189

MRS. PEATTIE'S SUCCESSOR

Mrs. William P. Hartford Elected President of the Omaha Woman's Club.

Madam Reuben Gaylord an Early Settler in the West Made and Honorary Member.

Project of Building a Club House is Taken Up but Nothing Definite is Decided - Routine Matters.

Mrs. William P. Hartford was yesterday elected president of the Woman's club to succeed Mrs. Peattie.

When the result of the ballot was announced by Mrs. Towne temporary chairman of the meeting held in the afternoon at the Creighton, Mrs. Hartford took in her arms the big boquet of American beauties presented her and made a most gracious speech, in which she said that the Woman's club was so thoroughly American in its make up, each department having so efficient a head, that she realized her duties would not be of great responsibility, but only to preside and keep as much as possible her opinions to herself. She said that she hoped to fill her position honestly and faithfully, but asked that no comparison be drawn between herself and the graceful and witty Mrs. Peattie, or the other clever presidents who had gone before.

Madam Reuben Gaylord was made an honorary member of the club, Mrs. Ferguson welcoming the pioneer woman whose residence in Omaha has covered forty years, in a few words. Thirteen names were proposed for membership. Mrs. Shuman of Nebraska City and Mrs. Riordan of Texas were guests of the club. During the afternoon Mrs. Johnson gave a vocal solo and Josephine Bell played the piano. An interesting report of the delegation to the Crete Federation of Woman Clubs was read.

DISCUSS CLUB HOUSE SCHEMES.

But after the election of president the feature of the meeting was the discussion of the building of a club house. Mrs. Mary Gerrard Andrews spoke against the stock company idea proposed by the committee. She related the sad state of affairs in Chicago, where the women of the Women's Christian Temperance union had allowed a stock company to build the "Temple," only to find that where the money of many women had been put into the enterprise the women now are having to face the possibility of relinquishing any interest in the building whatever, merely being allowed to rent it as any other tenant. She was in favor of waiting until the club be older and more established and could build a club house of its own without going into debt and until the women members could organize a stock company among themselves.

Mrs. Ford, the chairman of the club house committee, explained that if the members of the Woman's club bought the majority of the stock they were entitled to the control, and said further that no harm could come of soliciting for shareholders to see what could be done. Mrs. Hartford thought if anything is to be done, now is the time to do it, while a down town site can be purchased at a reasonable figure.

BELIEVES IT WILL PAY.
Miss Clary said the need in Omaha of an auditorium of proportions suitable to accommodate large audiences is so urgent that it seemed to her that the club which would provide such a building could not help realising upon the investment. Mrs. Towne said that she and the secretary felt so kind of queer on the stage of the Creighton theater, so far from the other club members who seemed to be in the dark from the stage, that she more than ever felt the need of a home for the club properly adapted to its use.

The matter was laid over until the next meeting of the club. A reception under the auspices of the musical department will be given Maud Morgan at the club rooms next Thursday afternoon.

MRS. PEATTIE'S SUCCESSOR

Mrs. William P. Hartford Elected President of the Omaha Woman's Club.

Madam Reuben Gaylord an Early Settler in the West Made and Honorary Member.

Project of Building a Club House is Taken Up but Nothing Definite is Decided - Routine Matters.

Mrs. William P. Hartford was yesterday elected president of the Woman's club to succeed Mrs. Peattie.

When the result of the ballot was announced by Mrs. Towne temporary chairman of the meeting held in the afternoon at the Creighton, Mrs. Hartford took in her arms the big boquet of American beauties presented her and made a most gracious speech, in which she said that the Woman's club was so thoroughly American in its make up, each department having so efficient a head, that she realized her duties would not be of great responsibility, but only to preside and keep as much as possible her opinions to herself. She said that she hoped to fill her position honestly and faithfully, but asked that no comparison be drawn between herself and the graceful and witty Mrs. Peattie, or the other clever presidents who had gone before.

Madam Reuben Gaylord was made an honorary member of the club, Mrs. Ferguson welcoming the pioneer woman whose residence in Omaha has covered forty years, in a few words. Thirteen names were proposed for membership. Mrs. Shuman of Nebraska City and Mrs. Riordan of Texas were guests of the club. During the afternoon Mrs. Johnson gave a vocal solo and Josephine Bell played the piano. An interesting report of the delegation to the Crete Federation of Woman Clubs was read.

DISCUSS CLUB HOUSE SCHEMES.

But after the election of president the feature of the meeting was the discussion of the building of a club house. Mrs. Mary Gerrard Andrews spoke against the stock company idea proposed by the committee. She related the sad state of affairs in Chicago, where the women of the Women's Christian Temperance union had allowed a stock company to build the "Temple," only to find that where the money of many women had been put into the enterprise the women now are having to face the possibility of relinquishing any interest in the building whatever, merely being allowed to rent it as any other tenant. She was in favor of waiting until the club be older and more established and could build a club house of its own without going into debt and until the women members could organize a stock company among themselves.

Mrs. Ford, the chairman of the club house committee, explained that if the members of the Woman's club bought the majority of the stock they were entitled to the control, and said further that no harm could come of soliciting for shareholders to see what could be done. Mrs. Hartford thought if anything is to be done, now is the time to do it, while a down town site can be purchased at a reasonable figure.

BELIEVES IT WILL PAY.
Miss Clary said the need in Omaha of an auditorium of proportions suitable to accommodate large audiences is so urgent that it seemed to her that the club which would provide such a building could not help realising upon the investment. Mrs. Towne said that she and the secretary felt so kind of queer on the stage of the Creighton theater, so far from the other club members who seemed to be in the dark from the stage, that she more than ever felt the need of a home for the club properly adapted to its use.

The matter was laid over until the next meeting of the club. A reception under the auspices of the musical department will be given Maud Morgan at the club rooms next Thursday afternoon.