Chapter XXXV: Introduction (3)

One clerk, assigned to the claims division. Duties: Preparation
of correspondence connected with claims of postmasters for
reimbursement for losses occasioned by burglary, fire, or other
unavoidable casualty, and for losses of money-order and postal
funds in transit to depositaries.

Office of the topographer: One woman skilled as draftsman, at
$1,400, prepares the guides for the colors printed on the
post-route maps, and has supervision of the map sheets
transmitted from and to the photolithographer. Three other women
draftsmen note the reported changes in the postal service of a
group of States, revise and post-route map sheets of those
States, and correct monthly the corresponding diagram maps for
the use of officers and clerks of the Post-Office Department.

Office Second Assistant Postmaster-General: One clerk, salary
$1,600, on work relating to ocean mail contract service;
occasional translating, indexing, and briefing. One clerk,
salary $1,400, on work relating to domestic statistics in
connection with the international service; stating accounts of
steamship companies for the sea conveyance of mails; occasional
translating, and assisting in general correspondence. One clerk,
salary $1,400, "corresponding clerk," whose duties consist in
the examination of applications for establishment of star and
steamboat service; changes therein; preparation of cases to be
submitted for decision; preparation of orders and correspondence
for official signature.

In most of the examinations which women pass in order to be appointed in the departments technical skill is required, as shown by the following list of subjects:

Artist, assistant microscopist, clerk stenographer and typewriter, computer in Coast and Geodetic Survey, counter, Government paper mill, industrial teacher, trained nurse, register and receiver's clerk, compositor, public document cataloguer, assistant ethnological librarian, scientific assistant, book typewriter, kindergarten teacher, scientific aid, zoological clerk, Internal-Revenue Service, Philippine Service, topographic draftsman, assistant to bookbinder, music teacher.

The following is a compilation and table of comparison showing the number of men and women employed in the various departments at Washington, D.C. The figures are based upon the Official Register of the United States, July 1, 1901, volume 1. Since that date there has been a great many hundreds of new appointees of both sexes in all the respective departments and bureaus below enumerated, and the accurate figures down to the present time will show an increase accordingly:

-----------------------------------+--------+--------+ | Men. | Women. | -----------------------------------+--------+--------+ Executive Office (the President's) | 28 | | Department of State | 92 | 17 | Treasury Department | 3,234 | 2,313 | War Department | 2,411 | 300 | Navy Department | 2,292 | 85 | Post-Office Department | 812 | 237 | Department of Interior | 4,810 | 2,862 | Department of Justice | 191 | 21 | Department of Agriculture | 650 | 382 | Government Printing Office | 2,623 | 1,068 | Department of Labor | 74 | 10 | United States Commission of Fish | | | and Fisheries | 55 | 12 | Interstate Commerce Commission | 133 | | Civil Service Commission | 55 | 6 | Industrial Commission | 10 | 7 | Smithsonian Institution | 320 | 39 | Bureau of American Republics | 13 | 9 | -----------------------------------+--------+--------+

The first woman employed in the Government service was appointed by General Spinner, of the Treasury Department, about 1864.

On July 1, 1901, the clerical force in the Executive Departments in Washington was approximately a force of 27,605 employees of both sexes. Out of this number there were 7,496 females. The time, at this ratio of increase of the respective sexes, when the gentler sex is to overcome and pass the men, is merely a matter of arithmetic to those who wish to ascertain this interesting data. The above table shows that the women have between one-fourth and one-third of the appointments in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Mary Phelps Montgomery, the chairman of the committee on woman's work, read her first report of the work of that committee at the meeting of the board held Tuesday, April 28, 1903, and a copy was transmitted to the National Commission. At the session held on December 17, 18, and 19, 1903, the following letter was received and read by the secretary:

ST. LOUIS, U.S.A., _December 16, 1903_.

DEAR MRS. HANGER: Replying to your esteemed favor of the 14th
instant, transmitting a copy of report of committee on woman's
work, which was adopted by your board at a meeting held in
April, 1903, you are advised that on motion the same was
approved to the extent that the report prescribes the scope of
your proposed field of activity.

The Commission, at its session on the 15th instant, adopted the
following resolution:

"Moved and seconded that in so far as the report of committee on
woman's work prescribes the line of work for the board of lady
managers, the same stands approved by the Commission.

"Motion prevailed."

Agreeable to your request, the report has been forwarded to the
Exposition Company for its action, with a copy of the resolution
passed by the Commission.
Very respectfully, THOMAS H. CARTER,
_President_.

MRS. FREDERICK M. HANGER,
_Secretary of the Board of Lady Managers,
Administration Building, City_.

Extracts from this report are embodied in the final report of the committee on woman's work, which is as follows:

September 30, 1902, the women appointed by the National
Commission as lady managers for the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition were called by the National Commission to meet in St.
Louis and effect an organization of the board of lady managers.
At this meeting the board of lady managers was organized and
Mrs. James L. Blair elected president.

The first permanent committee appointed by the new president was
a committee on woman's work. The ladies appointed on this
committee were: Miss Anna L. Dawes, Miss Helen Gould, Mrs.
Marcus Daly, Mrs. M.K. de Young, and Mrs. Mary Phelps
Montgomery, chairman. Two members of this committee were not
present at the meeting. The president of the board impressed
upon the chairman of the committee that a large share of the
board's work must of necessity be performed by the committee on
woman's work. The chairman of the committee asked the president
of the National Commission for special instructions in regard to
the plan and scope of the work of the board of lady managers.
The president of the National Commission replied that the board
of lady managers must outline their own policy and perform their
own work to their best judgment. There was no work performed by
the committee on woman's work at this meeting.

The second meeting of the board of lady managers was held in New
York City, November 17, 1902. The chairman of the committee on
woman's work asked to have added to this committee Mrs. John M.
Holcombe, Mrs. Edward L. Buchwalter, Mrs. Daniel Manning, and
Mrs. Richard Knott. The chairman of the committee called a
meeting at that time, to which call only Miss Anna L. Dawes and
Mrs. Daniel Manning responded. At this second meeting of the
board of lady managers in New York the president of the board
instructed the committee on woman's work to proceed to St. Louis
not later than March, and there receive instructions from the
National Commission in regard to the line of work they should
take up at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. It became apparent
at this meeting that it would be necessary to specialize the
work of the board of lady managers, thus relieving the committee
on woman's work of much responsibility and labor.

The chairman and Mrs. Daniel Manning, as members of the
committee on woman's work, spent January, 1903, in the city of
Washington, and during their stay endeavored to acquaint
themselves with the work performed by women in each and every
vocation in life.

In accordance with the instructions of the president, Mrs.
Blair, at the meeting held on November 17, the committee on
woman's work met at the Southern Hotel, in St. Louis, March 10,
at 11 o'clock, Mrs. Montgomery, chairman. There were present
besides the chairman Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Holcombe, and Mrs.
Buchwalter, three members being unavoidably prevented from
coming, viz: Miss Gould, Miss Dawes, and Mrs. Knott.

The interest that this committee felt in developing on broad
lines their part in the exposition is shown in the following
extracts taken from my report, which was not read, however,
until the meeting of the board held April 28, 1903:

* * * * *

According to appointment, the committee on woman's work met the
executive committee of the Exposition Company at the Laclede
Building, March 11, 1903. Mr. Corwin H. Spencer, acting and
first vice-president and chairman of the executive committee,
presided, and stated: "These ladies are here, gentlemen, upon my
invitation, and have some matters they wish to discuss with
you."

Mrs. Montgomery, the chairman of the committee on woman's work,
then said:

"Ever since we became members of the board of lady managers we
have been somewhat in the dark as to what we could and might do
to contribute to the success of this great exposition, and we
thought perhaps if we came and talked to you gentlemen upon the
ground that you could throw us a little light.' We, of course,
want to work in harmony with everything that has already been
outlined, and we feel that we are a very weak body, but we want
to add our efforts to those of the officers of this exposition,
and we came to ask you to please tell us how we can help you,
and to instruct us upon the line which we are to take up. We
feel that women of this country have become a very great factor,
but we also feel that the time has passed when we are to have a
separate exhibit of what women can do, and we thought perhaps in
some way we might be able to work in unison with the executive
committee and the various other committees of the exposition."

Several subjects were brought up by members of the committee on
woman's work, such as the organizations of the country, the
congresses at this exposition, the dates of meetings, and
provision for the care of the women in attendance. It was
suggested by a member of the committee that in the largest
audience that the exposition would have the majority would be
women. The company had already taken steps to provide a place of
meeting, so arranged that meetings could be held without
admission fee.

At this meeting a motion was made, and carried by the executive
committee, "that the director of exhibits, Mr. Skiff, be
instructed to formulate a programme suggesting the way in which
the board of lady managers can assist in inducing congresses to
come to the exposition."

The chairman of the committee on woman's work then called
attention to the fact that almost the first thing done after the
organization of that committee was to ask that immoral dances be
excluded from the exposition, to which no reply had been
received. During the discussion which followed Mr. Stevens read
copy from his records, showing that a letter had been sent by
him to the president of the board of lady managers, reading as
follows:

"MADAM PRESIDENT: I am directed by the executive committee to
reply to your letter conveying the resolution adopted by the
board of lady managers on the subject of concessions. The
resolution was duly referred by the executive committee to the
director of concessions and the committee on concessions, with
request for careful consideration. The report of the director
and the committee on concessions has been received. The director
and the committee express the belief that, under the conditions
imposed in all the contracts the concessions will be so
regulated as to render it impossible to present any amusement
that can be classed as indecent or improper.

"Very respectfully,
WALTER B. STEVENS, _Secretary_."

The committee on woman's work then stated to the executive
committee that this letter had never been read before the board
at their meeting.

The matter was then considered of sending several members of the
board of lady managers abroad to exploit woman's work and to
excite an interest in woman's congresses throughout the world.
The chairman stated that she had a letter from Mr. Francis
saying he would send one with certain conditions, and the
committee wanted to know if that decision was final and what the
action of the executive committee would be on that point. It was
suggested that three women from the board should be sent
abroad--one from the East, one from the West, and one from the
Middle States--and the chairman of the executive committee said
that, if agreeable to the ladies, that committee would have the
matter taken up as soon as President Francis returned. The
executive committee was assured that if it would outline a
programme by which the board of lady managers could render
assistance to this great exposition they would be very glad;
they wanted to help do what the heads of the exposition had laid
out to be, done, and if there was anything that women could do,
let them do it.

The meeting then adjourned, and the committee on woman's work
met with Mr. Skiff, the director of exhibits. In response to an
inquiry in regard to the question whether his committee had
taken the initiative in regard to educational and international
congresses, Mr. Skiff replied:

"The exposition simply patronizes and assists without the
expenditure of money these stated congresses and conventions.
Those bodies already organized are in a hospitable way invited
here, and their executive management is aided more or less in a
hall in which they can meet a committee to receive them; but
they conduct their own conventions.

"Now the international congresses are an entirely different
thing. They are patronized by the exposition. An appropriation
of $150,000 has been made for that purpose. Dr. Simon Newcomb is
president of the congress. There is no race or sex in a
universal exposition; it is the productive use of a man as a
unit. We have had great difficulty in convincing the scientific
people that so great a thing should come from so western a
point. We are going to do a very fine thing in a very large way.
The delegates will be selected and all expenses paid from their
homes and return, and whatever product of their thought they
present here at these congresses will be bound and fixed in
type. I can not say we are working on any plan; it is developed.
The congress is my idea. I am the director of exhibits, and it
did not seem proper for the director of exhibits officially to
approve the proceedings and the signatures of an office of an
international congress. So I suggested that Director Rogers
report to President Francis, so that I use President Francis's
name. In the meantime I have been appointed a member of the
advisory board on account of my position as a director of the
institute in Chicago. There is no opportunity for organizations
to participate in that international congress. There you come in
as individuals; but man or woman if they are great will be
invited. It is all one congress; it will only last one week. We
have not selected the exact date. It occupies a week; it is
divided into sections. Some days in the Congressional Hall there
may be 25 or 30 sections all working at the same time on
different subjects. It is a magnificent programme. Meetings of
these stated organizations are entirely different. The only
point about meetings of these clubs and organizations is that,
whether they are officered by men or women, or both, some one in
behalf of the exposition must make their way as easy as possible
for them and see that days do not collide."

A member of the committee made the request that some provision
should be made for the care of trained nurses at the exposition,
and Mr. Skiff stated that the War Department was contemplating a
field hospital. "They want two things. I do not know what the
outcome will be. If you ladies could proceed sufficiently to get
these ladies interested in the trained nurse idea--to offer the
services of a certain number of 'changed' nurses (you
understand, double the number, so that they can change)--I have
no doubt that Doctor Laidley will be glad to avail of their
services."

In answer to the questions as to the time the jurors would be
appointed, and whether he had a list of the things on which
women are to be appointed, and how long before they would be
known, Mr. Skiff replied:

"The jurors will be appointed the first week of the exposition,
and the list of things on which women are to be appointed will
depend on whether the work is done in whole or in part by female
labor. We will know as soon as we get a catalogue. We can not
tell what the exhibits will be until they are exhibits. The
pamphlet of classification will be of invaluable assistance to
you, ladies, in your work. The jurors are to be paid $7 a day
and traveling expenses."

In response to the inquiry whether the board should not begin to
look out for the women that would be capable for that sort of
work, Mr. Skiff said:

"They will develop. There are 108 classes; a committee on each
class would be 1,200 jurors. We are not working women's exhibits
up any more than men's. It takes care of itself. We do not
specially promote, except in this way: An officer of a
department, if he understands his work, is given a
classification. That is his bible. He makes up his mind what is
possible to do in the way of an exhibit. They build up an
exhibit. In that way they find it necessary to touch what we
call 'individual promotion' on their broad lines. For instance,
in education, deaf, dumb, and blind; charity, philanthropy, and
education of mind; conveyance of thought; social economy, the
model city; machinery, that class of machinery that is most
ingenious; electricity, electric therapeutics, electric
magnetism; transportation, aeronautics, Santos Dumont, etc.;
forestry, fish culture, etc. They can add, and on broad lines
develop, the highest type of the condition of the times."

Replying to the question whether an exhibit of laces by a woman
could be insured, Mr. Skiff stated: "We have no money for
insurance; we have no people to go on bond; she is an individual
exhibitor, and must get in her own exhibit in a general way."

On the following day, March 12, I received from Mr. Stevens the
following letter, accompanied by a record of 1903 conventions of
organizations composed of women:

ST. Louis, U.S.A., _March, 13, 1903_.

MADAM: In pursuance of the conference held by your committee
with the executive committee of the exposition the 11th instant,
the acting president, Mr. Spencer, directs me to send to you the
accompanying list of conventions and delegate meetings of women
to be held in the near future. It is desired to obtain action by
these bodies the coming year to meet in St. Louis during 1904.
The acting president instructs me to say that if your committee
or the board of lady managers will assist in obtaining such
action it will be highly appreciated.

The exposition management, with a view to encourage the holding
of conventions and congresses, has arranged to have several
halls, the use of which can be given to conventions without cost
to them. Two or three convention halls will be so located with
approaches as to enable delegates to the conventions to reach
them without passing through the gates of the exposition. It is
also the purpose to afford hall room free to such bodies as may
desire to hold meetings downtown.

The acting president directs me to say, further, that from a
very thorough canvass made of the city, and from information in
the possession of the exposition management, it is believed that
good accommodations can be assured at reasonable rates during
the exposition. It is the purpose of the exposition to maintain
an information service, which will enable delegates to secure
accommodations by mail previous to their arrival here.

In other ways the exposition management will endeavor to make
the holding of conventions a prominent and satisfactory feature
of the World's Fair. If the board of lady managers will join in
the invitation to these bodies of women to hold their 1904
conventions at St. Louis the board can help very materially. If
the members of the board of lady managers can attend some of
these gatherings of 1903, and by personal effort and
representation assist in bringing the conventions here the
following year, the management will be pleased to have them do
so.

Very respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary_.

Mrs. MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY.

Record of 1903 Conventions of Organizations Composed of Women.

International Congress of Nurses, New York City; International
Board of Women and Y.M.C.A. Conference, Cleveland, Ohio;
Daughters of Liberty, National Council, Philadelphia, Pa.;
Daughters of St. George, Columbus, Ohio; Daughters of Veterans'
National Convention, Cleveland, Ohio; Ladies' Aid Society of the
United States, Providence, R.I.; P.R.O. Sisterhood Supreme, St.
Louis, Mo.; Ladies' United Veteran Legion National Convention,
Brooklyn, N.Y.; National Council of Women, New York City;
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Chicago, Ill.; National
League of Women Workers, Syracuse, N.Y.; Women's and Young
Women's Christian Association, St. Louis, Mo.; National Congress
of Mothers, Detroit, Mich., May 5-8; Daughters of the
Revolution, General Society, New York City, May 10; King's
Daughters and Sons, St. Louis, Mo.; Knights and Ladies of Honor,
St. Louis, Mo.; Knights and Ladies of Security, St. Louis, Mo.;
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, St. Louis, Mo.;
P.E.C. Sisterhood, St. Louis, Mo.; Spanish-American War Nurses,
St. Louis, Mo.; United Daughters of the Confederacy, St. Louis,
Mo.; Woman's Christian Temperance Union, St. Louis, Mo.; Woman's
Relief Corps, St. Louis, Mo.; Council of Jewish Women, St.
Louis, Mo.; National American Woman Suffrage Association, New
Orleans, La.; Ancient Sons and Daughters of Jerusalem, Kansas
City, Mo.; Ladies of the Maccabees, Port Huron, Mich.

In a letter from Mr. Howard J. Rogers, in charge of congresses,
which will be appended to this report, he says:

"I beg to state that, in my opinion, the only feasible way is
for the secretary of the board of lady managers, acting in
behalf of the board, to communicate with the secretaries of the
various women's organizations, such as Federation of Clubs,
etc."

Our committee suggests that a separate committee be formed to
take these congresses and other women's organizations in hand
and make it their duty to arrange for dates. We would also
suggest that a local committee of leading club women of the city
of St. Louis be appointed to act in harmony and in unison with
this committee of congresses from the board of lady managers.

I herewith submit copies of letters from Mr. Skiff and Mr.
Rogers:

ST. LOUIS, U.S.A., March 07, 1903.

DEAR MADAM: I have the honor to acknowledge your favor of March
21, which has been noted. I beg to inform you, in accordance
with the instructions of the executive committee, that the
director of exhibits formulate a programme suggesting how the
board of lady managers can assist the Exposition Company in
obtaining congresses of women to meet in St. Louis. I referred
the matter to the chief of congresses, who has made a report, in
which I concur, and I respectfully submit it for your
information and assistance.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours,
F.J.V. SKIFF,
_Director of Exhibits._

MRS. MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY,
_3642 Delmar avenue, St. Louis, Mo._

MARCH 24, 1903.

DEAR SIR: Replying to your communication of March 23, in
reference to the director of exhibits 'formulating a programme
suggesting how the board of lady managers can assist in
obtaining congresses of women to meet in St. Louis,' I beg to
state that in my opinion the only feasible way is for the
secretary of the board of lady managers, acting in behalf of the
board, to communicate with the secretaries of the various
women's organizations, such as the Federation of Women's Clubs,
Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of America,
United Daughters of the Confederacy, Young Women's Christian
Association, Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association, United
States Daughters of 1812, and to second the invitation given by
the exposition to meet in this city in 1904, assuring them their
active cooperation in the matter of obtaining halls,
accommodations, and other matters.

The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Federation of
Women's Clubs have already decided to meet in this city, the
former in June, the latter in May.
I return the letter, as requested.
Very respectfully, yours,
HOWARD J. ROGERS.

Hon. F.J.V. SKIFF,
_Director of Exhibits' Building._

In the resolution adopted by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission, in session assembled at the city of New York the 7th
day of February, 1902, certain rules were made governing the
board of lady managers. The first one recites the power given by
Congress to this board of lady managers to appoint "one member
of all committees authorized to award prizes for such exhibits
as may have been produced in whole or in part by female labor."

The committee on woman's work would suggest:

First. That our board make due preparation for the intelligent
selection of one member of all committees authorized to award
prizes for such exhibits as may have been produced in whole or
in part by female labor, and that we request from the local
executive committee a list of all work presented for competition
before the Louisiana Purchase Exposition produced in whole or in
part by female labor.

Under the resolutions of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of
February 7, 1902, second, we are to "exercise general
supervisory control over such features of the exposition as may
be specially devoted to woman's work."

This resolution is so vague in its phraseology that we are
unable to outline just what we may be permitted to do, and the
chairman wishes to call the attention of this board to the fact
that one of the subjects which we were instructed to take up
before the local executive committee was in regard to a
resolution passed by this board at its first meeting on
September 30, 1902, regarding indecent and immoral dancing. We
were instructed by the board of lady managers to inquire what
action had been taken in regard to this resolution, and were
informed that it was acted upon immediately, and the company's
attorney was instructed to make the contracts in the Midway
Plaisance so as to exclude immoral and indecent dancing.

The third resolution, that we were "to take part in the
ceremonies connected with the dedication of the buildings of the
exposition, and in official functions in which women may be
invited to participate, and in any other functions, upon the
request of the company and Commission."

From the very gracious manner in which this board of lady
managers has been provided for and permitted to participate in
the opening ceremonies of the exposition, it would appear that
the Government, Commission, and local company will see that we
are properly cared for on all future occasions.

Fourth. That we confer and advise with the officers and chiefs
of the exposition on the progress being made from time to time
in exciting the interest and enlisting the cooperation of women
in the several departments, and to appoint all committees
necessary to carry out the purpose, and to procure information
on the extent of woman's participation in the exposition.

Fifth. That we encourage the presentation of exhibits by women
by correspondence, advertising, or such other means as the
company may approve.

Sixth. That we collect statistics of woman's work in connection
with the exposition for publication.

Seventh. That we encourage, by correspondence, or otherwise,
attendance at the exposition, of societies and associations of
women, and the holding of conventions, congresses, and other
meetings of women.

Eighth. That we maintain within the grounds during the period of
the exposition an organization for the relief of women and
children who may be found in need of aid, comfort, or special
protection.

Ninth. That we receive and officially entertain women when
requested so to do by the exposition company and the Commission.

Tenth. That we commission members of the board, or others, with
the approval of the Commission and the company, to travel in the
interest of the exposition, either at home or abroad.

Eleventh. That we provide for the constant attendance by
rotation of at least three members of the board at the
exposition grounds from April 30 to December 1, 1904.

Twelfth. That we issue such bulletins from time to time as the
company and the Commission may approve, for the special
information of women and the exploitation of their contributions
to the success of the exposition.

After our board had adjourned and gone to their homes, the
chairman called upon President Carter, of the National
Commission, and had with him a most interesting talk in regard
to woman's work, and he promised to furnish the chairman
extracts from their minutes, containing such suggestions on the
plan and scope of woman's work in connection with the
exposition; and from these extracts our committee has outlined
for this board the work which may be done by the board of lady
managers, following in many instances the Commission's
suggestions verbatim.

This committee desires to return their thanks for the courteous
manner in which they were received by the local executive
committee, and for the assurance of aid in any work which they
might undertake. They also desire to thank the National
Commission for its kind reception, advice, and suggestions on
the plan of woman's work.

The board of lady managers, pursuant to a call, met in the city
of St. Louis, April 28, 1903, and, as has already been stated,
the chairman read before the board the report from which the
above extracts are taken, on the work of the committee on
woman's work performed in St. Louis. The president of the board
of lady managers at this April meeting created several new
committees, viz, an executive committee, an entertainment
committee, a legislative committee, and a committee for a day
nursery or creche. The creating of these committees practically
took from the hands of the committee on woman's work all special
work.

A meeting of the board of lady managers was called in St. Louis
on December 15, 1903; at this meeting it became necessary to
elect a new president of the board, and conditions had so
changed that it became necessary to add several new committees
to those already formed, one being the committee on awards, to
further develop the work of the board of lady managers.

The only money the board of lady managers had ever received to
conduct their work was an appropriation of $3,000 from the
treasurer of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, part of which
had been expended, so that all work of the board of lady
managers was absolutely suspended for the want of funds. It
became necessary for the legislative committee to proceed to
Washington to secure money to carry out their plans. The result
of the labors of the legislative committee has been ably told in
the report of the chairman of that committee, Mrs. Edward L.
Buchwalter.

During the December meeting, and after the adjournment of the
board, the work which seemed of the most vital interest, and the
one which lay nearest to the hearts of every member of the board
of lady managers, was the construction, equipment, and
management of a creche or day nursery. The chairman of the
committee on woman's work remained with the president of the
board in St. Louis for ten days after the adjournment of the
board, meeting the executive committee of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition, endeavoring to arrange for the construction and
equipment of a day nursery. The Exposition Company assured this
committee that they would construct for the lady managers a
building that would cost $30,000, and give $5,000 toward
equipment, and that the day nursery would be self-sustaining
with the possibility of an income above the expense payable to
the Exposition Company.

It now became evident that if the board of lady managers was to
have a day nursery, they must give up the idea of a purely
philanthropic institution and enter the field as money makers.

After two weeks of patient labor, it was made apparent that if a
day nursery was built, all expenses for furnishing and
maintaining it must be paid for out of the funds appropriated by
Congress for the use of the board of lady managers in their
various works. The president of the board of lady managers
offered to contribute $15,000 for the furnishing and maintenance
of this day nursery out of the $100,000 set aside for the use of
the lady managers, if the Exposition Company would free them
from any further financial liability. This the Exposition
Company refused to do.

The Exposition Company further informed us they had already let
a concession for a model playground which would practically
cover the work to be performed by the day nursery, and that this
concession had agreed to care for each child at the rate of 25
cents per day, and that the board of lady managers could not
conduct a day nursery without charging a fee for the care of
each child. Thus the day nursery was taken out of the hands of
the committee on woman's work.

As chairman of this committee, I can not bring this report to a
close without expressing the very deep and heartfelt
disappointment of the committee on woman's work, and I may add
the president and every member of the board of lady managers,
that circumstances over which we had no control forced us to
abandon this cherished project of a model day nursery.

As the duties of the board of lady managers became more apparent
and diversified, and the work evolved and developed, it became
necessary to specialize. The work of the committee on woman's
work ceased to be performed by a large committee under this
name, but was carried on to the close of the exposition by
committees composed of the various members of the board.

In closing this report it would appear at first that the
committee on woman's work stood for very little and had done
very little toward the success of the board of lady managers.
However, this committee, under other names, did successfully
perform a large amount of philanthropic and social work.

There were on the exposition grounds State buildings constructed
by 44 States. These buildings were designed as clubhouses for
the citizens of the various States and were provided with rest
rooms, social halls, and other rooms to contribute to the
comfort of and promote sociability among the people of the
various States visiting the exposition. At the beginning of the
exposition it seemed one of the duties of the board of lady
managers would be to provide a hall for the meeting of women
visiting the exposition and also a rest room, but this want was
provided for by each individual State.

MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY, _Chairman_.
Mrs. MARCUS DALY.
ANNA L. DAWES.
M.K. DE YOUNG.
Mrs. EDWARD L. BUCHWALTER.
Mrs. RICHARD W. KNOTT.
Mrs. JOHN M. HOLCOMBE.

Miss Anna M. Dawes, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, read the first report of that committee at the meeting of the board held in the Administration Building on March 2, 1904. The final report of that committee is as follows:

The committee on foreign affairs was appointed by Mrs. James L.
Blair, the first president of the board, during the meeting at
the time of the formal opening of the exposition on May 2, 1903.
This committee consisted of Mrs. Daniel Manning, chairman; Miss
Dawes, Mrs. Knott, Miss Gould, Mrs. Holcombe, Mrs. Montgomery,
Mrs. Moores, and Mrs. von Mayhoff.

On December 17, 1903, Mrs. Manning having been elected president
of the board after the resignation of Mrs. Blair, Miss Dawes
became chairman of the committee, and has so continued.

In pursuance of a policy inaugurated by Mrs. Manning, it was
determined to send a circular to the women of the different
countries of Europe, calling their attention to the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, inviting their cooperation and presence,
and offering to do what we could toward that end. At the request
of the present chairman, Mrs. Manning conferred with the
officers of the exposition as to what had already been done, and
with the State Department in Washington as to what could be
done, and prepared the circular appended, the State Department
sending it out to its officials in the following countries:

Berne, Switzerland; Bucharest, Roumania; Belgrade, Servia;
Brussels, Belgium; Constantinople, Turkey; Copenhagen, Denmark;
Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; Habana, Cuba; Lisbon, Portugal;
Rome, Italy; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden;
St. Petersburg, Russia; Sofia, Bulgaria; Vienna, Austria;
London, England; The Hague, Netherlands; Egypt; Mexico; China;
Japan; Dominion of Canada.

The cordial cooperation of the Government, through the State
Department, was a source of great satisfaction to the committee,
giving, as it did, not only currency to the circular, but
putting the weight and dignity of the Government behind our
action. For this, and for the extremely valuable circular so
finely adapted to the need, and so eloquently setting forth the
objects of the exposition and the aims and desires of this
board, we are, as in so many other things, indebted to the
experience and ability of Mrs. Manning.

His Excellency the MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ----.

EXCELLENCY: By an act of Congress of the United States, the
board of lady managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition is
directed to join with the other constituted authorities in
commemorating the great event in the history of the United
States when, a century ago, there was added to its territory a
new field which to-day is the home of many people, and where
earnest and sincere women, as well as men, are laboriously
working out the problem of the progress of humanity and the
advancement of the race.

No single individual, no one people, no separate country can
supply that full knowledge from which may be fixed the
conditions of mankind, its development in the industries, the
arts, the sciences at the commencement of the twentieth century.
The entire world must contribute to this knowledge, and
therefore the entire world has been invited to take part in this
universal exposition and to bring hither the fruit of the lands,
the products of other soils, the articles manufactured by
foreign hands, and evidences of the achievements of the
intellect and intelligence in the higher fields of thought.

While in gathering these things there is no distinction made
between the product of man's hand and of woman's hand,
nevertheless, it is the peculiar function of this board to act
as the channel through which women, as individuals, and as
organizations, may be brought into immediate communication with
the exposition at St. Louis.

It is, therefore, with cordiality and eagerness that we invite
the women of your country to join with us in presenting to the
world the information of the condition, opportunities,
development, and promises of their sex in their own country and
to exhibit at the exposition specimens of their productions and
examples of their activities, manual and mental, scientific and
artistic.

And coupled with this invitation, we would express the hope that
we may be permitted to be of personal service to such women as
may visit the exposition in person, or to give special attention
to the exhibits of such as may not be able to come.

Requesting your excellency's good offices to the end that the
publicity may be given to the invitation in order that it may
come to the knowledge of the women of the country, we beg to
assure you of the high consideration with which we are,

Your obedient servant,
MARY MARGARETTA MANNING,
President.

The honorable the SECRETARY OF STATE.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith invitations which the
board of lady managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition have
addressed to the women of foreign countries, through the
respective diplomatic envoys, with a view to promoting women's
interests at the exposition.

In view of the indorsement which the Congress of the United
States has given to the exposition, and the recognition it has
accorded to the board of lady managers, I should be pleased were
it found consistent with practice for the invitations to be
delivered by the diplomatic envoy of the United States, and if
they were instructed to give them their support.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,
M. MARGARETTA MANNING.

MRS. M.M. MANNING,
_President Board of Lady Managers of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
The Arlington, Washington, D.C._

MADAM: I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14th
instant transmitting invitations which the board of lady
managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition have addressed to
the women of foreign countries, through the ministers for
foreign affairs, with a view to promoting women's interests at
the exposition.

In reply I have to inform you that these invitations, with
suitable instructions, have been sent to-day to the diplomatic
representatives of the United States in the countries mentioned
by you.

I am, madam,

Your obedient servant,
FRANCIS B. LOOMIS,
_Acting Secretary_.

Letters were received from most of these countries expressing
their gratification and cordial cooperation in the matter, a
fact which was evidenced by many letters from associations and
individuals with reference to exhibits, etc. For instance, a
committee of women at Berne, through its secretary, sent a very
remarkable consignment of pamphlets relating to the condition
and work--philanthropic and otherwise--of the women of that
nation. These were intrusted to the Department of Social
Economy. Also in Italy a national committee of women of great
consequence was formed.

Circumstances prevented any further initiative on the part of
this committee outside the limits of the exposition itself.
Within those limits it has, in common with the whole board, done
much for the exposition, and for the country by social
courtesies extended to the representatives of foreign lands and
received from them--a service which has been performed by the
board with success and dignity, and with great value to the
interests of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

ANNA L. DAWES.
EMILY S.G. HOLCOMBE.
MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY.
ANNIE MCLEAN MOORES.
DECEMBER, 1904.

Reaffirming the motion already made on February 16, 1903, providing that the furnishing of the building of the board of lady managers be under the supervision of the president of the board, on March 4, 1904, it was moved that Mrs. Daniel Manning be made active chairman of the house-furnishing committee and select her own committee. This motion being carried, it was also decided that the committee on house furnishing be limited to the expenditure of the sum of $20,000 for furnishing the building. The report of this committee is as follows:

The president of the board of lady managers having been elected
active chairman of the house-furnishing committee, with power to
select her own committee, named Mrs. Mary Phelps Montgomery and
Mrs. John M. Holcombe as the other members.

At the same meeting of the board at which the chairman was
named, the sum of $20,000 was fixed as the maximum amount that
might be expended for house-furnishing purposes by the
committee. This sum was to cover all expenditures for electric
wiring and fixtures, electric bells, push buttons, and
annunciators; tinting of walls and staining of floors; water
connections, filters, water heaters, bath tubs, sinks, etc.; all
wooden partitions in dormitories; window shades, screens, and
awnings; arrangements for butler's pantry; rugs, carpets,
matting, and all floor covering; furniture, glass, china, and
kitchen utensils; table and bed linen, blankets--indeed, every
expenditure attending the fitting out and appointing of the
building.

The committee was fortunate in arranging for part of the work,
in preparing the building for occupancy, by securing the workmen
that were employed by the Government on its building, and had
been brought from Washington for that purpose; these men could
contract for a longer stay at better rates than were obtainable
in St. Louis. The tremendous advance in the price of labor about
this time led the committee to be most cautious in its
expenditures, not knowing the extent of the demands that might
be made upon their fund before the arranging of the building was
completed. President Francis, in his address to the board on
December 15, 1903, has already given some of the difficulties
experienced by the Exposition Company on the question of the
cost of labor up to that date. By the time of the opening of the
exposition the members of this committee had to meet even
greater prices, as, instead of time and one-half for overtime,
the demands of the workmen had risen to double time for
overtime. This involved paying $1.50 per hour instead of 75
cents for certain kinds of work necessary to be completed by
opening day.

Most of the furniture, rugs, carpets, curtains, glass, and china
were purchased in New York City, but some interesting pieces of
antique furniture were obtained by one of the committee in
Connecticut, while others were secured in Albany, N.Y.

Material and substantial aid was rendered the members of the
committee by the generous gifts and loans which added greatly to
the attractiveness and comfort of the building.

Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of the President, by request, very
graciously presented a picture of herself, which was the only
picture hung in the salon of the building of the board of lady
managers.

The committee is but echoing the sentiments of the entire board
in expressing their thanks and appreciation to the following
firms for their handsome and useful gifts, all of which were
most acceptably used by the members of the board and their
guests:

Cheney Brothers, of New York and Connecticut, most generously
contributed one of their handsome pieces of silk damask for the
covering of the walls of the salon, also the material for the
curtains for that room, yellow silk curtains for the tea room,
and pink silk curtains and furniture covering for the
president's room. The thanks of the board can not be too warmly
expressed to this firm for their generosity in aiding the board
in such a substantial manner and beautifying their house by
their gifts.

Steinway & Co., New York City: Manufactured for our use and
loaned to us one of the handsomest pianos they could make, with
beautiful Louis XV decorations in ormolu, which was used on
state occasions or when some well-known singer or pianist was
available. It was the admiration of all visitors.

Chickering & Co., New York City: Loaned one of their beautiful
pianos, which was placed in the large hall in which was held
informal meetings and dances.

Tiffany & Co., New York City: Silver-plated tea set, consisting
of tray, hot-water kettle, with lamp, teapot, coffeepot,
hot-milk pitcher, sugar bowl, cream pitcher, and slop bowl. This
set was used every afternoon on the tea table, and was greatly
admired by all who were the guests of the board at their
informal afternoon teas.

Black, Starr & Frost, New York City: Gift of four silver-plated
candlesticks of attractive antique colonial design; also a set
of four silver-plated trays.

Gorham Manufacturing Company, New York City: Gift of two
silver-plated candelabra of beautiful design, which were in
constant use at the afternoon teas and on the private table of
the board, and also at the more formal dinners and
entertainments where lights were used on the tables.

Laycock & Co., of Indianapolis, Ind., generously loaned the
brass beds and mattresses used in the dormitories in the
building at a nominal price.

Macy & Co., New York City: Gift of 10 dozen plates, cups, and
saucers, of Limoges china, specially decorated and of unique
design, that were very handsome and in constant use by the
board.

Higgins & Seiter, New York City: Gift of set of creaming dishes
of most delicate pattern, in handsome white case.

International Nickle Company, New York City: Gift of chafing
dishes, tea-kettles, and trays, of especially neat design, and
most useful.

Mrs. Eva B. Leete, Guilford, Conn.: Loaned a rare antique
sideboard of semicircular shape, and a "pie-crust" table.

Mr. Armand Hawkins, New Orleans, La.: Generously loaned many
interesting, historic, and useful pieces of furniture, which
were used in the building of the board of lady managers during
the exposition period.

Standard Scales and Fixtures Company, of St. Louis, Mo.: Loaned
the useful and necessary adjunct to housekeeping--an unusually
fine and large McCray glass-lined refrigerator, which was in use
from the first days of the exposition period until a few days
after the close, and an aid to the comfort of all who resided in
the building and their guests.

The gifts and loans to the board were most gratifying to the
committee, as they were an evidence of a strong interest in the
board of lady managers and their building.

It was, undoubtedly, not the intention of the board, when
limiting the expenditure of this committee to $20,000, to mean
that this sum should cover an outlay beyond the time the
building was pronounced finished and furnished, and ready for
the occupancy of the board at the opening of the exposition. The
total expenditure given below, however, includes all additions
to furniture, repairs, both to building and furniture, and the
replacing of broken articles during the entire exposition
period. Such was the careful management of the committee that
they not only succeeded in accomplishing the payment of all
bills contracted by it prior to the opening, but at the close of
the exposition were still within the limit originally imposed of
$20,000.

The Exposition Company agreed to pay $5,000 for the furnishing
of the building of the board of lady managers, $5,000 for its
maintenance, and $5,000 for entertainment. The demands upon the
Exposition Company at this time, however, were so great that the
board decided, at the meeting held on July 14, 1904, to take up
any outstanding bills, and passed the following resolution:

_Resolved,_ That the board of lady managers assume the payment
of the now unpaid bills for entertaining and furniture for the
board that have been turned over to the Exposition Company, for
which the Exposition Company had pledged a certain sum.

The following is an itemized account of amount expended for the
finishing and furnishing of the building of the board of lady
managers:

Bills paid Bills paid Bills paid
by the from the from the
Exposition $3,000 $100,000
Company. appropriation.
appropriation.

Furniture, china,
linen, expressage ...... $752.32 $652.25 $11,692.65
Tinting walls, plumbing,
staining floors, heating
apparatus, electric
wiring, awnings, screens,
partitions, etc. ....... 1,460.99 64.30 2,263.32

Total ................ 2,213.31 716.55 13,955.97

Total paid by Exposition Company ............ $2,213.31
Total paid from $3,000 appropriation ........ 716.55
Total paid from $100,000 appropriation ...... 13,955.97
----------

Total amount expended for house furnishing .. 16,885.93

MARY MARGARETTA MANNING, _Chairman._
MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY.
EMILY S.G. HOLCOMBE.

It was the earnest wish of some of the members of the board, at a very early period of its existence, to establish and maintain, if possible, a day nursery or crèche on the exposition grounds, in order that suitable provision might be made for children whose parents might wish to have them cared for during the day, and thus afford to those whose time and means were extremely limited an opportunity to see as much of the exposition in as brief a space as possible. Ways and means were frequently discussed, but the absence of funds and the uncertainty of the action of the company in regard to substantial aid were sources of much anxiety and delay. Estimates were obtained of cost of building, however, plans were drawn ready for work to be begun the first practicable moment, and all information as to best methods and equipment was secured, in order that no time might be lost should it later be found possible to proceed with the enterprise. The idea was viewed with much favor by both the president of the Exposition Company and the director of exhibits, and it was hoped the Exposition Company would regard this as one of the "suggestions" from the board which President Francis had said the executive committee would "take under serious consideration," but on the 15th of August, 1903, President Francis wrote to the president, Mrs. Blair:

My idea is that we should not permit any one State to have
charge of these day nurseries. I think the board of lady
managers should have entire charge, and hope they will be able
to raise the money without making inroads on the treasury of the
Exposition Company.

Subsequently, however, the Exposition Company agreed to appropriate $35,000 for the purpose of erecting the building, but later granted a concession for a similar enterprise on the grounds. When the board eventually obtained its appropriation of $100,000 it was thought that the work might be begun immediately, but as some misunderstanding had arisen in the minds of the members as to the terms of the original proposition of the one who was to conduct the crèche for the board, upon close investigation it was found that, whereas in the first place it had been represented that the crèche would be self-sustaining, it now became evident that the plan had grown beyond all anticipated or intended proportion, and that instead of being self-supporting the board would be called upon for unlimited and unreasonable outlay.