The broad ax., 1916-06-17
THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE NORTHWESTERN FEDERA-
TON OF WoMEN'S CLUBS AT
THE COURT HOUSE, WICHITA,
KAN,

-ooS "OSA1 tAO -NOA
ern Federation of Colored Womeni
Clubs held their first annual meeting in
the Court House at Wichita, Kansas,
the program rendered at all the ses-
sions was very interesting and highly
instructive. At the winding up of the
meeting the following resolutions were
adopted:
We the members of the Northwest
ern Federation of Colored Women's
Clubs, representing more than 100000
Colored Women: with full or partial
suffrage, assembled at Wichita, Kan,
this 10 June, 1916, realizing that the
best interests of community or coun-
try can be protected and preserved,
only as its citizens, regardless of sex,
race, creed or environment, have the
fullest and freest privileges in the ex-
ercise of their -inalienable rights, in
so far as they do not infringe upon the
rights of others.
And realizing that the wise conserv-
ators of this Republic have found 1t
expedient to make laws to protect
dumb animals and freight traffic,
Realizing too, that they are now
aroused to their duty towards their
fellowmen to the extent of protecting
them from the ravages of the enemy
outside its ports,
And realizing that a community or
country is best protected which is well
and safely governed within its borders;
that the exercises of rights and privi-
leges Will have the best, most elevating
effect and bring about the most bene-
fit to the most people, only as they are
universal and extend to each and
every citizen in all, and every part OF
a great commonwealth such as our
United States of America.
For these reasons, let US resolve, that
the Northwestern Federation of Col
ored Women's Clubs does hereby adopt
the following as its advocated princi-
pies and petitions that these principles
or their substance be incorporated In
the 1916 platform of each of the Ma
tional parties which intend to make
their appeal to the voting contingency
for support;
We favor and recommend the enact
ment of such Federal laws as will make
lynching a National Crime, giving
power to the relatives, friends or rep
resentatives of the lynehed victims, to
prosecute the offenders in the United
States District Courts.
We favor and recommend uniform
divorce law which will forever put an
end to the demoralizing influence
which follow the present legislation,
which legalize marriage in one State
and places blot upon the innocent
offspring, in another section OF this
Grand Commonwealth.
We favor and recommend the enact
rnent of such uniform railroad legisla-
ton which will give equal and ade
ouate travelling accommodations to all
travelling, in every part of this United
States of America, Forever making 1t
impossible for a repetition of the
shameful humiliations which are still
heaped upon members of the most loyal
and patriotic race which claims Amer
lea, the land of the free and the homo
of the brave, as its home.
We favor and recommend child labor
laws which will protect the child OF
the most humble who may feel CON-
PEELED to, allow the undeveloped, untu-
tored of their offspring, to go in the
daily grind in order that the family
NAV be able to make ends meet, pen
.ioning such child until such time as it
shall have had ample opportunity to
develop physically and mentally sufti-
Gent to become a useful and efficient
member of society, thus obviating the
necessity of building penal institutions
and insane asylums to house them
later.
We favor and recommend full and
national suffrage, believing that the
best interests of the whole country will
be protected, when the women, who
bear the children, make the homes,
tutor the youth and sustain the church,
by their strength and taxes, are en-
powered to cast their ballot for those
who are placed in the guidance of the
chip of state.
Respectfully submitted by the
Northwestern Federation c. W. C..