San Antonio Daily Light

Woman's National Council.

The woman's national council which closed its labors in Washington, D. C. two months since, took a new departure in the way of organizing for effectual cooperation among all societies in any way intelligently interested in woman's work as a distinctive thing. The real object of the council was to secure a unity of sentiment and service among all the organizations established by women for the benefit of the home and the nation and to do this without in any way interfering in the special work of these individual societies. It is really a federation of such societies as would by the object of their organization naturally fall into line with the work proposed by the national council. This homogeneousness of effort and spirit would be judged by the executive committee of the national council and may become auxiliary thereto by its own vote without any danger of being swallowed up in the all inclusiveness of the council. The dues for membership are merely nominal; half a cent per annum per member of each auxiliary, on entrance and a triennial payment of twenty-five dollars thereafter. The council does not claim any authority whatever over the auxiliaries save that of suggestion and sympathy and the connection with the council in no way interferes with the independent exercise of all its functions by each associated society. The privileges of membership as auxiliary are limited to such societies of women as are national in their character, or where work is really of national and not merely of local value. The representation in the national council does not depend upon the membership of the auxiliaries each only being entitled to equal representation. The meetings are triennial, and the executive committee which is composed of the general officers of the national council and its vice-presidents are to be its standing committee of arrangements with one delegate from each auxiliary. The object of this movement is to nationalize the work of women and give it a consolidated character. It will concern itself with all that specially concerns women and will push her claims to recognition in all places where in the opinion of this council her work can be of real distinctive benefit to the nation. It is an intelligent movement to a direct end. How far it will be successful remains to be seen. The measure of its success no doubt will be determined by the methods of its work.