Arizona republican., 1918-05-19

We met In New York for the thirteenth biennial convention, housed in the Sev- enth Regiment armory, with the glori- ous Stars and Stripes on all sides. We listened to the oft-repeated statement that we are living in the most tragic period of the worlds history. Did we comprehend it? Now we know that, even then, the black shadow of this gigantic tragedy was lowering over our own loved land. Our nation has been at war for a year and will continue valiantly to wage battle in support of those ideals upon which it was found- ed until the world is made safe for democracy. No man. woman or child can escape share of responsibility in aiding our government to win. We are, therefore, gathered in this great war service convention to give and | receive strength and inspiration, for those duties that have devolved upon us as individuals and as an organiza- tion, that we may fully do our part in | winning this war for humanity. Tn presenting a report of my stew ardship for this biennial period, I am imbued with a spirit of optimism born | of that courage that inspired our pio- neer workers less than generation ago to lay broad and deep the foun- | datiOns of the General Federation of | Womens Clubs.
 1 For what have we been training all these years? Why have we been l learning to keep step, standing shoul- der to shoulder, even marking time l Why has great voluntary organiza- | tion of women, with branches in every state and in other lands, quietly grown to a membership of about two and a half million? Surely, it will not tax | the credulity of the careful student ot l great movements to believe that there has been a providential purpose in
 this development.
 "The following telegraphic message | sent to the president of the United
 States, February 20, 1918, made known
 to him the attitude of this volunteer army. viz: "The General Federation of
 Women's Clubs stands Loyalty behind
 the government. It Is our desire to
 serve the nation to the best of our ability
 The woman's committee of the
 Council of National Defense was ap-
 pointed for the purpose of co-ordinat-
 ing the organized forces of the women
 of the country in order to secure great
 CT efficiency in defense work for the
 nation..' One of the first decisions
 .
 tratlon of women should be taken and
 that organizations contemplating reg.
 istrations be asked to suspend them
 This request was laid before the ex.
 ecutlve and business committees, and
 It was the unanimous opinion that the
 General Federation of Women's Clubs
 plan for a certified registration be sus.
 pended. This action was reported tc the Women's committee, and 1 turned
 over to 1t a carefully worked out pIar
 and data that had been recently sub.
 mitted at the New Orleans board anc
 council meeting by our relationships
 committee. There are now branches
 of this woman's committee in ever1
 state; about one hundred and fiftJ l women's national organizations are cooperating. The work is being car. ried on through eleven departments
 which are nearly parallel with those
 of the General Federation of Women:
 Clubs, every one of which should com.
 mand our constant and efficient GOOD. erative support.
 Under the child welfare depart. ment, in cooperation with the Nationa Children's bureau: A children's veal was inaugurated April 6. This is al outgroWth and enlargement of tn, l9l6-1917 baby week campaigns of tn, General Federation of Womens Club and the Children's Bureau, and shoult at once enlist the most cordial suppor
 Of the club women in each state. T. 2 assist in saving the lives of 100000 ba l bles in one year presents an opportu l nity for service to which no womal | should turn a deaf ear.
 2 When the General Federation pla, for registration was given over t 6 the women'S committee of the Councj g of National Defense, there naturall l went with it the plan for organizin
 the state units. The members of tn
 committee were active in promotin
 Red Cross and food conservation wor
 as well as in the sale of Liberty bond. s military training camp was held fo t the women of the Gulf states, whic n included Red Cross first aid instruo s tions, lectures on bacteriology, hygien , etc., rifle practice, signal and sema 7 phore drills, etc. Funds were collecte il for Belgian, Armenian and Syrian re V lief.
 Because of rapidly shifting an
 changing national conditions, 1t wa
 deemed wise to discontinue the emer
 gency service committee end establis |, a service office in Washington. . For many years the General Fed |, eration of Women's Clubs had ha '' close relations with many of the de
 partments of the government. The nee
 for closer utilization has become yer
 apparent. You will recall our aim. I
 prevent the disintegration of the hon