St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1916-10-07
WIL.LINGTO
HAVE WOMEN
BLAMED
Objects to Criticism That
Vaudeville Organizations
I
Do Not Pull Together.
iMandev;1,e Ia Sent 20 1915

Vaudeville, La, Sept. 80, 1916. =,
Editor St. Tammany Farmer:
Referring to the editorial in st.
Tammany Farmer of Saturday, Sep
tenlber, %, in which the writer ad-
vancSs the opinion that the cause OF
Vaudeville not making the progress
to present is due to factions, par
ticularly among the organized bodies
of the town. As woman actively
Interested in the women's organiza-
tions here l most strenuously object
to this opinion. How Vaudeville
has acquired this reputation know
not, but it looks like a case (par-
don the use of slang expression)
"giye q dog a bad name and it will
stick. That there has been, and
may still he for ought l know, differ
ence of opinions, petty disputes be-
tween individuals, l will not deny;
but that this has extended to any
one organization of women / most
emphatically deny. Take the two
most prominent wOmen's organiza-
tions here. the School League and
the Progressive Union. we have a
number of women VINO belong to
both, and giving their best interests
to both. Last winter on two 0cca-
sions entertainments were given for
the school, either by the League or
some one interested in the school,
and onsboth of these occasions the
Progressive Union gave their hal
gladly, besides the giving OF dona-
tions by individual members. So
much was the interest taken by the
Union in the school work, that it was
standing rule whenever anything
was given for. the school the hall was
to be given free Of all charges. The
same can be said, of the League in
attending any affairs of the Union.
-Is this factions? What a pity that
those whose duty it is to look after
the interest Of the school to try to
hide behind the so-called troubles
and upsets of the women.
For the last few years, and longer
perhaps, the women have worked
faithfully to have as long session
as possible. And each year as the
opening of school approaches they
look forward to winter Of work,
and hard work, to give the children
a good school term. What, pray
may l ask, are the men doing? Are
school leagues, progressive unions or
any other civic bodies of women or
ganized for the so,e purpose of keep
ing the schools open? Where are
those who are elected to Office for
that purpose? They get the honor
and it is case of "let' the women do
the work" / am not trying to
preach suffrage, as am not inclined
that way (although it seems to be a
good way as so many intelligent wO-
men are going in that direction), but
/ have a very high regard for the
ability OF my sex and feel confident
would, IL not do better, do no worse
than the men are doing. It strikes
me as being almost funny how some
men confuse the words interest
and ''meddliQg," as soon as women
or an organization OF women ask
questions. suggest ideas, or pTfsume
TO criticize what men are doing and
are interested enough to want to
help, the first thing you hear is "why
don't the women mind their o&n af
fairs and stay at home and stop
Such has been the case
here In Vaudeville. 0epeatedly
have we tried and just as many times
has no attention been paid to us
and We we're considered as meddling.
The school situation today in Man
deville is not due to the fact that
there is no unity of action between
the organized bodies OF women, al
though that is the impression, but
it is due most likely to the fact that
the different school officials are not
doing their duty. Why have taxes?
Why have any other funds for school
purposes II the women hare to COM
raiso th6 money. Put the
az