The National tribune., 1889-03-07
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GleaningS from National Headquar-
ters---NOtes from the Departments.
THE NATIONAL pREs1pENr.

THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT.
Mrs Charity Rusk Craig. National President, at
tended the Department Convention of Wisconsin
w r. g. at Milwaukee, and installed the Department
officers The Convention was remarkable through
out for intelligent cooperation and business dis
patch, and the excellent report which follows, from
Mary Monteith, Department Corresponding Score
tary, shows how much the presence of the National
President did to cheer and encourage The women
OF Wisconsin in their most noble work. Mrs. Caro-
line H. Bell, who succeeded to the Presidency upon
promotion of Mrs. Craig TO National President, de-
serves the compliment received, of a unanimous
election.
THE DEPARTMENT CONVENTION OF WISCONSIN.
DEAR tribune: The sixth annual Convention,
Department of Wisconsin, convened Feb 20, with
2I6 delegates and alternates, and continued two
days. The first address, by special request, was
given by the National President Mrs. Craig, whose
presence cheered and encouraged the represent
atives throughout the entire session.
Then followed al able address by the Department
President Mrs. Bell, containing not only wise
concentrations for the future work of the Depart
ment, but referring with touching tenderness to
those sister workers who remain in memory only.
Among the recommendations were the following:
That competent officer be sent to visit newly -oT-
ganized Corps so 10 thoroughly instruct them
IN their work and dutiesi that the Department
President be authorized to call together the In-
speetors for instruction before sending them out.
The Senior Vice President, Helen Puffer, review
ed and commended the Presidents work The
Secretarys report showed SO Corps, a net gain of
~; total membership, 2,506. The Treasurer re-
ported S43 80 turned over to the Post; in general
fund, 9i,57477; relief fund 81 0O9IS; invested in
furniture, etc., s. 800 40. The Chaplain of Wolcott
Corps presented Memorial Day report in the alb
senee of Department Chaplain. Department In
spector gave gratifying report OF growth and
condition of Corps inspected
At the reception given Wednesday evening by
Woloott Corps to 500 visiting W.RC. and GA. r.,
the National President made impressive i'm
promtu speech and Mrs. Charlton, of Broadhead,
read an original poem, to vary song and story by
the comrades.
Thursday morning was given up to the report of
Observation-Disclosures 10 sixth National Convention,
an exchange of fTateTnal greetings with the De-
partment Conventions of Illinois, New York and
Nebraska, then in session, and election of officers.
Caroline Fl. Bell was unanimously chosen Depart
ment PRESIDENT, followed by great enthusiasm and
the clapping of hands. Helen Puffef, Monroe.
elected Senior Vice Presidents Mary G. Miller Geo
| nomowoo, Junior Vice President; Eleanor Stone,
! Brodhead, Treasurer; G. L. Budiong, Evansville,
! Chaplain. Executive Board Louise c. Williams,
! Oconomowoc, Chairman; Emma Wyman Viroqua;
! Naomi Bailey, MenOmonie; Mrs. Abbott, Monroe,
! and Mrs Burlington, Nellsville. The Department
| President appointed Martha II. Raynor Mwau-
| kee, Department Secretary, and Mrs. Charlton,
| Brodhead, Department Counselor. In accordance
| with the recommendation of the Department Com
! mander, GAR, that two places the Board of
! Visitors to the State Veterans Home at WaupaCa
be given to members of the Relief Corps Gertie NJ
| Rogers, of Milwaukee, and Lihbie G. Baer of APP
| pleton, were elected Mrs. Caldwell, MatTOn of
Waupaca Home, was accorded Department mem
/ bership and duly initiated. resolution
adopted requesting the Legislature make desti-
/
! to the Waupaca Home
! AT the suggestion of the National President
/ levy, not exceeding - per Corps, was sanctioned
in behalf of surgical aid for little lad son of de-
| pendent veteran. Mrs. Craig stated that she had
caused explanatory circulars TO be distributed
| throughout each Department and should there
remain surplus of funds after paying expenses in
the case, it would be returned pro ratio to Depart
ments' relief funds.
! A resolution also passed indorsing the reso-
luton passed at GA r. Eneampment asking the
Legislature to pass bill prohibiting the sale of in
toxicatlng liquor Memorial Day rousing
| Campfire held Thursday evening at Chivas Hall
closed EnCampmeut week "A a whole this Con
vention is conceded TO have been the most success
! ful ever held III The Department As prominent
representative, said Convention could not fail
to be successful with such presiding officer as
| our Department President" TWAS noticeable for
the unity and harmony that prevailed throughout
| Tor the earnestness and fidelity with which each
member sought to perform her duties in the best
| possible manner for the good of the Order. Many
| lessons of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty were
there taught, which will never be forgotten.-Mary
| Montieth, Department Corresponding Secretary,
| Milwaukee, Wis.
| WISCONSIN IN NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Following are extracts from the report of Dele
| gate-at-L Large from Wisconsin to Sixth National
Convention, read before Department Convention
| of Wisconsin. The = few things mentioned and
/ how to remedy them should be the serious con-
sideralion of every woman who expects to partiei-
| pate in future Conventions:
There are few things in connection with that
Convention lndeIby stamped upon my mind, and
| one OF these things was, How would that poor
Recording Secretary ever be able to compile that
chaos of nOthings into readable and Ineligible
| report of the proceedings of that COnyentlon.' I
wish to explain that remark just little by giving
| you little insight into what WAS done. Our hon
! ored Department President (uow Nation al Presi-
! DENT was chairman of certain committee, and
when that committee presented their report to the
Convention she iabored long and hard to have that
! Convention pass upon that report in manner that
would show that they understood not only the re-
port but their own minds. Do not misunderstood
me now. She did not try TO have them adopt her
| report, but she tried to explain to them step by
step what effect 10 vote yea or nay on resolution
would have; and to explain to them how certain
amendments would affect the report, and the rea-
| son why the committee had reported thus and so.
/ But, ladies' 1t was of no use; they voted 10 adopt
| the report; they voted not to, and they voted to
take the report up item by item aud pass upon it,
| which last they did try 10 do, but in such I'M
| parliamentary way that | must say cannot see
how that Secretary can be expected to furnish the
proceedings crediby to the Convention and to her
self. Later i'll the day a lady, cold, digni-
| he'd, and with an air OF Madame, ] CondeScend,
| when she addressed you, came me, when stand
ing by near the Wisconsin delegations seats, and
| looking at me in the same manner that she would
do at something that she might have taken out of
her pocket from her handbag, something that
| she owned, she says, Wisconsin's delegation is
| solid for Mrs. - for - office. / suppose?" An
| answer just as cool and just as positive No not
| that know Of" Imagine my surprise when she
turned upon and gave q sharp and bitter
had given up their first choice in voting for another
officer to please Wisconsin. and Wisconsin was
pledged for them in the Office she had named to
me. : May the time come sometime in the
near future when society of loyal and charitable
ladies may meet aud work for the best interests of
ALL and not feel called upon to organize themselves
into political convention or mob every one pull
| ing for the best position for herself and for her