The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-25

the light failed again. There was no
quorum, and once more they were COM
PEELED TO adjourn. Yesterdays meeting
was called to elect new officers, and. a
quorum being present. Mrs. Laura de
Force Gordon. half an hour late, called
the meeting to order and proceeded to
business.
Previous to her arrival the ladies were
thrown into a fit Of temporary excitement
by the appearance of a postal-card which
contained the following order from Nellie
HOlbrook Blinn, president of the Equal
Rights League, who claimed TO have cap
tured the Woman's Suffrage Association in
the July election and who now controls its
movements.
meeting has peen called by Mrs. Laura de
Force Gordon for Monday, September "a.
You are hereby notified not 10 attend this or
any other meeting called by Mrs. Gordon, as
she is not the State president. By order Of
Mrs. n. HoLBRooK BLINN,
Mrs. Ii. A. HARLAND, State President.
State Secretary.
Heads wearing the latest fashions in
hats and wells were put together on this
issue, aud il was decided to go on with the
meeting without further distress Occa-
siopally, however, few of the suffragists
would brace up and denounce such an Or
der as ''impertlnent" aud lawful"
Finally the president reviewed the his
| tory of the struggle with the opposing
forces, and concluded with: 81 hope the
ladies present will stay by this branch of
the State League, as those who were
elected on July are disqualified from
taking office, and the business of this con-
vention is to elect qualified officers for the
ensuing year. The secretary will please
call the roll" At the conclusion of the
rolIcall Mrs. Ballou said:
81 would, Nine. chairman, like to know
whether or not there is an official presi-
dent to this association"
| The chair replied tartly, concluding
''As president of the association am only
stating to-day that Mrs. Blinn, together
| with others, is not an officer according to
| the constitution. This whole matter is
out of order, and the chair will not listen
| to it,"
Mrs. Ballou sank into her seat, and the
other ladies sighed.
Then Nine. Sorbier, as chairwoman of a
special committee. read the following COM
| municati0ns:
MY Dear Mrs. Btl1ln: AS you must too well
know that at present there are two societies
claiming TO be the State Woman's Suffrage
| Educational Society. one claiming you as
their president, the other claiming Mrs
Laura de Force Gordon as theirs Know.
| ing that this state Of affairs can only
njure the great cause for which we are
working, and knowing this misunderstood.
ing has been caused by very small number on
both sides, and knowing that the very great
! majority on both sides are thinking women
who are in good faith and have the good of the
cause at heart, and wishing TO make every sac
J rifice sor the good of the cause, the secretary
represented by Mrs. Laura de Force Gordon,
has appointed me, with Mrs. de Burgess and
Mrs. Healoy, as committee TO ask your socie
| ~ 10 appoint another committee OF three tC
meet with ms, the six ladies TO appoint sew
enth one TO arbitrate and settle the difficulty
| between the societies so that we may be re.
united and work together in union for tile good
| OF the cause we all have at heart. Very re-
specially yours, LOUISE A. SoRBIER.
Following is the reply from Mrs. Nellie
| IIolbrook Blinn, president of the other
faction:
| Ny Dear Nine. SOrbter: 1 received your let
ter yesterday. and can only reply, us have to
Mrs. Gordon, that must retain the position
assumed last Tuesday To do otherwise would
be 10 acknowledge that l was not legally
elected. which cannot allow; and IL you had
| been present at tue July election yon would
take the same ground as l. am willing to
sacrifice always anything for peace where it
concerns only myself, but where 1t is princi-