The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-27

the movement claim a with the
organization of the first woman's club
in Iowa, a movement was inaugurated,
the influence of which has been more
far-reaching than might at first
thought be realized. The first step in
this direction was taken late in the
seventies; for a time the movement
made slow progress, the clubs were
few and limited in scope From the
meeting of the association for the ad-
vancement Of woman at Des Moines
In 1885, dates the general awakening
of a desire for a wider culture. Many
of the clubs were devoted to study,
others to philanthropy. church inter
ests and social affairs. The study OF
literature, art, sciences, history, par.
liamentary law and fnnumerable sub
jects, has not only interested women
in a wide range OF topics, but enabled
them to become proficient speakers and
writer's. Clubs were devoted to philan-
thropy, organized Industrial schools,
libraries, village improvement ana
humane societies. The movement be-
came so varied and widespread 1t was
found desirable and necessary to form
a state organization and at a meeting
held at Des Moines In April, 1898, the
Iowa feCeTdtlOu VI "OIIeu NiuCS
was organized.
The progress in the present cen
fury OF the movement has not been
as closely noted as the past because
the movement has been so broad
spread, SO universal, as to become a
part of our everyday happenings.
Events connected with it come SO
thick and fast that llere is nc chance
N rntn fhnr, Thnra Qnnaora m he
activity all over Iowa. Even now
when everything appears quiet around
US, Iowa women in many localities
are being aroused on the subject.
Women speakers are campaigning in
many Iowa localities.
Recently Miss Alice B. Curtis, gift
ed and eloquent, q former Iowan, but
now a resident Of Minnesota, visited
Bloomfield and gave new life to the
smoldering embers and aroused much
enthusiasm. She organized a wom-
ans suffrage campaign league which
will extend over the entire county OF
Davis. She addressed an interested
company of women at Bloomfield. Be
fore coming to Bloomfield. Miss Cur
It's organized campaign leagues in
Henry and Washington counties and
went from Bloomfield to Ottunwa to
arouse that city and Wapello county
on the suffrage question. In her ad-
dress at Bloomfield, among other
things Miss Curtis said:
Il am very much pleased with the
progress Davis county Is making. All
our men seem to believe In suffrage
and all your women seem to want 1t.
A large group of women and men
are & to work actively for it.
With Mrs. Taylor for your chairman
and this efficient body Of women as
helpers, 1 see no reason why Davis
county should not be the banner
county in Iowa on June 5th. These
officers have arranged a plan by
which with the assistance Of town
ship officers now In progress Of selec-
ton. the poll of the voters Of the
county will be taken. You have an
unusually intelligent population. You
have a very small un-American popu-
lation. Davis county ought to stand
at the head, and with the activities
now under way her chances are
splendid"
Keokuk Crops Out Again.
II will be of interest to note that
two young ONE or they were
Young when | knew them best. very
closely connected with keokuk, are
among the enrolled members of the
Bloomfield and Davis county organi-
zation, Mrs. o. D. Wray, daughter OF
Mrs. H. H. Trimble Of Keokuk. is a
chairman of the Wind Ward in
Bloomfield. AS a girl she was full of
energy, tact and spirit and will no
doubt prove a valuable aid in the or
SANITATION and the success Of the
movement there.
Mrs. Ida Selman is another keokuk
girl, born in Kentucky, but came to
Iowa a little girl, and received the
most OF her education in Bloomfield
and Keokuk, closing her school career
in the Keokuk high school. After
marriage she took up her residence
OF RlnnmReld where she has since re-