Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-27
Two Thousand Women at.
Convention of federation.
Agree That Modern Dresses
Need Reform.
EVENING GOWNS
ARE EXCEPTED
Lack Of Conventional Ideal
Directly Responsible for
''FreakishneSS," Says Chair
man of Committee,


New York. May 26.--Shall the
women of America stnndardl2e their
street dress? Two thousand women,
delegates, alternates and visiting club
members OF the thirteenth biennial
convention OF the Federation of
Womens clubs answered the forego-
ing question in the affirmative at an
open conference Of the home econo-
mics committee OF the federation.
The committee has spent two years
in investigating the practicabilty of
the plan, and as n result Is prepared
to introduce resolution favoting 1t
at next weeks session of the conven-
ton. Gowns for evening wear are to
he excluded from the proposed limita-
tion.
Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, Mrs Rob
ert j. Burdette, Pasadena, Calf. Mrs.
Frederick Nathan, president of the
Consumers league of this city: Or.
Josephine II. Baker, of the New York
City bureau OF child hygiene; DR..
Benjamin r. Andrews, Of the New
York Teachers college, and Lady
Duff Gordon, spoke in favor of the
proposed plan. Lady Aberdeen was
an interested auditor
Mise Helen L. Johnson, Of this city,
chairman of the committee, who pre-
sided at the conference. declared that
after a study Of years, she had ar
rived at the conclusion that stand
ardIzed street dress for women, on q
par with the conventional sack suit of
the men would not only make the
American women more dignified in
appearance and department, but
would reduce her dressmaking bills
by one-half Manufacturers whom
she had consulted, Miss Johnson said,
were heartily in sympathy with the
plan
Present-day Dress "Frcakish."
Lack of a conventional standard,
Miss Johnson said was directly re-
sponsible for what she characterized
as "the freakish and almost bizarre
dress of the American women of to-
day"
''Women should strive for simple
ty and modesiy in their dress" Mrs.
Edison said. The ever-changing
styles of today are responsible for
street dresses that not only astonish.
but horrfy The latest style, il ap-
pears. calls for abbreviation Of dresses
1t top and bottom, in some cases be- !
,ond the bounds of modesty."
Twentieth Century Mourning.
Mrs. Burdette, for years an advo- 4,
'ate Of dress reform, who aroused a |
countrywide discussion by wearing |
White for mourning on the death of
ler husband some time ago, was as |
'mphatic as Mrs. Edison in her re-
marks. She defended her detection /
rom the custom Of wearing black
"Why wear black for the guest of
Mrs. Burdette asked. Has
our psychic sense given you a con-
eption of the effect on your soul of
wearing certain colors?"
"But,', Mrs. Burdette continued,
the chief question Is: Can you af-
ord your dress 2
we're discussed Mt the conference.
he health OF the nation. Or Carol H.
,lsherg chief Of the bureau Of chem
itry. departments of agriculture, said,
equires uniform food laws. Law
ence Miller, of New York, president
f the National Banking association,
aid the women Of tho country can
uickly solve the bad housing prob
I'm by Seeing and smelling the
lums"
Miss Julia c. Lathrop, OF Wash
ngton, d. c., chief OF the child
ems burea, in an address today on
The Education of Mothers as Il Prob
en- of Democracy, quoted statls
les showing that in 1913 about
s, 900 women died In the Unit
4 States from complications arls-
lg IN childbirth. OF which cases
/ least 1000, she said, were prevent
bile and the rest largely preventable.
he death rate from these causes be-
ween 1900 and 1913 had shown a
Iefinite increase. she said, whereas
he mortality from typhoid, diph-
heria and other diseases had de-
reased.
"Fatalism and ignorance" the
peaker asserted. have been re.
ponsible for this maternal death
oil"
Mrs. Frank White, North Dakota,
hartman of the membership conf
nlttee, read her report. in which she
tated that the federation included
lore than 5000 women's clubs. with I
membership exceeding 100000.
Mrs. l. l.. Blankenburg, chairman {
( the advisory committee, submitted |
report advising against the pro-
osal of establishing a federation I
magazine. She declared her belief {
hat the project would prove 100
ostly