The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-14
FAIR FAIR MANAGERS.
Wrangling Which Has Resulted
from the OouZins Affair.
FACTIONAL FIGHTING FREQUENT.

Mrs. Meredith Is Charged with Malice
Described by Mrs. Ball as Cruel. Nor
ciiess and vipdictive."
CHICAGO, Aug 14-The telegraphic nc
counts of the late unpleasantness in the
board of lady managers of the fair have
necessarily been of such fragmentary
character that the public generally is
much bewildered as to what 1t was about.
A brief, 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 CouZns quarrel,
which caused SO much unpleasantness
shortly 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 Couzins
from the secretaryship of the board Mrs.
Ball, of Delaware, was 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 a member of it and was
subsequently elected its secretary. Mrs.
tee which had the duty Of selecting two
managers.
Almost us soon as the committee entered
upon its work the old Gntagonism came to
the front and soon produced strained rclaj
tions between its members. These--five
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 tho board in the following manner:
Miss Cunningham, a member from South
Carolina, made in open session rather
incorporate protest against the non-repre-
sentation of the state on the jury Of
awards, charging Mrs. Meredith, chairman
OF the awards committee, with malice in
the matter
This precipitatcd the 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 rccrimination
upon both sides. Mrs. Meredith made u
scathing arraignmont 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 it's enemies.
The nervous tension Of the board was
now intensified by the general understand
ing that Mrs. Ball would speak in reply,
supporting Miss Cuuningham'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
hisses and loud cries Of shame" to say
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 RS 'cruel, merciless, vind!ctivo
woman"
Mrs. Banks, the member in charge of
the press interests of the board, came into
the wrangle to the extent of making n
statement of her connection with tho
affair. That let Mrs. Banks out, but the
row went on with unnbated fury, and n
report from the committee on awards ask.
ing that Mrs. Ball "be excused from fur
thcr service" brought things to II climax.
This document was signed by every mem
Der of the committee, excepting, of course,
Mis- Ball and was finally adopted after q
terrific struggle, constituting virtual
impeachment OF that lady. On the follow
ing day, on what she considered IL public
vindieatiou, Mrs. Meredith withdrew tho
SO called report, thus restoring things-to
sta.u quo.