Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1940, Page 10

A—10 ‘Women's Federafion 'Marks 50 Years - ' Of Service Climax of Program Will Be Reached at Triennial Convention An organization embracing more than 2,000,000 women. the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, this week crosses the date line which marks 50 years of achievement and progress. Its membership in more than 15,000 clubs in this and 31 foreign countries already has embarked on a jubilee program which will reach | a climax at the triennial conven- tion next year in Atlantic City. With the date of its annmiversary falling on Wednesday, however, a radio program at 2 p.m. that day from New York will re-enact the federation’s first meeting. Mrs. Saidie Orr Dunbar, president, will Join the first vice president, Mrs. John L. Whitehurst of Baltimore, for the broadcast, which will in- clude “Home, Sweet Home,” sung by Mme. Frieda Hempel, imper- sonating Jenny Lind. The General Federation of Wom- en’s Clubs has been defined by a past president, Mrs. Thomas G. Winter, as a “group of organized women in every cummunity who can be depended upon to promote all movements looking toward the betterment of life.” i Indirectly, and innocently, Charles Dickens was involved in the federa- tion's founding. Visiting New York in 1868, Dickens | was to be honored at a dinner and one J. J. Croly was among those making reservations. When it was brought to light that J. J. Croly was Jennie June Croly, a woman, and, incidentally, a newspaper wom- an, she was refused a reservation on the ground that no women were to be_admitted. Indignantly Miss Croly and some of her friends decided to fight such discrimination and chose the organization of a club as a step | in this direction. | The club was named *“Sorosis” and was to become the “mother” | of a much greater organization, for on its 21st birthday, members 1s- | sued a call to all womens clubs to meet in New York. Sixty-five responded and organized the Gen- eral Federation. The following year, April 24, 1890, the ratification con- vention was held, and Mrs. Char-| lotte Emerson Brown of New Jersey was elected first president. “Unity in Diversity.” The motto, “Unity in Diversity,” was adopted at the first meeting. ‘The same slogan is indicative of the character of the federation to- day, for it is composed of as diverse groups of women as could be brought together under single leadership. Some of the clubs are small—only & half dozen members comprise at least one of the groups—while the largest federated club, the House- wives' Progressive Association in Sidney, Australia, has 10,000 mem- bers. Their activities, as might be ex- pected, run the scale of women's interests today, from recipes to leg- islation, particularly legislation af-| fecting homes and communities. “Unity in Diversity,” however, has enabled the 2,000,000 women to claim credit for accomplishment of many objectives looking toward improved conditions for children, mothers and general family life, as well as health, | education and conservation fields. If their efforts toward world peace— | and these have been persistent— have not yet borne fruit, the women, | at least, may claim credit for hav- ing established bonds of friendship between individuals in many na- tions. This has been accomplished, i not only by federation, but also | throught friendship tours sponsored ! since 1933. | Keynote of Program. ! Under Mrs. Dunbar’s administra- tion the keynote of the federation | program has been “Adjusting | Democracy for Human Welfare.” | One recognition of her leadership was Mrs. Dunbar’s appointment last | winter as chairman of the Follow- up Committee of President Roose- | velt's White House Conference on | Children in a Democracy. Realizing that only through the | translation of resolutions into laws | will they become effective, the fed- eration works both through its own groups and through the Joint Con- gressional Committee, which repre- sents approximately 7,000,000 wom- en belonging to 20 national organi- zations. In addition to initiating legislation, the federation supports the principles of bills ,which have | been indorsed by the body. | While it has a long list of achieve- i ments over the last 50 years, officials consider its greatest contribution the development of leadership and the molding of public opinion for “all movements looking toward the bet-! terment of life.” | The federation worked ardently | for establishment of the Children’s Bureau and the Women’s Bureau in the Department of Labor. It took an active part in introduction of the | Child Labor Amendment and has| supported it since. i Aided Pure Food Act. | The late Dr. Harvey W. Wiley is reported to have said the General Federation, more than any other one | organization, was responsible for passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. It claims the credit for being the first lay organization to indorse | openly the Nation-wide fight against syphilis. It opposed reorganization of the United States Supreme Court. | It has long worked for conservation of natural resources. . | “Truth in fabrics” or fibre identi- | fication, calendar reform, uniform | marriage and divorce laws and the | right of women to contract for em- | ployment are demanded in bills it supports. | The federation indorsed the ob- | Jectives of the National Health pro- | gram, and one of its principal aims at present is to improve the status of community health by bringing to the attention of the women of the country health problems and facili- ties for handling these problems in the various communities and States. Projects for Education. Education has been one of its most popular projects and the General Federation spcnsors a medical and a Pan-American scholarship. The State federations have a combined fund of $1,500,000 from which loans have been made to 10,000 boys and girls seeking higher education. Fede- rated club women also are credited with the founding of 80 per cent of the Nation's public libraries. MRS. SAIDIE ORR DUNBAR, President. MRS. JOHN L. WHITEHURST, First Vice President. the Government in a literacy survey which resulted in the establishment | of many schools for adults, and more | than a decade ago it surveyed labor- saving anh health-conserving facili- ties in nearly 9,000,000 homes. | Typical of its cultural activities is | ——PEARSON ‘THE SUNDAY 8§ “many. artists acquired by clubs. In line with its approach to the problem of international peace the federation recently projected an imaginary “tour” of the American republics as a study program, in co- operation with the Pan-American Union. Now a real South Anferican tour, under federation auspices, has been arranged for June and July. Other friendship tours have taken the women to Europe, the West In- dies and to Alaska. Supports World Court, Also in the international fleld the | federation has supported lish- ment of & world court and reduc- tion of armaments through interna- tional agreement. It is for. adequate national defense, however, and is opposed to infloctrination of Amer- icans with al philosophies. The federation owns its head- quarters, located here in the for- mer home of Gen. Nelson A. Miles at 1734 N street N.W. It has a staff of 21 persons and a library of more than 5,000 volumes. Its jubilee program, of which Mrs. Whitehurst is general chairman, in- cludes a search for pioneer club- women in individual clubs, in dis- tricts, in the States and in the Nation. Birthiday parties are being held by all the clubs to accumulate & birthday gift toward the $1,000,000 foundation fund the federation is raising for expansion and better financing of its work. Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley of this city is chairman of its division of Indian welfare. » ¥ Convenient HUGO WORCH 1110 G St. NW; ~ NA. is2s’ & CRAIN Only 3 Days More! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday . « . Of Our Entire Stock of DIAMONDS ' and FINE JEWELRY together with purchases of similar merchandise made at special prices! ‘Through its far-flung member- ship the federation was able to assist 9 Only 3 days remain of these drastic reductions on fine ' Diamonds. Watches, Diamond Watches, Sterling ‘Silver, Silver Deoosit, Silver Plate, Dresser Sets, Cameos, Compacts; Pearls, Emblem Jewelry, Cigorette Cases and Combinations, Pens and Pencils, Lockets and Chains, Crosses ond Chains, Watch Bracelets and Watch Chains, Men'’s Dress Sets, Gold Knives, Cuff Links, Clocks, Baby Gifts, Etc. EXTRA SALESPEOPLE to give service and to permit (as far as is possible) unhurried gift selections. * All scorched, burned or fire-damaged goods have been removed. . : Here are just a few illustrations— Hundreds more await your selection Lodies’ Diamond Platinum Bracelet. 160 Fine Diamonds. $1,100.00. Now .51 Carat Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Selitaire 6 Diamonds in Setting. Special : $99.00 Lodies’ Diamond Emerald Pletinum Pin, 65 i 14 Genuine Emeralds. $550.00 ----$367.00 um_Soliteire. Perfect $650.00. round Diamond Wedding Ring, 14K Yellow Now; et Ci All A Gold Silverplated Pieces 3.98 Included are: Covered Vege- table Dishes, Water Pitchers, Trays, Cocktail Shakers, Gravy Boats, Centerpieces, Well and Tree Platters, others. Usual $5.00 to values. Sterling Group Included are: Sterling Bas- kets, Sugar-and-Creom Sets, Compotes, Steak Sets, Salt- ond-Pepper Sets, Condle- sticks, and others. Usuel $5.00 to $6.50 volues. 1.48 Corat Engagement Ri Platinum setting_._-$335.00 $75.00 14K Yellow Gold Wrist Watch, 20 Diamonds $46.80 Stepping Stone Engegement Ring, .30 Carat Center Diamond and 18 Diamonds in Mounting Lovely 14-Diamond Watch Bracelet, 14K Solid Gold. Was $85.00. Now Diamond Platinum Wedding Ring. 7 Diamonds_ Genuine Full Length Cultured Pearl Necklaces. $50.00 Now : $33.35 Diamond ,nd Platinum Ring Moustings____V4 to V2 off A Deposit Reserves Any Selection NO NATIONALLY ADVERTISED, STANDARD-PRICE GOODS REDUCED! $124.00 $59.85 $19.00 PEARSON & CRAIN 13th & 6 Streets N.W. - A Established in 1925 TAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, APRIL 21, Jack J. Blank heads this ALL Washing- ton firm. Says Mr. Blank, “I believe that I have in this organization, sales and service men that are a credit to the automotive trade. Their long years of ex- perience and their ef- forts to please are re- sponsible for our out- standing success.” 1940 — PART ONE. ARCADE-PONTIAC NOW! 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