The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-01-04
GROWTH OF WOMEN'S
CLUBS in OREGON

(By Mrs. Chas. H. Castner In Ore
gonisn Annual.)
The Oregon Federation of Women s
clubs, organized in 1899, has enjoyed q
continued and prosperous growth in
membership and usefulness until at
the 10th annual convention, held IN Sea-
side October 9-l2, l6S clubs we're re-
ported as holding membership, compIis-
ing nearly 10000 of the most progress.
i've and intelligent women Of the state.
The club movement in Oregon has
not confined itself to the cities alone.
although Portland has 80 federated
clubs, and each of the other larger
cities of the state are we'll represented.
Eugene having five. There are few of
the smaller cities and towns that do not
boast OF club that has done much for
its people along educational and civic
lines. Many clubs in the rural dis
tricts have been organized for civic
betterment and social uplift, and do
much to keep the women on the farm
in touch with the great women move
ment of the day.
Showing its true progressive spirit,
Oregon was represented by II dele
gates at the biennial meeting of the
Genreal Federation of Women's clubs.
held in New York last May. The west
was recognized as an important factor
in this great gathering of women when
to California fell the honor o. naming
Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles, of Los An.
geles, as president, and Oregon rejoiced
that its past president. Mrs. Sarah A.
Evans, of Portland. might be named as
a director.
Much credit Is due the oregon club
women for the interest they have taken
in every line that tends to better con.
ditions of the state and the home. In
art, literature and music they are
striving to raise the standards and
create a demand for the best. There
ar few libraries in the state that have
not been obtained through their efforts.
To them belongs the credit for estab.
fishing the cleanup day. That has long
since become an annual event IN every
community. Their efforts along the
lines of conservation have not been
without results, and they have awak.
ened keener appreciation Of our nat
ural resources. They are ever energet.
ic good roads boosters, and this last
year appointed special committee to
offer their assistance in this movement.
Last May they added their efforts to
those of the sister states Of Washing.
ton, Idaho, Montana and Utah in OBJ
serving Western Clubwomen's Con.
sumers' Week." and urged every men,
Der to buy western ana Oregon made
goods, using the slogan, "Buy at Home
and get the habit. "
Since having the privilege of the
ballot Oregon clubwomen have taken @
serious. dignifed interest in all legis.
lative affairs, and are especially inter
ested in bettering conditions in the
state institutions, particularly those
that deal with the women and children.
Through the Public Health Commission
the Oregon Federation is undertaking q
movement for the treatment and care
of the crippled children of the state by
raising fund 10 establish beds In hos
pitfalls and later hoping TO establish q
children's hospital.
Perhaps the most important work
undertaken by the clubw0men of the
state, surely the one that is bringing
the best returns. is that of its scholar
ship loan fund, established nine years
ago. The fund is loaned to young
women of the state to assist in their
education and is to be paid back with
out interest when they become self
supporting. This fund is raised by the
clubs setting aside the last Wednesday
in January, which is known as "red
letter day" The last annual report
showed that III young women had re-
ceived loans from this fund TO the
amount of Sl2, 3i5.
II the ciubwomen of this state did
nothing else, this investment alone
would be worthy their efforts.