, char
acter and work Of Miss Ray were beau:
tifully told by DR.. Morton Jones, Mrs.
A. w. Hunton, Nine V. Scott and
others. Other deceased members in
cluded Miss Maria Tyson, secretary of
the NJ. c. Lawton Empty Stocking cir
Gle. a splendid tribute to the women
was delivered by the Hon. D. w. Will
Der, mayor Of POughkeepsie, who wei
coined the federation on behalf Of the
citizens. Mrs. WILDER. who accomra-
MED her husband, presented the fed,
Grafton with lovely fern.
The address Of welcome on behalf Of
the churches was delivered by the Rev.
Clarence Van Buren, pastor Of the A.
NJ. E. Zion church. The physical cul-
ture demonstration given by Mrs. Dora
Cole Norman was a rare treat to the
audience and was highly appreciated.
An informal reception was given in
honor Of the occasion by the POugh
keepsie Neighborhoo6 club. of which
the federation was guest. "The De-
velopment Of the Y. w. G. A." by
Mrs. A. w. Hunton; "The Benefits of
Settlement Work." by Dr. V. Morton
Jones; "Our Young People," by Mrs.
Tillie Harden Of Poughkeepsie; "The
Possibilities Of the Trained Nurse"
Mrs. Adah Thorne. r. s.: "The Wo-
men of Today" Mrs. F. X. Burns; "The
Working Girl" Mrs. NJ. B. Gregory:
Education the Racial Lever" Mrs
Charlotte Delt: SIS Woman's Suffrage
Justifiable? Mrs. J. II. Winfield. were
the subjects ably discussed before
large and appreciative audiences.
The annual address Of the president.
Mrs. M. c. Lawton. which was well
received by the members. emphasized
the importance Of questions affecting
the working girl. Y. w. c. A., home
blife, delinquent girl and the girl far
thest down. The establishment OF an
arts and crafts department and jun
ior industrial department were added
to the federation by a unanimous vote.
Prizes will be awarded to the one
bringing in the finest piece of art work
and the one presenting the best essay.
The position of historian was created
and the honor Of same conferred on