The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-30
THE FORUM
THE STATE FEDERATION OF
CLUBS


1t is interesting to compare the
gatherings where women are the chief
speakers of today with those of % or
80 years ago.
1t was longer ago than that when
sat in a suffrage convention IN wash
ington. A woman who afterwards
came to be known nationally in con-
nection with a most sensational case
Involving the most prominent divine
of the period) was to speak. So over
come with timidity and embarrass-
ment was she that another woman
stood by her lending supporting arm
through the trying ordeal!
We have gotten all over that. And
when women speak in the discussion
of a question or otherwise without pre-
paration they are not only as rule
self-possessed but they are likely to be
clear. concise, and to speak directly to
the point. Women are not as patient
under being bored as men are, and
that fact has its influence in prevent
ing their boring others.
That consideration does not, how
ever, seem to influence the makers OF
the roEtine programs. The fact that
a matter is one of routine business Is
too often allowed to consume time I'M
necessarily and to the detriment Of the
best interests of all concerned, and to
the infinite WEAKNESS of those whose
only role is that of listeners.
This. in the convention just closed
waz especially true of the giving of the
district reports. No one chairman
could be blamed for giving an unnec-
essary and undressing amount of de-
tail, for they all did it. 1t was the sys-
tenn that was at fault. If the district
chairman would boil down the reports
that come to her from the district, If
the state head of the division would in
turn boil down the reports of the dis
trict chairman until there was but one
comprehensive. concise report giving
the essential, suggestive and helpful
points, much valuable time would be
better saved for more important
things.
Again, am sure that the manage
ment had no idea of a serious breach
of courtesy in allowing speakers and
entertainers from the outside to come
by appointment at a definite hour and
then compelling them to sit waiting
for an hour or more while resolutions,
ETC., were being endlessly-and often
ssarily-discussed 1t meant too,
that they must try to do that most diff
difficult thing-hold the attention OF
a tired and bored audience.
The weather was perfect, lndianap-
oils has always the most charming so
cial spontaneity toward conventions.
Everybody was agreeable-it is always
interesting to watch the social reac-
tons among group of strangers
brought together by interest in COM
mon cause The women from the
rural districts" were somewhat ruff
fled by the kind but somewhat patron
izing tone taken toward them. l think
you might find the remarks of Mrs.
Shakes from Marshall county on that
subject interesting: | am tired of our
being spoken of in terms of so years
ago. There are no more country peo-
pie" in the sense the term is used. We
have our telephones, our automobiles,
electricity, water power. mail service
and we have what town people don't
have-our farms in addition to all
that"
The writer of this made but one
small speech and it was brought out
in this discussion. She said, "Our
Women's club has over 400 members
/ There are a number of members from
the country, and I don't believe any
| body could tell which was which,"
MARGARET DENNIS VAIL.