The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-10

The following paper written by Mrs.
William Hooker was read at the meet
ing of the Woman's Club last Satur-
day afternoon. 1t is necessarily a
very brief account of that immense
meeting of the National Federation
held in New York city last June.
$50
There is not war in the world
no, nor an injustice, but you women
are answerable for it" wrote Ruskin.
Probably not willing to admit so
grave and wholesome responsibility
but cognizant of at least a part in
the affairs of life, whether they will
or no, the thinking women of COM
munities have banded themselves to-
gether for the purpose of discussing
and doing things for local betterment
and the study of conditions at large.
Realizing the usefulness of this inter-
change of ideas and the power of or
ganization these clubs found that COM
ing together as a state federation
gave them broader views, wider use
fulness and greater influence. In
like manner the state declarations unite
in a general federation and it is of
the thirteenth biennial of this wonder
full organization with its two million
membership that am to speak,
briefly, meeting with from fifteen
to twenty thousand delegates and
visitors, representing 5000 clubs and
continuing almost two weeks, begin
ming early in the morning and lasting
all day and late into the night.
New York, sometimes called the
jungle, the juggernaut, the crucible,
the melting pot of nations, the power
plant of America, with its vastness,
its wealth, its power, its influence
and its cruelty, was likewise courtesy
incarnate. All the trains and boats
were met by business-like women
who directed and in some instances
accompanied the visitors to their ho-
tells. The street car conductors and
policemen were especially courteous
and never too rushed to answer ques-
tons. Florida and Maine had head
quarters at the New Netherland hoteI
and two of the New York club women
detailed as our special hostesses were
always on hand to help in any way.
On Tuesday morning, when we were
to appear before the credentials COM
naittee, we began standing in line and
this proved to be our first, last and
intermediate state.
In blissful ignorance latter having
gone early and stood in line for hours
before reaching the goal and being
registered, checked and proven and
laden with an armload of badges anc
programs, invitations, announcements
etc. we sighed NOW the worst is
over, and hurried away for one day
with the New Jersey federation anG
the Edison reception. At the train we
again stood in line. Arriving at West
Orange in a brisk rain we stood in line
for automobiles, trans, buses or any
sort of transport Communicated to
convey us to the Edison home. The
reception was to have been al fresco
but on account of the rain was held
indoors SO you may imagine the weary
standing in line to single file thous-
ands of women through doors and
rooms of a not unusually large resi-
dence. The women were jolly and
good-natured and we got acquainted
with those before and behind US.
had the good fortune to stand just be-
hind Mrs. Cowles of California, cam
didate for president, and we discover
ed mutual friends and had most
pleasant chat. (She was in college
with Mrs. Ben Watts of Leesburg). II
was worth all the waiting and more
to have the privilege of touching the
hand and looking into the face of the
greatest American. Mrs. Edison is
lovely, and we also met Mrs. Irwin
Cobb at this reception. But these
standings in line" were only prepar-
atory-the real thing came at the
opening meeting Wednesday night a,
the Seventh Regiment armory. TIC
quote the Evening World:
Two thousand people, according to
police estimate, in remarkable silk
stocking mob, were locked out of the
Seventh Regiment armory last night
in the crush attendant upon the open
ing of the Thirteenth Biennial Con-
vention of the General Federation oil
Women's Clubs. Nine thousand WON
en-, with a discreet sprinkling of club
husbands, were seated inside. Wher
the immense crowds began to pour in
the police, under orders from the wo-
men, admitted only those who showed
delegates badges, but when hundreds
of certified delegates reached the