The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1926-09-30
Thursday, September 80, 1926

he devised for the shaping of local,
district, state or national business, so
far as the Women's Clubs are con-
cerned, whether it be in reform move
ments, or the enactment OF laws and
their enforcement, or what-not. From
the nature of the organization il is to
be noted that every item Of business.
as has been stated before, originates
in one of the individual clubs. If it
is of local importance only, that ends
club action If ii is of more than local
interest, the originating club through
its delegates brings the matter to the
attention of the district meeting,
where il is discussed and a canvass
is made of the probable attitude of
each club. Then the delegates report
back to the clubs which they repre-
sent what changes are necessary to
bring the matter in accord with the
trend of the prevailing sentiment. At
the next district meeting, or later
when a working agreement has been
reached, final action is taken and the
matter is closed. The method of pro
cedure in the meetings of the state
sectional and national federation is
much the same There is, however
more dependence on committees and
departments and the work progress
sively grows more difficult in each
case because Of the vastly increased
divergence of opinion due to the larger
areas which are represented.
The special work of the federation
is to bring about understanding
arouse from apathy, allay suspicion.
create interest, overcome opposition,
adjust difference, modify sentiment,
and unity opinion. II is only by work
of this kind that women's clubs, by
means of the federation can bring
about that unification of opinion in
the women of a state. or in the nation
that will make her a compelling po-
litical factor that can not be disre-
garded in general politics.
My own experience dates back far
Their than sometimes like to acknowl-
edge. As a young girl, ! remember
attending a women's meeting which
was addressed by Susan B. Anthony
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. | had
accompanied my sister, Mrs. La
Barthe, who was secretary of the as
sociation and later a president of the
Denver Women's Club, and still later,
the first woman member of the legis-
lature of Utah The earnestness of
Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton and
the enthusiasm that was aroused in
the great audience | shall never for
get My recollection of Francis VIII
lard is most vivid, and | can just re-
call the aversion expressed by my
mother at the mere mentioning of the
name of DIR. Mary b. Walker.
II is far cry from the time of the
last mentioned lady to the status of
women at the present. Measured in
years,-all in the adult life of many
of us-the time is not long; but
measured by the changes that have
been brought about in the conditions,
domestic, social and political of the
women of today, it surpasses many
times that number of years in terms
of women's advancement.
The rapidity with which these
changes were brought about was not
equal during all these years. Women
at the start were apathic, and progress
was slow. The workers were few and
not infrequently their sincerity was
questioned. 1t was difficult for them
to secure a hearing, and their efforts
were misunderstood. DIR. Mary Walk
er, with her top-hat, cane and mans
trousers, and Victoria Woodruff and
Jennie b. Claffin, with their peculiar
views, were not at all in accord with
the accepted ideas of the Victorian
period. Nevertheless the persistency
and convincing work of such women
as Francis Willard, Susan B. Anthony
and EliZahpth Cady Stantou tho In tier