Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM W.
HASTINGS.

By MARGARET b. DOWNING.
Oklahoma, one of the youngest mem.
bers of the family of States, has
well organized local society which has
been in active existence since 1920.
After many informal meetings and dis
cussions the society on January 8.
1921, drew up constitution and by.
laws. Oklahoma received the utmost
encouragement and aid from older So
cfeties. Those of Illinois and Ken
lucky were especially helpful. since
among the organizers were Senator
Harreld a native of Morgantown, KY,
and Everette B. Howard of Tulsa. who
also was born in the same town.
Illinois contributed its quota in the
npbuilding of the State. and that So
ciety took the young organization
under it's wing and held joint sessions
with it several times.
The first meeting was in the Com
munity Center of the Thomson School.
and for some time all gatherings took
place there. The social feature was
predominant, and the desire was TO
make all OkahomanS in Washington
acquainted with each other and in
terested in the welfare of one another
and of the State. The charter was
DfOd0 enough TO lHcluuo IlOt OILY
actual citizens of the State, but also
former voters there, and a company
OF several hundred marked the meet
fngs from the beginning. The first
president was DR.. Elizabeth Johnson.
and she remained at the head Of af |
fairs until 1924. when Senator Har
reid was selected. He acted for two
years and was succeeded by Repre-
sentative William w. Hastings last
To- Tho viz
J. G. Blackwell. the secretary Mrs. |
Alice Biddle. and treasurer J. B. !
Robinson. The meetings were held !
about eight times a year on the first |
Friday of each month. In the Thomson
School. and every variety of enter |
tainment marked the Winter ac-
tivities. There were dancing. card !
parties and literary and musical eve |
nings. and when the warm weather !
began there were excursions to |
Marshall Hall and picnics in the woods !
near Washington.
Besides this diversified program |
special occasions were observed. A |
Thanksgiving party was held each |
year at the community center when |
the fine turkeys of Oklahoma brought |
10 Washington ION the hoof" were |
cooked by the homekeepers in the |
society. This party was for the |
groUn-ups and in particular manner |
for those citizens of the State living |
in Washington hotels and boarding |
houses and without the facilities to |
prepare such a meal. At Christmas |
a party was arranged. for the Okla |
homa children and their friends and |
these proved among the most enjoy |
able and popular of the activities. |
Miss Alice Robertson was among the |
organizers Of the first Christmas |
In rncOOnif Of off |
for the little folks the society gave |
an extra reception in honor Of their |
woman Representative and to thank !
her for her splendid entertainment of |
the children. A Christmas basket |
was provided for those less fortunate !
than the members and this celebration |
placed the Oklahomans in the front |
rank of such societies. and their ex- |
ample was widely followed.
But in the next three wears. IL was !
FOUND a burden to keep up such a |
lively pace and the society centered |
Its activities In an annual banquet |
just as the Kansas society does. 1t |
was decided to have this banquet and |
annual meeting on State day, Novem- !
Der 10. but as Congress was not in !
session a this time except on extraor- |
binary occasions. it was decided to |
have the dinner and general assembly |
fence of the speakers. who are always |
selected from the legislative circle, |
and are either past or present citizens |
of the State. The last dinner was |
given at the Burlington Hotel on Jan.
nary rs of this year and there were |
about $50 guests present The prin-
cipal speaker was Representative |
Hastings, the newly elected president. |
Senators Harreld and Pine also made |
tAf1 hf,-<l
niversary of the State will be cele-
brated at the next banquet. Elected |
with Representative Hastings was
Thaddeus Baker. vice president, and |
John Q. Adams. treasurer. There is
no secretary and Mr.. Adams performs
both duties.
In addition to the State society
proper there are several important
branch clubs OF Oklahomans who add |
strength to the organization. Soon
efter the charter was signed in 1921, |
the law students of various uniyer.
Eittes and colleges in this city who
call Oklahoma their home organized.
The Oklahoma Club of GEORGETOWN
University is particularly strong and
has often attended the dinners and
dances in body. There is likewise a
law club of Oklahomans connected
with the Georgetown University Club.
and this branch Joined the State
society as a whole. Oklahoma has
sent many Winter residents to the
Ia pdtal, and they have proven
source of strength to the State society
and have taken a cordial interest in
its affairs. Miss Robertson. no longer
in Congress, is living in Washington.
and has never relaxed her activities
with the society. This season there
will he a renewed effort toward mem
eership and greater activity. and an
impetus will be given to this at the
BANQUET when the twentieth anniver.
cary OF the entrance of the State into
the Union will be brilliantly common.
Grated