Chapter Thirty Four

TWO USEFUL ORGANIZATIONS.

MAHASKA COUNTY FARMERS INSTITUTE.
By F. F. EVERETT, SECRETARY.

In the early winter of 1892 a paper was circulated among the influential farmers of Mahaska county, for the purpose of obtaining members to organize a Farmers Institute. One hundred and thirty-four signers were secured to this petition, who signified their willingness to become active members in such an institute.

On December 17, 1892, the first meeting to organize was held, a form of constitution and by-laws was offered by Harden Tice and adopted. At this meeting J. G. Harrold was elected president; Samuel Jones, vice-president; W. T. Hites, secretary; Wilford Hull, treasurer; directors, Harden Tice, T. B. White and E. D. Arnold.

On December 24, 1892, the executive board met and decided to hold a two-days' session and set the dates as January 18 and 19, 1893, and also arranged the program for these days.

The first Mahaska County Institute was held January 18 and 19, 1893. Papers were read at these sessions on different subjects by A. J. Jewell, J. F. Everett, D. C. Garwood, Robert Thomas, Eli Ketner, W. H. Barber, T. Forsythe, R. C. Harris, R. Redman, John Moore, G. W. France, A. J. Lytle, E. C. Hull, Samuel Jones and Harden Tice. When Mahaska county built its fine courthouse in 1885, the board of supervisors decided that the farmers should have a place for holding meetings in the courthouse. So they set aside the small room in 'the southwest comer of the third story, to be known as the "Farmers' Club Room." This room will seat about one hundred people and was deemed by the board of supervisors to be an amply large for all requirements of the farmers. In his room all the preliminary meetings and the first five or six regular sessions of the Mahaska County Institute were held. At the second session, held January 16 and 17, 1894, some prizes were given for farm products, and the first exhibition of farm products was made. These prizes were made possible by using the appropriation of fifty dollars from the state. From these first sessions, held in this small room the Farmers' Institute has grown steadily and surely each year, until now the board of directors engage the opera house a year in advance for two days, and also occupy the entire courtrooms and jury and judges' rooms for four days, the latter two rooms being for the exhibition purposes. As many as 160 different people make entries each year, some making as high as fifty entries. At each of the two sessions on January 16 and 17, 1906, over 1,300 people were in attendance, and over 6,500 people attended the eight different sessions of 1906.

The institute now prints 2,000 copies per year of a program and perrnium list. This list contains the program and premiums to be given the following year, also all the papers read before the preceding institute and the discussions as taken by a short-hand reporter. The photograph of ten children who won first and second prizes in different declamatory and oratorical contests, the names of all officers, directors township vice-presidents, judges andsuperinten dents of the different departments for the following sessions. Advertisements of 200 of the leading merchants and farmers of the county and the rules and duties of the different officers. These make a book of 200 pages, in size, 5x8 inches. The books are printed in the summer and distributed each fall by the township vice presidents, who visit the schools in their township and leave one book for each family. When visiting the schools the vice-presidents encourage the children to enter the township declamatory contests. The winners of the township contests enter the institute contests. Premiums to the amount of $150 are given each year for these prizes: Seventy-five dollars on butter; $60 on bread; $180 are given on seed corn and other farm products accordingly. Such prizes and numbers of programs and premium lists are made possible only by the liberal donations and advertisements of the merchants of Oskaloosa. One day of each institute is set apart for the ladies and is known as"Woman's Day."
The ladies have their own officers, furnish the entire program and preside at all sessions on this day.

Prof. W. J. Kennedy of Iowa Agricultural College, probably the best known authority on live stock in the United States, stated in the course of his introductory remarks before the 1904 institute that he had been in active institute work for six or seven years in Canada, Illinois. and Iowa, and had spoken at the best institutes in the county, and had studied their methods carefully. Professor Kennedy said: "I do not say it in flattery when I say that Mahaska county has the best institute that I have ever visited, and I am sincere when I assure you that you have the best institute on the American continent."

The officers of the institute for the year 1906 are as follows: President, A. J. Lytle; vice-president, Wilford Hul1; secretary, F. F. Everett; assistant secretary, Charles Roe; treasurer, Wilford Hull; solicitor, J. H. Williams.

THE OSKALOOSA WOMAN'S CLUB.
By MENZA R. BURKE.

The largest organization in Oskaloosa for women exclusively is the Oskaloosa Woman's Club. It was organized in April of 1895, and its object, as stated by its constitution, is threefold. First, to promote a spirit of comradeship; second, to assist in developing the higher type of womanhood; third, to strengthen, by organization, our effort in behalf of the interests of our city.

In accordance with the broad spirit evinced in this statement of purpose, the constitution of the Woman's Club makes eligible to membership any woman sympathizing with the object of the club, who is eighteen years of age, and has been a resident of Oskaloosa for one year. 

There were ninety charter members of the Woman's Club, and its first president was Mrs. C. P. Searle.

The first work undertaken for the interests of the city was for the establishment of a public library. In this the Woman's Club worked in conjunction with the Young Men's Christian Association. In June, 1895, two months after organization, the two societies entered into a working ag:eement concerning the library. 'The Young Men's Christian Association agreed to furnish a librarian and a room for the library; and to donate to its 500 volumes. The Woman's Club agreed to donate $100 to the cause within two months. Both parties fulfilled their pledges. The library remained under their joint control until after the spring election of 1899, when the qualified electors voted to levy a tax for the support of the public library: The Woman's Club and the Young Men's Christian Association then surrendered the responsibility of the management to the city.

The library then consisted of 2,000 volumes of well selected books. During the period of its connection with the library, the Woman's Club donated to its equipment $800 in money, besides a quantity of books and periodicals .

The next great work undertaken by the Woman's Club was the establishment of a city hospital. In December, 1900, at its open session, the philanthropic department of the Oskaloosa Woman's Club, of which Mrs. Blanche Reed was chairman, fully discussed the hospital project and resolved to devote its best energies to raising money for the same. The club at large voted to aid in the work.

By rummage sales, by chain letters, by running the street cars on their first day's trip, by acting as patronesses for various entertainments, the club has succeeded in raising the sum of $5,000, which now (March, 1906) lies in the Mahaska State Bank subject to the. order of the board of hospital trustees.

Nor has the dub been lacking in other altruistic work.

In the spring of 1901 the Woman's Club, acting with the Commercial Club, made a systematic effort toward beautifying the city. Prizes were offered for flower beds, gardens and lawns. The club furnished committees to look after these matters, and raised the funds necessary to pay the premiums.

The same season the club succeeded in establishing a rest room in the basement of the courthouse for the comfort and convenience of ladies and children trading in town or passing through. The general supervision of this room is still in the hands of a committee from the Woman's Club.

Through the efforts of the art department of the Woman's Club each schoolroom in the· town has been presented with a fine large carbon or platinum photograph suitably framed. These pictures are copies of famous artists. The public library also has a fine frieze and a child's picture given by the same department of the Woman's Club.

During its eleven years of existence the club has aided various charities, public and private;  it has also donated to a Young Men's Christian Association piano.

While it has never mixed in politics, it has advocated certain reforms which have crystalized into municipal law. The anti-spitting ordinance, passed by the present council, is an example.

At present the club is preparing to entertain the biennial convention of the Iowa State Federation of Woman's Clubs, which will meet in Oskaloosa in 1907.

For convenience of work the club is divided into seven departments: Eduction, history and travel, literature, philanthropy, music, home and current events and art. Each department may be sub-divided into classes at pleasure of the members.

The presidents of the club since the organization are as follows: 1895-96, Mrs. C. P. Searle; 1897-98, Miss Leoni McMullen; 1899, Mrs. Sam Baldauf; 1900-1901, Mrs. Richard Burke; 1902, Mrs. A. A. Hugg; 1903-1904, Mrs. H. L. Spencer; 1905, Mrs. J. C. Williams. The membership of the Woman's Club has grown from the original ninety to nearly 200.