live, for the state which they love, and for mankind in general. There are only about two thousand of us, but there are clubs from the Colorado border on the north to the Mexican border on the south, and east and west from Texas to Arizona. and their influence is felt in the most remote places. It is owing chiefly to their efforts that many good laws are not only on the statute books, but are enforced. The Joint Guardianship law which gives the mother equal rights with the father over a minor child was passed at the last session of the Legislature, and other laws pertaining to women and children have been given especial attention. The Child Welfare Home, a beautiful building in Santa Fe, stands as an evidence of the untiring energy of the women who saw the need of such an institution and worked diligently until the purchase of the house was assured, and the Child Welfare Association formed. This Association numbers men among its supporters, but the president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs is, by its articles of incorporation, president of the association. The presidents of contributing clubs are members of the Board of Managers. The Association co-operates with all national, state and community measures looking towards the protection of mothers and children. It seeks to be an agency through which all who are so disposed may find opportunity to be of service to society. By an amendment to our state constitution, passed by the legislature, and carried at a special election, women are now eligible to all state offices. There are twenty-eight women on state boards, twentythree of whom are club women. A woman is chairman of the State Board of Public Welfare, and one board composed entirely of women has a legislative appropriation, which is rather unusual, and shows the confidence placed in their ability. It is very gratifying to note the interest displayed in the concerts and art exhibits, which are now features of the district and annual meetings of the State Federation. These are enjoyed not only by members, but opportunity is given for every one to come, and they are well patronized. While the Federation is absolutely a non-partisan organi zation, it urges women to join some political party and endorse and support clean nominees for all offices. In this way only can any benefit be derived from suffrage, and in this way will the influence of women be broadened, and all will realize that woman is indeed a "working power." NEW YORK MRS. WALTER COMLY, President. New York State Federation expects every woman to do her duty and upon realization of this responsibility depends the success of our efforts. With a membership of more than 300,000, grouped in 560 clubs, we are a vital force in the history of the Empire State, so many are the problems which come to us for solution. Community Service is the theme of the present administration, a service that reaches, not only the neighbor next door, but also the one in the farthest corner of our great state. We have reorganized our plan of work along the lines. of the General Federation, and we have found it to be most advantageous to thus work in close co-operation with the central organization. At the head of each department, division and committee, we have a so-called specialist, who at all times is at the service of the state as well as the General Federation. Our geographical situation makes us one of the great gateways of the nation, so our Americanization work, in its many phases, must be emphasized. Thus our influence will be felt not only in our land, but also across the water, to those countries whose children are coming to us in vast numbers. The war has brought to us many international problems, in which we, as American women, must feel our responsibility; therefore let us be so equipped that we may adequately render this patriotic service. So to the great mother organization, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, we pledge our co-operation and our interest and more than all, loyalty, which has for its foundation an intellectual and spiritual force. NORTH CAROLINA MRS. SYDNEY P. COOPER, President. I represent twelve thousand club women. A working force demands intelligence, courage, patience, persistence, the spirit of sacrifice. This, woman has demonstrated from Semiramis to Victoria, Boadicea to Maria Theresa, Eve to the mother of the last born child, the far cry for voice in government to the nineteenth amendment, the first perils faced that a home might be built, to the last son or loved one bidden through shining tears Godspeed to serve mankind while the heart was breaking. So equipped, untrammeled by past restraint, she not only confronts but enters into the high empire of life's every task and service, clear-eyed and unafraid. Woman as a working power in North Carolina cannot be stated in concrete terms, because no man has been able to compute it and no woman has yet had the time to do so. Work and woman have been synonymous terms since the time when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. The only thing that woman has lacked throughout the countless ages has been opportunity. Through the organized efforts of the women who worked for high ideals and noble purposes, this jewel of the ages has been cast from a clouded sky into the lap of womankind, in the greatest time of the world's history and progress. And the working power of women shall be "the light set on a hill" in these troubled and uncertain days that "shall give light and succor to nations until the world shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea." For woman as a working power has been brought from the degradation of the darkest night at the foot of the economic ladder, up to a point where her potential power is as great as the possibilities of the children she bears, as powerful as the state and nation of which she is so proud, as beautiful as the love she cherishes toward all humanity, as majestic as the noon-day sun and reflecting the glory of the God she so devoutly worships. The power of woman to work in North Carolina is as vast as the limitless resources of that wonderful state, and has been since the day when feminine hands first stitched together the stripes of red and white, representing the holy cause and common sacrifice, and designed the field of blue on which were emblazoned the stars representing the sovereign states thus joined together to fight a great battle for humanity. Rich in the progressive souls of our living, proud of the sacrifices of our noble mothers, we have the courage to resolve and the power to say that right, not might, shall govern; that all, not some, shall eat the fruits of industry and toil; that the fullest good for each shall be expressed in the betterment of all and that the courageous struggle and heart-rending privations of the pioneers of our cause shall be an everlasting benediction to us and our posterity, to the greater glory of the God of things as they ought to be, and to the greater honor of women as they are. NORTH DAKOTA. MRS. LYMAN N. CARY, President. Ours is a state of wide prairies, fertile valleys and vast open spaces. We have few of the problems of the older states, no great cities, no crowded tenements or factory districts. It is a wonderful thing to live in a state that is still in the making and we are glad and proud to have a share in its development. The club women of the state are fitting themselves for better citizenship by the subjects they are studying. Their programs evidence this. American history and literature, our Constitution and government, international relations, legislation and the history of our own state are subjects chosen by many clubs, while nearly all devote some time to Parliamentary Law. All over the state a keen interest has been taken in the ceremony of naturalization. Citizenship Day on July Fourth was observed by many of our clubs, a public reception given to the new citizens, while in several places a dinner was served out of doors to these new Americans. Nearly all the clubs are planning to observe it this year. Our women have worked for all Child Welfare projects. A special week was designated by the government, at the request of the Federation, as Child Welfare Week and was observed all over the state with splendid results. A movement for bettering the condition of children in the state resulted in the passing of a bill by the last Legislature creating a Children's Code Commission of seven members, one of whom is from the Federation. Through the efforts of the clubs, the American Society of Mental Hygiene will make a survey of the state to determine the number of mentally deficient both within and without institutions. This will begin next month and consume about a year's time. The clubs have taken up the campaign against illiteracy and many are conducting night schools in the smaller towns of the state, club women acting as teachers. Classes were held in the state penitentiary and illiterates taught, one an old Indian seventy-two years old. We have joined the State Educational Department under the slogan, "No Illiteracy in Nineteen Twenty-four." Practically all the libraries in the state have been started by women's clubs and forty-five libraries in as many towns are owned and supported entirely by the clubs, several owning their buildings. We are now working for a County Library law which will bring books into all the rural communities as well. A broader outlook is noticed in all club work, the musical clubs no longer give programs for a musical few but for the public in community concerts and in the institutions and hospitals. The clubs studying art are giving their programs in the public schools and presenting the pictures so studied to the schools. Clubs are starting parks, caring for cemeteries, planting memorial trees and groves. Free clinics for those too poor to. secure expert medical assistance for their children, free milk for the undernourished school children and contributions to all charities for children at home and foreign lands are reported. State and District Scholarship Loan Funds are assisting many students, thirty-seven having received help, nearly all in normal schools. A former state president is now State Superintendent of Public Instruction, a district president is city auditor in one of our larger cities and our Endowment Fund Trustee is president of a National bank, the first woman in the state to hold this position, and many other club women are holding responsible positions in the state. OHIO. MRS. C. S. SELOVER, President. Women in Ohio find expression as a working power through their 752 clubs representing 118,000 women. Their work is car |