Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-01
Women's Committee
Hears of Registration


port on the registration OF women and
to complete organization, was held by
the women's committee. Council OF
National Defense. Rock Island branch,
yesterday afternoon at the Rock Is
land club. Mrs. II. H. cleveland, the
chairman. presided and over nifty
women Of the organization were IN
attendance This is the first meet
ing Of the committee since organlza-
ton last June and its purpose was
largely to acquaint the members with
what has really been accomplished,
especially as regards the registration
o. women. The constitution OF the or
sanization was adopted at the timeeo1
the first meeting. the adoption"oi the
bylaws being a matter~cf business
yesterday. The duse Oh the oranch
membership were placed at 20 cents
a year. Mrs H. A. Weld, who was
chairman Of the registration commit
tee, gave the report on that work
which was carried on in the two
weeks-Nov. 5-19 She reported that
$50 women had been engaged in the
work of registering the names and
that over nine thousand cards had
been returned, although this number
included several that rightfully be-
longed TO Moline and few other that
should have been registered in the
county. leaving 1881 names of women
in Rock Island reported and Ifdexed.
Included in this number were 81
trained typists and 225 unframed; 143
trained Office assistants and III IN
trained: 204 expert garden workers
and 16S unframed; 2,244 expert knit
ters and SIG who were willing to
learn; 1913 practical nurses, Jas will
ing 10 take training; 143 trained
nurses. 10 unprofessional; general
Red Cross workers 1876. 1,214 Offer
ing their services. There were Lose
who classified themselves as trained
housekeepers and 1852 that were UNI
trained The registration cards have
been placed in the Rock Island public
library for future reference, dupli-
Gates being sent to the head Office III
the state organization in Chicago Mrs
Weld in giving the report spoke of the
enthusiasm of the workers and of the
awakening of them to/their response
blity in war work. The registering
of the women set them to thinking
about their part In the war and OF
their responsibility in providing for
the men at the front. The registra-
ton brought out the fact that many
Of the women saw only their present
duties and did not realize that they
must prepare for future work. anc
many did not designate what branch
OF work they would be willing to en-
Ter in case they were thrown on thei,
own responsibility in earning living
She spoke of the fact that many wom-
en- were at first afraid to register as
the result Of a carefully laid German
propaganda. but upon having the mat
ter carefully explained to them they
acquiesced. and many who then re
fused to sign cards would gladly dc
so now. Mrs. Weld was OF the opin
ion that registration has helped Amer
icanize people: it has helped employ.
ers find workers and those seeking
employment to likewise find it. 1t hac
resulted in increased attendance at tht
Red Cross rooms, many women at ono
offering their services for that work
Food pledge cards to the number o!
5000 were returned.
Receipts from fees amounted tt
S692.97; contributions. $3.50. The ex.
penses were: Office help. $50; print.
ing, etc, 81 boxers, covers, etc.
$50 postage, etc. $3.50 total. s99. so
The cash sent TO the Chicago Office
amounted to s312.74 and money given
10 Moline for fees ST leaving a hal
ance Of S2S2.93 in the treasury.