The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-14
WHEN WoNlHN QUARREl

Inn, to George Francis Train.
WHEN WOMEN QUARREL
They Quarrel in Earnest-story OF the
Trouble Among the Lady Managers of
the Worlds Fair,
CHICAGO, August 19,-The telegraphic
accounts of tho unpleasantness in the
board OF lady managers have necessarily
been Of such fragmentary character
that the public generally is much be.
wildered US to what it was all about.
The demonstrations OF the difficulty
occurred at perplexiugly irregular in'
terVals, and with apparent irrelevance,
and were given by the press to the pub
lie in the same way, In short q brief,
clear, continuous narrative Of the facts
in the case seems advisable, and this
has been secured by the Associated
Press from one OF the members OF the
board, who for obvious reasons prefers
not to be known in the matter.
In the first place, 1t should be under
stood that the present trouble is
largely q continuation OF the Phoebe
Couzins' quarrel, which caused so
much unpleasantness shortly after
the formation OF the board.
Mrs. Meredith, OF Indiana, one
OF the parties to the late un-
pleasantnoss, was an active agent in
the removal OF Miss Couzins from the
secretaryship OF tho board. Mrs. Ball,
Of Delaware, was an equally active
fighter on Miss Couzlns' side ut the
time, and has ever since occupied po-
sltion OF antagonism to the opposing
party.
When afew months ago, the commit.
tee OF awards was formed, Mrs. Ball
was made member Of II, aud was sub
sequently elected ita secretary. Mrs.
Meredith was the chairman OF this i'm.
portant committee, which had the duty
Of selecting the women jurors. Almost
as soon as the committee entered upon
its work the old antagonism came to
the front and soon produced strained
relations between its members.
Thuse-6ve in uumber--were Mrs.
Meredith, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Ginty, of
Wisconsin, Mrs. Stevens, OF New Jer-
sey, and Mrs. Fosdick, OF Alabama.
Whatever the differences OF opinion
between Mrs. Ball and tho other mem.
bers OF the committee-who opposed
her as n unlt-the public know nothing
OF the trouble till it came before the
board in the following manner:
Miss Cunningham, member from
South Carolina, in open session made a
rather incorporate protest against tho
misrepresentation OF the state on the
juries Of award. charging Mrs. Mere
dith, chairman OF tho awards commit
toe, with malice in tho matter.
This precipitated the first public
row, the old Couzins faction
rallying to the aid OF tho Mics Cunning
ham, while the conservative element
as speedily ranged itself under Mrs.
Mersdith's banner. with much bitter
ness, excitement aud recrimination upon
both sides,
Mrs. Meredith made q scathing ar
raignment OF Mrs. Ball, the secretary
OF the committee on awards. She
stated that from the very outset, Mrs.
Ball had been inimical,to the interests
Of the committee and openly allied
with its enemies.
The nervous tension OF the board was
now intensified by the general under
standing that Mrs. Ball would speak in
reply supporting Miss Cunningham's
charges Of malice against Mrs.
Meredith" The opportunity for this
speech from Mrs. Ball did not occur,
and when it was, nevertheless, pub.
lished in the morning papers OF the fol-
lowing day, then the fight was on in
deed. Mrs. Ball made another speech,
even moro bitter than the published
one. She disclaimed responsibility
for tho latter, and Miss
Cunningham sprang up, midst hisses
and loud cries >of shame" to say
herself was the person who had
furnished typewritten copies OF
Mrs. Balls intended speech to
the press. Mrs. Ball wound up
with an indictment OF Mrs. Mere
dith rs 70 cruel, merciless, vindictive
woman" concluding with au attack
upon Mrs. Nancy Huston Banks, the
member OF the board in charge Of its
press interests, whom she charged with
having glven tho article to the
reporters. This was obviously absurd,
lOllOMlilS Mlds SuhhlhHANhA 0N'h'S
sion that she herself was the guilty
party. But Mrs. Banks nevertheless
now came into the wrangle to the OK.
tent Of making q statement Of
her connection with the affair.
This was an earnest effort look
ing towards tho suppression OF the
article as was plainly in the line
OF her duty MS press representative Of
the board, That let Mrs. Banks out,
but tho row went on with unabated
fury, and report from the committee
on awards, asking that Mrs. Ball "be
excused from further SERVICE" brought
things to climax. This document
was signed by every member Of the
committee, excepting, OF course, Mrs.
Ball--and was finally adopted after q
terrific struggle, constituting virtual
impeachment OF that lady. On the fol.
lowing day, after what ahe considered a
public vindiCation, Mrs. Meredith with.
drew tho so.called report, thus restor.
ing things to etOtu quo.