Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24

the rear of the house. "there were a num-
Der Of members of Congress here yesterday
and when they went away one Of them
said to me that they ought 10 send ex-
Speaker Reed here to get some points on
gagging"
This remark stirred up Mrs. Stranahan,
who, in a calm dispassionate way, ex-
planned the position which she had taken
Throughout. the morning. Let me remark.
ladies. that there have been actions here
this morning which IL made in the House
Of Representatives would bring the offender
rimanded"
Then after a futher effort to secure order
Mrs Stranahan said in an earnest tone:
Ladies, ladies. do not let us SO act that
The Star will say Of us that We are trying
to drive order out Of our midst
Madame chairman" said Mrs. Macart-
ney. IF you remember our honored chap
lain general prayed at the opening of this
meeting for divine blessing upon our de-
h5erations and for peace and order. 1t
LOOKS to as II We had forgotten the
words OF our chaplain general"
Mrs. CabeIPs Speech.
The tight began at IL o'clock. At II 81.
after trying all possible parliamentary tao
tics to the bitter end. 1t was decided that
Mrs. Cabell should be allowed to speak.
At 11:lG il had been discovered that she
had the constitutional right to the floor,
but it was twenty minutes later before she
got It. II was agreed that Mrs. Cabell
should be allowed to speak for ten minutes.
but when she finally got the floor the
speaker only wanted five.
Mrs. Cabell then took up the cudgels in
the battle over the so-called election of
Mrs. Gen. Boynton from the Office of vice
pre- sident general in charge of organiZa-
ton. Reference to this fight has already
been made In The Star. At a meeting of
the national board of management. October
last, it was decided that Mrs. Boynton's
term Of office would expire two days later,
and they at once proceeded TO elect Mrs
Ellen Hardin Walworth to fill the vacancy
Three members of the board, among them
Mrs. Cabell. took umbrage at this act, and
formally withdrew from the beard. They
afterward issued a pamphlet to the society
setting forth their position and pTacticaiiy
making charges against the board
Mrs. CaDell said that her reason Tor rising
at this time was to call the attention Oh the
congress to the eminent improprlety OF
holding an election of officers while charges
were pending and Enacted upon against
some of those already holding once IN the
society.
free and fair investigation be held into these
charges by the entire congress before we
proceed to elect officers Tor the ensuing
year.
The investigation.
After some spirited discussion it was de-
cided that the congress might as well give
In first as last and go ahead with this In
vestigation which has been hanging over
the head of the society from the beginning
1t was decided by vote to devote an hour TO
the investigation. giving each side hair
hour for a discussion of the merits of the
case.
Mrs Cabell opened the discussion with an
elaborate and carefully prepared paper, IN
which she set forth the side OF the minority
IN the board
Mrs. Putney Of Virginia read an ex-
haustive paper on the other side and this
paper contained an opinion submitted by
Judge Shepherd of Chicago, in which ne
supported the legality OF the majority
of the board in their action in declaring
the office OF vice president general va
cant Mrs. Hills of Georgia read decision
from Mr.. a. IL Cox of Atlanta concurred
in by two other Atlanta lawyers, support
ing Judge Shepherd in his view of the case
Mrs. Lockwood. Mrs. Dickins and Mrs
Baker also spoke at some length on the
majority side OF the question. GIVING me
details ard incidents OF that now famous
meeting of the board, when. by a vote or
Is to 4. they decided the post vacant ana
proceeded to I'LL it. Mrs. " aiworth, MIS-
Boynton's successor, also spoke in pleas
ant and conciliatory tone to the erect tnat
the board had honestly considered that 1t
was doing only what was right ana proper
when il filed the vacancy.
The discussion was closed by the minority,
Mrs j. c. Breckenridge and Mrs. Shields
speaking.
Justice Harlan showed Under.
A spirit of kindly feeling prevailed to an
astonishing degree during the discussion,
and all the speakers on both sides were
listened to with the closest attention and
in the deepest silence until the close, when
there was a spirited effort on the part of a
number of ladies' to get the floor. in order
to extend the discussion. Mrs Shields red1
another legal opinion supporting the minor
fly. and when she was through the chair
decided that the time allotted to the dis
cussion was all used I'D.
Ladies'" shouted an excited delegate
again and again, won't you listen to a de-
cision this point prepared by Mr.. Justice
Harlan of the Supreme Court?
There were loud cries of mo, mo" YES"
yes" regular order of the day" regular
order" Justice Harlan's decision was turn
ed down and showed under in the eonfu-
sion, seventeen women, by actual count.
trying to talk at one time.
Election of officers.
The investigation was closed in rather
summary manner. a motion was put and
carried by an overwhelming majority to the
of the board of management last October.
The congress then proceeded to a vote for
officers.
The name of Mrs. Letitia Green Stevenson
was put in nomination to succeed herself as
president general of the society.
New York rises en-masse TO second this
nomination" shouted Mrs. Mclean.
1t was decided by reclamation that the
secretary should cast the unanimous vote
of the society for Mrs. Stevenson. The con-
gress then proceeded to the election Of the
other officers by ballot.
Ladies'" said Mrs. Stranahan, 81 can't
expect you to act as we'll as men in holding
an election, but do hope You will act as
well a. you possibly can"
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