The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-10
History Of the Little SQUAD
Bile Which Split the
Working Girls
Club.
WHO UPSET TIE BALLOT BOX?
Plans Of the LaareIs Bring the
Quarrel Again Into Public
Notice.

leaders may or may not have led
to the little unleasantness ia the United
Working Girls Club of this city.
That there has been trouble there Is ap-
parent from a split in the club, and the
organization of sixteenimembers into
new club of the same character, and
known as the Laurels.
An investigation Of the matter leads to
the astonishing development that the fair
club girls and women demonstrate ed their
loyalty to pet candidates for President TO
deGree slightly suggestive of the meth
dds Of satellites of partisan leaders in
municipal politics some years ago.
1t would seem that the man
ipulators had caught on 10
few points, and when the election of
club o Ulcers was held in January last
cnafges of ballot box stuffing and s'fx-
ing" tally sheets led to slight unpleas-
antness that no senatorial investigation
will settle.
The Ballot Reform law does notapply to
the election of officers OF the United
Working Girls Club 1t appears, too.
there were repeaters at the polls, but as
the ballots were burned after the ballot
box was upset no .'jokers" have yet been
detected.
HOW THE CLUB WAS FORMED.
The idea OF forming a working girls
ciub was proposed by a number of ladies
living in the lower section of the city
nearly two years ago. Circulars were
issued asking ladies' interested to meet at
the home OF Miss Isabel McCartin, at
Montgomery and Barrow streets
Twenty-six ladies responded to the call.
1T was decided to organize tine club at
once. and the house at No. 100 Grand
street was secnred as a club house.
xA~4 III
son (who was Miss Iseltn) of New YORK
volunteered to act as president for one
month. Miss Agnes Leonard was elected
vice-presideft, Mrs. Jost treasurer, Miss
Maggie McSerley assistant treasurer and
Miss Kitty AlcCartv secretary. Mrs.
Henderson Chen Miss Iselin) promised to
resign her Office as president in January,
1890, but that time rolled by and she still
kept her position. and this fact caused
considerable comment. as the girls, iJ is
said, wanted another lady for president
In February. 1890 the dwelling house at
No. CD Mercer street. was rented as a club
house. and then Mrs. ost resigned her
position as Treasurer in favor of Miss
Jessie Pope The funds began to grow
short aud an entertainment was gotten
up by Miss McCartin. This resulted suc-
eeHsiully, sl26 having been realized
For a short time matters went along
smoothly in the club. Miss Iliiugswortn
teaching a large class In music at ten
cents a lesson and Miss MeCartin an en-
bordering class free of charge. The en-
broiderY class increased and the music
class decreased and it is alleged Miss
Iiingswcrth then endeavored to get some
OF the embroidery class TO leave Miss Nc
Cartin and come into class she intended
forming This caused trouble among
the ladies, and not discussions In the club
room were Of freq uent occurrence.
Mrs. DIR. De Hart OF Mercer street, who
was member of the club, had large
class OF girls TEACHING them how to care
for their own health.
Miss Joslin finally declared her inten-
ton to resign, fact which raised
breeze of excitement.
The followers of Miss Mccarthy wanted
Mrs. DIR. Rae made President because she
would permit the young ladies to have
their gentlemen friends at the club
house once a month TO dance,
while others wanted Miss Isabel McCar.
tin, and insisted that she should be a
candidate, as she objected to young men
coming to the club, and was an earnest
worker for the club. The majority Of the
members decided to elect her. Mrs. Rae
declined to run at first, but In spite of
this received sixteen votes. When they
began the count the ballot box was up
set. Some say that an ink bottle flew
through the air and caused the upset,
but this is denied
Mrs. Roe. Miss Tlingsworth and Miss
Iselin were, it is said, in the room when
the ballot box was upset.
It is further alleged that young ladies
who were not members OF the club at all
were brought there on this occasion and
allowed to vote, and the votes, 1t is said,
were for Mrs Roe, who was not sup
posed to be in the race for the presidency
Not only was the ballot box said to
have been stuffed on this occasion, put IL
Is alleged the tally sheet was liked, SO
fbnf n
Than it should have been.
Miss Illiprsworth, who resides on Jer-
sey avenue near Montgomery street, MISS
Annie Mccarthy and Miss hltty Degnan
com posed the committee TO declare The
result of the vote.
Miss McCartin was declared elected
and but five minutes had elapsed between
The declaration of the vote and the burn
ing of the ballots.
REFUSED TO RISE FROM ITS ASHES.
Why the ballots were burned SO nur,
riedIy no one knows, but the act caused
considerable comment and personalities
were INDUCED in quite Literally.
Three days after MISS NC,
Cartin was declared elected
president OF the club it became noised
about the club rooms that Miss lselin had
written letter to Vice President Agnes
Leonard directing her to use her utmost
eDdeayors to disband the CLUB and from
the ashes of the old one rebuild new
one,u and Miss Leonard did not deny tue
receipt of such letter when asked aDouO
y Il by the present incumbent OF tne presi-
Genital chair. -.
II would seem as though an attempS
was made to carry out Miss lseiln's alrec-
lions, as on February Is meeting was
called by Mrs Rae, Miss Bessie Pope anu
Miss Estelie Ogden, who were members
Of the Council Mrs. Rae being Librarian.
Miss McCartin learned of this meetlnR
through one of her supporters, anu az
Tended it. Her surprise was complses
when she became aware OF the facs tnAe =
move was on foot to disband the cruz anu
store the furniture, and then nave ene
present officers resign their respective pos
itions and organize an entirely new cup.
Miss McCartin having labored indusgri-
ousiy FOR three years to make the ciuo
success, would not listen to this and
war OF words followed, aud Miss McCar-
tin and her band OF workers carried the
day.
Since that meeting designations have
been pouring in from the defeated Nc
'Carthyiies and are readily accepted by
the victorious McCartinites. The exodus
has been partly counterbalanced by new
accessf0l3k
Last week an entertainment was given
at Woods Hall and g0odfy sum was