Evening star., 1896-11-13
Women's Suffrage Association Up
holds Purity Of Ballot. -
VOTING FOR A PRESIDENT
The Members Who Evaded the
Call to Official Position.
D E L E G ATES SEN


frage Association of the District of Co
lumbia for the election of officers for the
ensuing year and hearing of reports for
| the past year was held last evening in
parior 32 at the Riggs House. The room
was well filled. Mrs. E. P. THOMPSON
president, occupied the chair, and Miss
Williams was secretary. The entire pro-
ceedings we're interesting and the reports
Of Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood and Mrs. Brin-
ton, who represented the association at the
Woman's International Congress recently
held in Berlin, concerning that meeting
were listened to with the closest attention
by all present.
Preceding the delivery of the addresses
of Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Brinton the
election of officers to succeed those retir-
ing was held. This was taken up imme-
| diately after the minutes of the last meet
ing were read by President Thompson
| stating the special business to be consid-
| cred and the appointment Of Mrs. Jennie
L. Munroe and Mrs. Tyndall as tellers.
Constitution Neglected.
The ladies appointed accepted the posi-
tion and were making arrangements to
| proceed with the execution of their duties
when Miss Williams said:
| Il move that an informal ballot be taken
to select a candidate for president"
| say on the subject?"
One Of the tellers-"It doesn't make any
difference what the constitution has to
| say about it."
| reporter present-"This is similar to many
cases elsewhere. The constitution isn't
| in st."
Without having the point raised decided
the tellers proceeded to make canvass of
| those In the room, in order to see If all
were entitled to vote. and having per
| formed this. were about to distribute blank
tickets to enable the members to write the
name of their choice for the office upon
them. when the question was asked: What
is All informal ballot?''
| The chair called on Secretary Williams
who had made the motion that a ballot Of
that kind be taken to explain.
An Informal ballot" said Miss Williams,
means that each member entitled to vote
will write upon a slip of paper the name
OF The lady she prefers for president and
the one receiving the highest number is
| declared the nominee"
Election Frauds.
Upon collectin the ballots 1t was found
that the basket contained five more tickets
than there were persons present
Some one has been stuffing the ballot
box said several ladies in chorus
There were calls for second ballot, and
the tellers again passed around blank tick
cts. the utmost caution being exercised.
After verifying the number Of ballots cast
with the number of persons present and
entitled to vote. Mrs. Tindall read the
ames of those voted for, and Mrs Mum
| zoe announced the result
IL was found that those who had been
considered best suited to perform the du-
as. Mrs. Thompson. Mrs. Relva A. Lock
~ood, Mrs. Munroe and Mrs. Cheshire and
mat Miss Thomas had received votes
Mrs: thompson, 8; Mrs. lockwood 1; Mrs
Iindall 1: Mrs. MunToe, = and Mrs
| Cheshire, /.
| Transfcrring Votes
Mrs. Thompson-'I will not have the of.
flee ard will give my votes TO Miss Thom-
| as"
The Secretary-"I would suggest to Mrs
Thompson that she has not yet been de-
| clared elected, and also that she does not
have. the right to throw her votes to any
| enc"
Mrs: Tindall-"If itsis in order"
Noice-Most anything seems to be in
| CIdere here"
Mrs. Tndall, resuming-"If it is in order
would say that there is not woman
ton who is not fully competent to be pres
ident. Faint sighs, followed by smile on
the face of nearly every woman in the
room) But l believe we ought to take
another ballot. 1t is possible that some of
those who voted for Mrs. Thompson would
not want to vote for Miss Thomas"
A member: How do We know that Miss
/
A lady, who was evidently a friend of
Miss Thomas: Il think 1 can saw with
sa ~ that Miss Thomas will serve If elect
| ed
Mrs. Lockwood said she deprecated tho
| fact that it was SO much trouble to elect
a president, and Mrs. Tindall said such a
state tf aHa1rs was not encouraging to the
| prospects OF the association.
| Another ballot was then taken and n
was found that Miss Thomas had seven
votes out OF twenty cast, the rest being
scattered. Mrs. Munroe, one of those voted
for by two persons, said: Won't those who
voted for me give their votes to Miss
Thomas and end this troubler'
consent was given, and Miss Thomas was
declared the nominee, and, the secretarv
neins authorized to cast the ballot she
was declared elected president for the en-
suing year. s Gil
MISS Williams was nominated fer re-
eiection as recording secretary Miss Will
,a.n nnSd,da relused positively to be regarded as
White, Miss Barton and Mrs Chash;.c
were nominated. es1ife
Other Omcers.
MIS- Cheshire-"After having been so hit
terly opposed for the Office of president T
Will not allow my name to be used In ron
nection with any office in the Gift OF this
association"
After considerably more delay Miss r r
Barton was elected
Mrs. X w. Burt was reelected treasurer
and after she had declined once she Welded
to the wishes of her fellow-memhers and
| consented to accent 'A'iu
another hitch occurred in filling the place
OF corresponding secretary
MRS Nichols was nominated: she de-
clined. ~ "e
l. The chair-''Mrs. Nichols has more time
to look after the duties of that office than
any one else" '-.'''
Mrs. Tfndal1-"I don't think So She
works for churches and everything else
Mrs. Munroe-'So does every one else"
Finally Miss Nettie L. White was elected
| Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood was nomina ted
for vice president She was unanimously
elected.
Il accept" she promptly responded. II
am not of the kind to decline"
Mrs. Thompson was nomna ated and elect
ed as member of the national executive
committee for the ensuing year.
The question of electing delegates to the
next national woman's suffrage convention
was then taken up, and the question was
asked when that body would meet
Mrs. Munroe requested the secretary IN
read a letter which had been received from
the National Suffrage Association head
quarters in Philadelphia regarding the
| matter. ~ ~
At the conclusion Of the reading of the