History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 109

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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From 1900 to 1910 the annual conventions were held as follows : 1900 at Aber- deen ; 1901 at Hot Springs; 1902 at Sioux Falls; 1903 at Rapid City; 1904 at Watertown ; 1905 at Huron; 1906 at Mitchell; 1907 at Milbank; 1908 at Pierre ; 1909 at Dell Rapids. The presidents had been: 1902-04, Mrs. Clara D. Coe, Deadwood; 1904-06, Mrs. Anna A. Lumley, Pierre; 1906-08, Mrs. Stella M. Stutenroth, Watertown; 1908-10, Mrs. Julius H. Johnson, Fort Pierre.

In 1909 the new divorce law was put into effect. It was opposed in the courts, and a test case was concluded at the regular term. The law had been approved at the election in November, 1908, under the referendum by a large

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majority of the voters and was declared legal by the courts. This law pro- vided that a whole year's residence should be maintained in this state before a divorce could be granted. There were a few exceptions permitted under the law. However there was not much variation in the number of applications and in the number of decrees. By 1911 sufficient statistics had been collected to show the difference between the old and the new systems. The records showed the number of divorces granted in the state as follows: For the year 1906, 508 cases, with 292 divorces granted; 1907, 552 cases, with 364 granted; 1908, 665 cases, with 420 granted; 1909, 496 cases, with 261 granted; 1910, 446 cases with 230 granted. Desertion continued to be the prevailing cause of divorce, about 50 per cent of all cases being brought upon that ground.

In the fall of 1909 the twenty-first annual session of the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union was held at Brookings, and the delegation present con- sisted of about one hundred members. There were also present at this important meeting representatives from many woman's clubs in different parts of the state. Many questions of great interest were discussed by the delegates, and the visit- ing club women were cordially received. All were hospitably and warmly wel- comed and entertained by the people of Brookings. Mrs. Luella Ramsey was president of the organization. This year Mrs. Lydia B. Johnson, of Fort Pierre, was president of the State Equal Suffrage Association and therefore the leader of the movement for a change in the constitution in favor of suffrage for women. The annual meeting of the suffrage association was held at Sioux Falls. The Woman's Reserve Corps in a public meeting endorsed the suffrage move- ment at this time and promised all the aid in their power to enable the movement to win. Mrs. Laura Gregg was national suffrage organizer at this time. At this meeting the Joe Hooker Post G. A. R. and the Woman's Relief Corps of Sioux Falls entertained the suffrage association.

In her address to the federation in 1909 Mrs. Lydia B. Johnson said: "As I have visited the various clubs during the past year I realize more and more how much our work means to us and what a vital force the federation may become in our state. The interests of the family come first, then the community, finally the state. The interdependence of these interests is recognized. The inquiries that have come to me relative to the laws that affect women and children indi- cate that women are deeply interested in the Government."

At this time the federation's traveling library consisted of about one hundred and eiglity-five books, of which 50 per cent were adult fiction, 9 per cent juvenile fiction, 33 per cent adult general literature, and 8 per cent juvenile general litera- ture. Three traveling libraries were in circulation, of which two were fifty volume libraries and one a thirty-five volume library. Steps to add two addi- tional circulating libraries were taken at this time.

The annual meeting of the Woman's Federation Clubs at Dell Rapids in 1910 was the largest ever held thus far. These delegates were chosen to attend the biennial convention at Cincinnati: Mrs. Julius H. Johnson, Miss Emma C. Hall, Mrs. A. B. Fairbank, Mrs. Ester C. Howheman and Mrs. Lizzie Truran. Mrs. Johnson was appointed to represent the state federation at the Alaska- Yukon Exposition, Seattle, on South Dakota Day. The question of amending the state constitution so as to grant political equality to woman was discussed. These delegates were sent to the State Equal Suffrage Association Annual Meet-

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ing at Sioux Falls in November : Mrs. Anna S. Smith, Mrs. A. D. Tinsley, Mrs. H. R. Pease, Mrs. Beulah Scallin and Mrs. G. N. Parsons.

At this time the following clubs were members of the federation : Aberdeen- Clio Circle, Orptec Reading and Shakespeare; Blunt-Tuesday; Bonesteel- Woman's; Bridgewater-Study; Brookings-Saturday Literature; Bruce- Over the Teacups; Britton-Study; Centerville-Fourteenth Century; Cham- berlain-Travelers; Canton-C. C. and Priscilla; Castlewood-Woman's Study ; Deadwood-Round Table, Thursday and Woman's ; Dell Rapids-Woman's ; Elk- ton-Woman's; Faulkton-Tuesday and Swasteka; Flandreau-Athena Liter- ary and Twentieth Century; Fort Pierre-Woman's; Gettysburg-Woman's Lit- erary; Groton-Current Event; Hot Springs-Shakespeare 'and Travelers ; Huron-Fortnightly; Lead-Woman's; Lake Preston-Excelsior; Lemmon- Woman's; Milbank-Makocha and Excelsior; Midland-New Century ; Miller -Helen Hunt Jackson; Mitchell-Round Table and Art; Pierre-Woman's ; Pukwana-Current Topic; Rapid City-Current Event and Fortnightly ; Revillo -Progressive Study ; Sioux Falls-Ladies' History; Sisseton-Zenith; Vermil- lion-Wasesa; Watertown-Fortnightly, Progressive Study, Book Forms, Wa Ya Wa and Woman's; Wakonda-Monday; Webster-Woman's, Tuesday.

By 1910 the federation had increased from seven at the start to fifty-two clubs. The approximate membership was 1,107. The leading studies were art, literature, history, science, civics and philanthropy. Fourteen clubs used the Bay View course; 18 devoted themselves to general history; 6 to the history of the United States; I to a study of South Dakota ; 7 to Shakespeare; 9 to litera- ture and art; and 4 to music. The study of household economics was taken up by nearly every club. Other studies were architecture, landscape gardening and nature study including birds and botany. The Children's Home at Sioux Falls was given first place as a philanthropie movement. The "City Made More Beat- tiful" was worked at by all. One of the most attractive features of all was the sociability encouraged, fostered and cultivated.

At the annual convention held at Milbank in 1907 the subject of "English Scholarship for American Women" was considered with the view of helping the movement. It was finally decided by the clubs present to become contributors to the fund by raising $100, the sum requested from every state federation, each club to pay $2. As this sum had not been raised by the next annual meeting all were urged to complete the work. In May, 1909, the whole amount was for- warded to the general federation.

At the eleventh annual meeting of the state federation held at Aberdeen in 19II, Mrs. A. B. Fairbanks made a detailed report of the biennial convention of the general federation held at Cincinnati. President Nash, of the Aberdeen Normal, lectured on "Sunny Italy" and described his impressions of the Great l'assion Play at Oberammergau. Mrs. Johnson delivered her annual address as president, Dr. Barton Aglesworth discussed the subject "Why South Dakota Woman Should Have the Ballot." Mrs. Mary E. Craigie addressed the women on the subject of "Woman Suffrage." In a vote on a resolution to endorse the proposed amendment to the constitution for the adoption of woman suffrage the result was-for the resolution 16, against the resolution 20. On a vote to re- consider, the result was the same. This result was a great surprise to everyone present. It was announced at the meeting that the federation consisted of fifty-

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seven clubs and an approximate membership of 1,287. The largest member was the Woman's Club of Lead which had IIo members. It was noted that generally all the clubs were extending their work to public questions and current topics. Miss Emma C. Hall was president. She said, "Let us answer the question, what do the clubs actually accomplish? By providing that the Woman's Club today stands as the most practical and helpful friend and ally of the happy home, while the pulpit and the religious press are discussing what the woman's clubs are doing." She ended by quoting as follows from the year book of the Kentucky Federation : (1) Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, word and deed. Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face without self-pity and without prejudice. (2) May we be never hasty in judgment and always generous. (3) Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward and unafraid. Let us take time for all things; make us grow calm, serene and gentle. (4) Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differ- ences ; that in the big things of life we are all as one. (5) And may we strive to touch and to know the great common heart of us all and O God let us not forget to be kind.

In October, 1910, the Black Hills Federation of Woman's Clubs was organ- ized at Lead with the following officers : President, Mrs. Damon H. Clark, Lead; vice president, Mrs. H. E. Perkins, Sturgis; recording secretary, Mrs. L. D. Jacobs, Lead; corresponding secretary, Mrs. T. W. Moffet, Deadwood; treas- urer, Mrs. L. A. Richards, Rapid City.

The twelfth annual meeting of the state federation was held at Canton early in October, 1912. There was a goodly attendance, every member of the official board being present. The report of the new committee on Conservation was interesting and important. The committee on Civics and Education reported great progress. Prof. N. E. Hansen entertained the ladies with his illustrated lecture on "Travel Notes Around the World." A paper on "The State Library Commission and Traveling Libraries" was read by Mrs. Albert Hardy ; it showed the imperative necessity of such commission. A resolution endorsing the work of H. W. Wiley, chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, was passed; it pointed out what he had achieved to aid housewives to secure pure food. A congressional public health committee was favored. The bill passed by the last Legislature for the preservation of deer in the Black Hills region was credited to the efforts of the woman's clubs. Miss Emma C. Hall, Mrs. Zillah E. Wilson, Miss Sadie Robinson, Mrs. Winona A. Lyon, Mrs. Homer Dorr and Mrs. D. C. Brogstad were chosen delegates to the general federation to be held in San Fran- cisco in 1912. President Hall said: "The growth of the federation during the past two years has been very pleasing and the predominating note of the many letters I have received is 'our club is doing fine work.' As club women of South Dakota we are proud that we are a part of the great organization of women in civilization, the general federation. While we are proud of past achievements we feel there is vastly more to be accomplished. Every club should bear its part in the great forward movement for womankind. Like the progressive people of old we are looking toward the promised land of better things. You club women of South Dakota have it in your power to do much for civilization in this 'sun- shine state.' "

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In October, 1913, the twenty-fifth annual convention of the Woman's, Chris- tian Temperance Union was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Water- town. On the same date the Methodist Episcopal conference was in session at Redfield. They endorsed woman suffrage in a series of resolutions and tele- graphed their action to the meeting of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Watertown. This telegram was read to the whole convention and elicited great applause. An encouraging letter of congratulation from Jane Addams was received at this time. In this convention Mrs. Hyde, of Beresford, was introduced to the convention as the only living member of the crusaders of 1873 that resided in this state. The crusaders established an organization which pre- ceded the formation of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She was a delegate to this convention and in response to a cordial invitation delivered a speech concerning the lively times which the women experienced as crusaders when the temperance movement of 1873 swept and shook the whole country. She was eighty-three years old. The delegates to this convention were met at the trains by automobiles furnished by the city and taken to the homes where they were royally entertained.

At the annual meeting in Deadwood, 1914, Jane Addams of Chicago lectured on the suffrage question and delighted all who heard her with her optimism and the ultimate for advancement of women. All of the clubs and federations for the uplift of humanity reported unusual and cheering progress during the year. It was urged at the meeting that each club should assist in raising the endow- ment fund by a tax of 25 cents per capita, each year until the proposed fund was large enough to pay the state officers for their expenses to the federation meet- ings. The state was divided for convenience into six club districts, each district to have a president and a corps of officers, the president to be a member of the State Federation Executive Committee. A strong effort to bring together the Black Hills and the state federation was made and was successful.

The reports of the standing committees were of great interest and moment. Many new fields were invaded, besides the old ones of music, art, conservation, vocational education, civics, civil service, child study, library extension, etc., the civil service committee advocated a state wide civil service law, a law to regulate appointments to the state penal and charitable institutions, a board of official women visitors for such institutions and a non-political police department in every city, town and village. The report of the Mother's Club Committee showed gratifying progress. The Hot Springs Mother's Club was shown to be particu- larly active and useful with a membership of fifty. It had a friendly visiting committee to co-operate with the school teachers in looking after children who were insufficiently clothed. It sent reading matter to the rural districts and used the schoolhouses as distributing points. Steadily was the plan growing to use the public libraries for reference rooms by the high school pupils particularly. During the year the club considered the Public School from the Teachers' Stand- point, the Public School from the Parents' Standpoint, School Hygiene, Public Health, Proposed Legislation along the Lines of Public Health.

The Aberdeen Mother's Club finished its second year of work in 1914 and reported encouraging progress. Monthly meetings were held. Excellent work was accomplished by the Friendly Visiting Committee, the object being to assist the teachers to see that children received proper treatment, were clothed and

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were free from ailments. The poor folks on the country farm were not for- gotten at Christmas time. The Mother's Union at Huron completed its fifth year in 1914. A few of the subjects considered during the last year were: The Rela- tions between Mother and Daughter, Training of the Appetite, School as a Social Center, Eye and Ear. The Temperance Committee distributed the Instructor, which revealed the effects of alcohol and narcotics. They also distributed 1,000 blotters in the schools, on which was a warning against the cigarette habit. The mothers' clubs were yet new, lacked organized effort, but were growing in num- ber so that the outlook was good when they should become strong and numerous enough to unite.

A large delegation of South Dakota women attended the national biennial at Chicago in June, 1914, among them were the following: Aberdeen-Zillah E. Wilson; Yankton-Kathryn Schuppert, Susan B. Warring, Mrs. John' Max, Margaret Huston; Deadwood-Mary L. Russell, Jessie M. Martin ; Faulton- M. Jean Wilkenson, Alice M. Pickler; Hot Springs-Ella B. Dolliver, Olla F. Highley; Rapid City-Mary Rice, Alice B. Gossage; Sioux Falls-Lorena K. Fairbanks, Mrs. William Paulton, Sarah J. Dalton, Lillian M. Edmison, Mrs. Frank Leach, Winona A. Lyon; Watertown-Addie L. Bird, Minnie E. DeGroff ; Huron-Mrs. Grant; Bruce-Gertrude Walker; Vermillion-Gertrude B. Gun- derson; Salem-Anna K. Anderson; Winner-Agnes Barnum; Brookings --

Emma L. Storm; and others. This great convention was enjoyed to the utmost by the ladies present from this state. The music was grand and the addresses were penetrating and uplifting. The address of Jane Addams on Women's Clubs and. Public Politics was an analytical and powerful review of the gradual evolution of women's clubs-first with primitive cultural club and gradually widening out to embrace all subjects in which women are interested, particularly the trans- formation of home, the evolution of child life, the extension of child education and the new program of human intercourse. In speaking of the effects of the social movement she said: "Without the franchise (suffrage) woman is sud- denly shut out of the game-the game played all over the world by statesmen who at this moment are attempting to translate the new social sympathy into political action. And again, the Woman's Club Movement is but one manifesta- tion of that larger effort for liberty and culture found in great women's souls all over the world. The clubs of this federation learned through their philan- thropies that in living kindness there is a great salvation; that the beauty seen through poesy and art is truth; that in the understanding of life lies the path to social progress."

The address of Pres. Anna J. H. Pennybacker was equally strong and grand. She calied the club women missionaries, the rural districts their fields, great reforms their gospel and the uplift of all humanity their religion. She lifted club work to the same standard as religious evangelism, and declared that the country and not the city afforded the greatest promises of reformation. The splendid work of the clubs was inspirational and akin to the divine. She said: "Some one has well said that reforms in a city are mere makeshifts, but that if we reach the masses in the country we have gone above the rapids and prevented the terrible destruction that comes from the cataract. It is not enough for our rural people to produce more in the fruits of the field. They must have oppor- tunity to live more. Especially is this true of the boys and girls, the young men

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and the young women; their lives must be fuller and richer or the country can- not hold them when the city beckons. If the country school is to be a social success, if it is to be the real center of the best social life in the community, it must be presided over by a teacher who is there permanently. Nothing will sooner give this permanency than a comfortable house with a plot of ground where the teacher can have a settled feeling. Even if an unmarried woman she can form a home for herself and the visiting nurse, which nurse the community needs sorely. Not 10 per cent of our people realize the sacrifices made and the difficulties endured by the country school teacher. If we could see the physical discomforts, the poor food, the lack of privacy, the ill-ventilated bedrooms, the long walks, the absence of janitor service, in fact oftentimes the lack of every thing to make duty and life sweeter, easier and healthier we would wonder that any group of men and women could be found to endure such privations in return for the pittance doled out to them in the way of salaries."

The address of Dean Sumner, of the University of Chicago, was one of the most cutting and stirring ever listened to by the woman clubs of this country. He said, among other things: "One kind of a man walks our streets without a spark of honor, without a spark of sportsmanship. He is the hunter of the unin- formed, lonely girl who is as lonely as you and I never have been. She is hunted down by him. She is lost to her family, lost to her friends, lost to herself, lost to her God. But he is accepted everywhere. He continues to walk the streets- a romantic figure. It will never be any different until you women demand the single standard, until you say to your boys-and teach them to live by the say- ing-'somewhere some girl is keeping herself sweet and clean for you. Will you do as much for her?' I challenge you, the flower of womanhood, to say to men, 'No longer shall you exploit my sex in the degradation of a marriage to which you bring disease.'"

This great meeting adopted the following resolution: That the General Fed- eration of Woman's Clubs give the cause of political equality for men and women its moral support by recording its earnest belief in the principle of politi- cal equality regardless of sex.

At the close of 1914 these clubs were members of the State Federation: Aber- deen-Clio, LeCercle Francais, Mother's, Optec, Shakesperean, Sorosis, Twen- tieth Century and Zenaida ; Armour-Prairie Home Study, Civic Improvement and Study; Beresford-Study ; Blunt-Tuesday; Bradley-Study; Bridgewater -Study ; Britton-Study; Brookings-Saturday Literary and Woman's Civic League ; Bruce-Over the Teacups ; Canova-Woman's, Literary ; Canton-Read- ing Circle, Canton Art and Woman's Study; Carter-Woman's; Centerville --- Twentieth Century; Chamberlain-Travelers, Claremont Zillah; Deadwood- Round Table and Thursday ; Dell Rapids-Woman's ; DeSmet-Woman's Study ; Dupree-Woman's; East Pierre-Woman's; Elkton-Woman's; Faulkton- Tuesday, Swastika and Willard Union; Flandreau-Athena, Civic Improvement League and Twentieth Century; Fort Pierre-Woman's; Frederick-Alpha ; Geddes-Civic Improvement; Gettysburg-Woman's Literary; Gregory- Woman's; Groton-Current Event; Henry-Degree of Honor Improvement Club; Hot Springs-Mother's, Shakespeare, Drama and Traveler's; Howard- Civic League; Huron-Fortnightly, Mother's Union and Twentieth Century ; Ipswich-Twentieth Century; Lake Preston-Excelsior; Lemmon-Woman's ;

CITY HALL, WATERTOWN

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

Midland-New Century ; Milbank-Excelsior and Makocha ; Miller-Helen Hunt Jackson and Twentieth Century; Mitchell-Art; Newman, Round Table and Utopian; Parker-Study; Parkston-Bay View Study; Philip-Woman's ; Pierre-Woman's ; Platte-Woman's; Pukwana-Current Topic; Rapid City- Current Events; Redfield-Twentieth Century; Revillo-Progressive Study ; Salen1-Study; Sioux Falls-Ladies' History and Study; Sisseton-Zenith ; Smithwick-Woman's; Spearfish-Woman's; Tyndall-Study; Vermillion- Waseka ; Wagner --- Woman's Study ; Wakonda-Cu He Lo and Monday ; Water- town -- Book Looms, Domestic Science, Fortnightly, Progressive Study, Round Table, Sunshine, Wa Ya Wa and Woman's; Webster-Progressive Study, Woman's Thursday ; Winner -- Woman's; Yankton-Nineteenth Century.

In the fall of 1914 an important movement which affected women was the organization of ladies' auxiliaries to farmers' institutes. The object of organ- izing these auxiliaries was to accomplish for women and girls in the homes what was accomplished by the farmers' institutes and short courses for the men and boys on the farms. This movement was cordially supported by H. H. Stover, leader and superintendent of the farmers' institutes of the state. He declared that no woman should give up business because of her marriage.

Early in 1915 at a meeting of the Woman's Clubs held at Pierre an inter- esting program was rendered. Mrs. Chapman and Miss Bennet contributed the music. A paper on the Music League of America by Mrs. Fischer was' read to the meeting by Mrs. Polley. The second paper was read by Mrs. Roselle, her subject being a sketch of Henry Hunt and his reform work in the municipal affairs of Cincinnati, and how he gained national reputation as an authority on city government. A short paper on the subject, "Is the American Housewife Incompetent ?" was read by Mrs. Travis. She believed that housewives were usually competent, but read from authorities who had other views. This led to a general discussion.

The officers of the State Federation in 1915 were: President, Mrs. Zillah E. Wilson, Aberdeen; vice president, Mrs. Addie L. Bird, Watertown; recording secretary, Mrs. Grace Porter, Fort Pierre; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Gert- rude B. Gunderson, Vermillion; treasurer, Mrs. Jessie M. Morten, Deadwood; auditor, Mrs. Carrie A. McFarland, Wagner; custodian, Mrs. Carrie A. Ewert, Pierre; historian, Mrs. Minnie E. DeGroff, Watertown. In 1915 the standing committees were: Reciprocity, State Endowment Fund, Rural Life, Legislation, Art, Vocational Education, Specific Temperance, Instruction, Industrial and Social Condition, Home, Economics, Literature and Library Extension, Civics, Music, Civil Service Reform, Health, Conservation, Mother's Club, Press and Scholarship Fund. The delegates appointed to the Fourth International Congress on Home Education at Philadelphia in September, 1914, were Mesdames Kathryn Denniston, Della H. Eichboltz, Edith Sproat, Minnie Beebe, Florence S. Thart ; and those appointed to the Eighth Special Purity Congress, Kansas City, were Mesdames Faye H. Armstrong, Nina Hoover, Irene C. Wilson, Sarah E. Ward and Carrie N. Wright.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 109

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146