Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-09-09
MORERN SOCIETY PROBLEMS
DISCUSSED

DISCUSSED
CONTINUED from page one)
; strongly urged the foundation of al
, Interstate Speakers Bureau for the
particular benefit of the clubs of the
northern Maine New Hampshire ant
q Vermont The members in these sec
{ tons ought to be helped in the secur.
ing of able speakers by the richer clubs
of the other states.
Modern Dancing Decried
Mrs George Mdot BAKER of Con
cord, Mass, proposed the discussion
of modern dancing as one of the big
problems of modern society. She des-
cribed the present dances and the lax
ity in the training of young men and
women. She laid particular emphasis
on the unwholesome conditions of the
majority of public and private dance
halls. But the fault was not put upon
the young people themselves but upon
the music The reformation of dane
ing, she said, was dependent on the con-
version of the Objectionable jazz music
to the less exciting old waltzes, In the
discussion of the topic of dancing, the
delegates expressed a strong optimism
The substitution of the modern dances
by more moral steps was not far away,
they said, and the Fastening Of this re-
form should be the concern of every
woman
Women Must Study Legislation
Mrs, Baker urged a greater interest
in the use of the ballot. 1--WE must be
careful to understand the legislation
we endorse" she said, now that we
have the vote. 1t is our duty to study
the problems of the day"
Miss Florence p Edgers OF Provi-
dence described the work done by the
Rhode Island federation in the Ameri-
canization of the alien, the home dem
onstration teaching the education at
home of the industrial classes, The
civic theatre at Providence she said
was of inestimable benefit to the for
eigner as in it he is shown films il
lustrating the true American and was
addressed in his native language re-
garding the principles of Americanism
and processes of citizenship. Through
the work of this theatre, it has been
possible to found civic centers for the
various nationalities in the city and
state She said
The Movie Problem
Mrs. II. B. Brainard of the Connect
cut federation described in detail the
successful efforts of the Womans
Clubs of her state in securing a state
farm for women, and proposed for
discussion the regulation of motion pic
ture films. The movie problem seems
paramount at this time, she said,
Crockett Tells of Vermont
Walter Hill Crockett publicity di-
rector of Vermont, addressed the con
ference in the afternoon about OYER
mont its resources and opportunities
General federation director, Mrs. Gil
bert o. Davis told of "The Highhghts
from the Latter Day Saints Council OF
the General Federation Of Woman's
Clubs" Miss May Bliss Dickinson,
founder and organizer OF the Mother
craft Movement, form of health edu-
cation for school girls in personal health
and care of babies, also addressed the
conference, regarding her work and il
lustrated her arguments with photo
graphs from the Mothercraft film
"Children Well and Happy soon to-
be released at a cost of $4,000 and
perhaps Of Miss Dickinson's health.
Mrs. Gurney'S Address
Mrs. Herbert J. Gurney's address on
"Immigration at the Ports OF Entry
was the feature of the evening program
of the conference. Mrs. Quincy, who
is member of the Massachusetts,
Alien Education, Board has spoken all
over the country on immigration prob
lens and is recognized as one OF the
nations woman experts on the subject
of alien education. A magnetic speak
er, Mrs. Gurney's address was pune
tuated with applause time and again,
as she eloquently brought forward the
main points of her topic. Owe must
Amercanize ourselves" she said, land
appreciate that our greatest economic
danger is not in the advancement OF
any particular race but in retardatlon
only" Mrs. Quincy did not favor the
present system of regulating the immi- |
grafton to our shores and illustrated
from her own experience the disadvan-
tages Of the numbers system. She ad- |
vised a system whereby the best immi- /.
grants would be chosen instead of the
haphazard method of numerical restric-
ton. She told of the reform of condi- |
tons at the ports. Formerly the immi-
grant was the prey of the unscrupulous
who charged him as much as fifty cents
for a sandwich Now that sandwich |
lunch is provided for five cents, in a
sanitary wrapper and by women neat
ly dressed. This first impression OF
American methods will be lasting, she
said, and tend to educate the alien
in cleanliness Of food and apparel.
Formerly there were many girls lost OIL
the piers, now are none so unfortunate.
People of character should be chosen
for our future citizenship, she said,
and when they reach our shores they
should be taught Americaniym in Ian
guage that is familiar to tiem. I'VE
must be willing to live beside the for
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