The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-15
FAIR FAIR MANAGERS,
Wrangling Which Has Resulted
from the Couzins Affair.
FRACTIONAL FIGHTING FREQUENT,

Mrs. Meredith Is Charged with Malice
by South Carolina Maiden, and Is
Described by Mrs. Ball as ''Cruel, Nor
ciioss and vindIctive."
CHICAGO, Aug. 4.-The Geographic ac-
counts of the late unpleaSantness in tho
board of lady managers of the fair hive
necessarily been of such fragmentary
CHARACTER that the public generally is
much bewildered as to what it was about.
n orlei, clear and consecutive narrative of
the facts in the case has been secured from
one of the members of the board.
The present trouble is largely contin-
uation OF the Phoebe Couzins quarrel.
winch caused so much unpleasantness
fhortiy after the formation of the board
Mrs. Meredith, of Indiana one of the par
ties to the late unpleasantness was an ac-
tive agent in the removal of Miss Couyins
from the secretaryship of the board. Mrs.
Dali, OF Delaware, WINS equally as active
ON Miss Couzins side at the time, and has
ever since occupied position of antagon-
ism to the opposition party When, a
few months ago, the committee of awards
OF the women's board was formed, Mrs.
Ball was made n member of it and was
subsequently elected its secretary. Mrs.
Meredith was the chairman of the commit
~ ''A~iSh h'ho ebS NubJ VI SeleCIlIlH TWO
managers
Almost as soon as the committee entered
upon its work the old antagonism came to
the front and soon produced strained relaS
lions between its members. These-fye
IN number were Mrs. Meredith, Mrs.
Ball, Mrs. Ginty, of Wisconsin,; Mrs.
Stevens, of New Jersey and Mrs. Fosdyke.
OF Alabama. The present trouble came
before the board in the following manner:
Miss Cunningham, n member from South
Carolina, made i'll open session rather
incorporate protest against the non-repre-
sentation or the state on the Jury of
awards, charging Mrs. Meredith, chairman
of the awards committee, with malice in
the matter
This precipitated tho first public row.
the old CouZins faction rallying to the aid
OF MISS Cunningham, while the conserva-
tive element as speedily arranged itself
under Mrs Meredith's banner. with much
bitterness, excitement and recrimination
upon both sides. Mrs. Meredith made n
scathlng arraignment of Mrs. Ball, the
secretary of awards. She stated that from
the very outset Mrs. Ball had been inimical
TO the interest of the committee, and
openly allied with its enemies.
The nervous tension of the board vos
now intensified by the general understand
ing that Mrs. Ball would speak in reply.
supporting Miss Cunninsham's charges
of malice against Mrs. Meredith" The
opportunity for this speech from Mrs
Ball did not occur, and when it was. never
theless, published, the fight was on in
deed. Mrs. Ball made another speech
more bitter than the published one. She
disclaimed responsibility for the latter.
and Miss Cunningham sprang up amidst
misses and loud cries of Shame" to saw
She herself, was the person Who had fur
nished type written copies of Mrs Balls
intended speech to the press Mrs. Bali
wound up with an Indictment of Mrs.
Meredith as IL ''crucl, merciless, vindictiye
woman"
Mrs. Banks, the member in charge of
the press interests of the board, came into
the wrangle to the extent of making q
statement of her connection with the
affair That let Mrs. Banks out, but the
row went on with undated fury, and q
report from the committee on awards ask
ing that Mrs Ball 'be excused from fur.
Their service" brought things to a climax.
THIS document was signed by every mem
Der of the committee, excepting, of course,
Mrs Ball, and was finally adopted after a
terrific struggle constituting virtual
impeachment of That lady, Onthe follow
ing day, on what she considered public
vlndication, Mrs. Meredith withdrew the
SO called report, thus restoring things to