The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-10


speak 1t was about this time that Dr.
Hardng's pent-up wrath broke loose,
and she branded Laura Johns and Mrs.
Thurston AS douhle-dyed traitors TO she
cause, working IN few remarks about
our old friends, Mt. Iscariot and Mr.. Ar
mold, as she went along.
This called for a reply from Miss Bray,
who Is Mrs J. w. Thurston's sister, and
who was glad the subject had come up.
"While Mrs. ThurstOn was president of
the Republican league. she had nothing
to do with the car ride after the commit
tee to carry it out had been appointed.
1t was not discovered until within four
days of the time appointed that it was
dated for the same evening as the Yates
meeting. 1t was then too late for
change. The invitations had been issued
and the tickets sold"
at was not right, continued the now
thoroughly angered doctor, for Laura
Johns after she had been made presi-
dent Of our non partisan suffrage organ
ization to stray away and organize
a woman's Republican league aud take
the best women we had IN our organiza-
ton to build mp her new one. she has
simply betrayed the cause Of suffrage
and 1 would love a Benedict Arnold as
compared to her. Mrs ThursIon is just as
bad. She has been Mrs. Johns
staunchest helper in it, and they have as
sOciated with such women as Mrs. Woods
of the Women's Republican league in
this city who l believe puf in some Of her
time before election peddling petition
among the men to get them to vote
against the amendment Mrs Johns has
deserted us and left all the work
Of the campaign il tile hands
of Mrs. ThurstOn who is the chair
man of the campaign committee.
l understand that Mrs. ThurstOn IS glad
that the amendment has been defeated.
/ am not surprised"
During all this speech little Mrs Diggs
and Mrs Lyon and Mrs. Case sat IN hor-
rOr.
~Oh please dear DON'T said Mrs.
Lyon. "This might get into print"
Il don't cares' said Dr. Harding. Il
haven't said anything Pm ashamed of"
"Be careful what you are saying" adj
monished Mrs. Case.
Mrs Diggs was speechless.
Mrs. Potts was an able second to
Dr.. Harding.
Mrs. Lutz who is on the Johns side of
the unpleasantness, did not object to
saying a few things at the request Of
reporter.
s'If disagreement exists in the society
at ALL" she said. sit exists simply aud
only in the mind of DIR. Harding, who at
one time desired to be president Of the
Kansas Equal Suffrage association but
unfortunately I regret to say only nine
of the fifty-One votes of the state con-
vention were at all anxious to make her
done the very best all through the cam
paign that they possibly co uld and the
very best anyone could do What DR..
Harding says does not amount to much
except that she is the local president Of
the organization andas such her opinion
must have some weight Personally, It
is Of no value. DR.. Harding is yearner
after notoriety, and that-fs all you can
say about it"
Mrs Wardall is much Interested in the
disagreement, but declares she will not
believe Laura Johns capable Of such ac-
ton
AT the instance of the Dr. Harding
faction and several Of the less turbulent
of the spirits Of the association an at
tempt will be made at the next state
meeting to Introduce a resolution to for
bid any officer of the Non partisan Suf-
frage association TO take an active part
in party work. There will probably be
big fight over this.
The next rock on which the associa-
ton will split is the subject Of the place
at which the next yearly meeting will be
held 1t is proposed by the Mrs Johns
faction to hold the meeting at Minneap-
oils, Kan. and as they have the balance
Of power in the executive committee, il
seems likely the meeting will be there.
To this the DR.. Harding side is very
much opposed for several reasons. 1t is
charged rhat as Mrs. johns desires to be
reelected president she wants the
meeting to be held in her own bailiwick.
where she has power and where her To-
peka enemies cannot upset her plans.
The association has been invited to To-
peka where il is thought 8Irs. Johns
could be easily defeated The Topeka
women. who are opposed to her. de-
clare that they will ger to Minneapolis
someway and carry out their aim.
1t is also said that if the meeting
is held at Minneapolis the state Will
never hear of It and therefore believe
suffrage dead, whereas if it is held in
Topeka the state papers viii print re-
port Of the meeting and everybody will
know all about it. Al hard fight VIII be
made to have the meeting located at To-
peka-
The following resolution thanking the
election officials for their kindness in al
lowing the women to be present and
check up the result of the vote on the
amendment was about the only thing
the women have agreed on since the
election.
Resolved. That we extend our hearty
thanks to the com mmissIoner Of elections
and to the election boards at the various
precincts, for their uniform courtesy and
gentlemanIy Kindness to the committees
who kept the tally Sheets and to the kind
friends who assisted us
TnNk On Rnn