Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-14

An Account Of the Troubles of the
Board.


Board.
The telegraphic accounts of the late I'M
pleasantness in the board of lady mana
gers Of the Chicago exposition have been
Of such q fragmentary character that the
public generally Is bewfldered as to what
II was about The demonstrations of the
difficulty occurred At perplextng intervals
and with apparent irrelevance, and were
given by the press to the public in the
same way. In short, q brief. clear, con-
tinuous narrative of the facts in the case
seems to have been advisable and this has
been secured from one of the members of
the board. who prefers not to be known In
the matter.
In the first place. it should be under
stood that the present trouble is largely
continuation Of the Phoebe Couzins quar-
rel, which caused SO much unpleasantness
shortly after the formation OF the board
Mrs Meredith of Indiana, one Of the par
tive agent in the removal Of Miss Couzins
from the secretaryship of the board.
M MIS-; Baii OF Dela ;su was an equally &C
time, and has ever since occupied a posi-
ton Of antagonism to the opposing party.
awards of the woman's board was formed
Mrs. BAH was made a member of IL. and
was subsequently, elected its secretary.
important committee. which had the duty
of selecting woman jurors Almost as
soon as the committee entered upon it's
work, the old antagonism came to the
'front.' and soon produced strained relations
between Its members. These, five in num-
Der. were Mrs Meredith. Mrs. Ball. Mrs.
Jersey and Mrs. Fosdick OF Alabama.
Whatever the differences of opinion be-
OF the COMMITTEES. who opposed her as a
unit, the public knew nothing of the trou-
BILE till IL came before the board in the fol-
lowing manner:
The Trouble in the Board.
Miss Cunningham. a member from South
Carolina, made in open session a rather in
temperate protest against the non-repre-
sentation of the state on the jurfes of
awards. charging Mrs. Meredith, chairrna.
Of the awards committee, with malice in
the matter.
This precipitated the first public row. the
old Couzlns faction rallyins To the aid of
Miss Cunningham, while the conseryati tive
element as speedily ranged itself under
Mrs Meredith's banner, with much bit
terness. excitement and recrimination up
on both sides.
Mrs Meredith made a scathing arraign-
ment of Mrs. Ball the secretary OF the
committee on awards. She said that from
the very outset Mrs. Ball had been mimi
cal TO the interests of the committee and
openly allied with its enemies.
The nervous tension of the board was
now intensified by the general understand
ing that Mrs: BAH would speak in reply,
supporting Miss Cunningham's charges
Of malice against Mrs. Meredith
The opportunity for this speech from Mrs
i Bail dld not occur and when it was. never
lowing day. the fight was on indeed.
Mrs Ball made another speech. even
disclaimed responsibility for the latter and
Hiss cunningham sprang up amidst Kisses
ana loud cries of Shame to say she her
typewriter copies of Mrs. Balls intended
speech to the press.
Mrs: Bah wound up with an Indictment
" 81
vlhdcuve woman" concluding with an at
tack upon Mrs Nancy Huston Banks, the
insnro OF the board in charge of its press
interests, whom she charged with having
given the article to the reporters
,,, rms was obviously absurd. following
Miss Cunninshams admission that she
herself was the guilty party
But Mrs Banks, nevertheless came into
the wrangle to the extent of making a
statement OF her connection with the af-
fa'r. This was an earnest effort looking
toward the suppression of tn. article as
representative of the board
That let Mrs. Banks out. but the row
went on with undated fury. and re-
port from the committee on awards asking
that Mrs. Ball BE excused from furtbeT
service brought things to a climax This
document was signed by every member of
the committee. excepting. of course. Mrs
Ban. and was finally adopted after a ter
rific struggle. constituting virtual i'm
Parchment of that lady
on the following day on what she con-
sidered a public vindication, Mrs. Mere
9TH withdrew the so-called report. thus
restoring things TO statu quo.
Mrs. Palmer. as president OF the board of
adv managers. applied the whip Sat-
nrday and brought an adjournment until
september 20 She accomplished this by
reading a statement IF telegra phic cores
pondence with the Treasury Department
at Washington. from which she drew a
conclusion that the board must adjourn If
~ u'o not want 10 stay in session at It's
own expense. "a some official Of the treas
CIy nad given her to understand no more
per Diem vouchers would be conferred