South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-17
CLUB WOMEN HOLD
DISTRICT. SESSION
Suffrage Question is Among
Subjects Discussed at Fed
Grated Club Meeting.

Representative OF the various
clubs and organizations OF the -.
Joseph County Federation OF Wom-
ems clubs and Franchise leagues at
tended the first county convention
since the federation was organized
held Friday at the Progress club
rooms Nearly $50 women were pres
ent. The program was divided into
four parts. the first being given by
the Franchise league. the second by
the country clubs, the third by the
federated clubs and the fourth and
last had TO do with the social phase
of all organizations in the fedora
ton.
Mrs. L. s. Fickenscher. chairman
of the local Franchise league, open
ed the meeting with n brief talk
introducing Mrs. J. c. Boss of Elk
hart, who urged the women TO study
the ballot intelligently that they may
secure entire suffrage. Mrs. a. II.
Beardsley, also of Elkhart. discussed
the suffrage question and its bearing
on politics. She told of the various
classes being conducted by the
leagues to instruct women in voting
and to prepare them for the ballot
Explains Convention.
Mrs. George Phillips. county
chairman for the federated clubs.
next addressed the gathering with a
few words of explanation Of the con-
vention. which she said. was in the
nature OF a get together" meeting
preliminary TO the district conven-
ton 10 be held at Michigan City
May 3. Mrs. Phillips introduced Mrs.
Charles Byers. domestic science in
structor in the schools and for the
county Economic clubs. Mrs. Byers
told of the work being done by the
clubs. and stated that country wom-
en- are extremely grateful for the
good resulting from the federation.
The old barrier between the city
and the country woman, resulting
from misunderstanding and the
limited advantages of the latter. has
been almost totally done away with
by the increased facilities for study
and social life.
Mrs. w. O. Vallette Of Goshen,
chairman of the 18th district of the
federated clubs. gave an interesting
talk on the federation. She .old of
the improved work in the district,
in which there are now SO clubs.
Mrs. Victor Jones gave a short
address on general federation and
conducted a round table discussion.
Three topics were considered, What
Has the Federation Done for the
Club" What is the Indiana Fed
Grafton" and How Does the Fed
Grafton Work" Under this head. the
three elements chief among the re-
duisites of federation work were de-
cided to be conservation. education
and legislation.
Brief talks on the benefits re-
sulting from the Indiana federation
to the clubs Of the state we're given
by Mrs. X. c. DeRhodes. who spoke
for the Progress club. Mrs. J. c.
Otis for the Thursday club, Mrs.
Valette for the Goshen club. Mrs.
Fickenscher for the Civic league,
Mrs. J. L. Turner for the Impromptu
club. Mrs. J. w. Keller for the
Mishawaka Woman's club and Mrs.
Tyler for the Mishawaka Patrons
Teachers club. Mrs. Powell of
AIishawaka represented the colored
federation. in which she said there
are now SO clubs, two Of which are
in South Bend.
Gives Club History.
Mrs. Humrichauser of Plymouth.
chairman of the state endowment
fund. addressed a few remarks 20
the women. while Mrs. r. 7. Miller
spoke interestingly on the historical
work relating TO the clubs and the
need for understanding of the club
work Of the past. Mrs. Guy Stoddard
of Michigan City. 18th district sec
rotary. spoke for a few minutes on
the general aspects Of the work.
Mrs. X. c. DeRhodes during her ad-
dress stated that at the first BIZ
ennial meeting held in 1892, there
were but 1S5 i'm attendance. while
the attendance at the last number
| ed 2.424.
Mayor Fred Keller. who was pres
ent. paid a tribute to club women in
short address. and r. A. Jackson
of indianapolis. explained the pur-