Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-25
Rejoices That Her Bill for Divorce is
Finally Passed.
her GREAT CAMPAIGN OF SILENCE
Refused to Make Reply to Asper-
sions of Legislators.
WILL RETAIN MARRIED NAME


KNOW tnat MIS- w. ii. Acklan, daughter OF
ex-Judge Croker of Cleveland, has been
divorced by the legislature of this state
Mrs. Acklan has many friends in Wash
ington, and she says she believes that all
those who know her there sympathize with
her.
Mrs. Acklan was seen at her home, The
Gables. today by Star correspondent.
She was in joyful mood. "Oh, N.Y. she
said; Il feel so happy 1 am at peace with
the world
Mrs. Acklan came as stranger to Della
ware. nevertheless she had many enemies
here. No one can justly charge her with
doing anything to make enemies; yet the
enemies were here, and pretty powerful
ones they were. They were situated just
where they were most undesirable to her
To change these enemies to friends was
no slight task. 1t required diplomacy and
skill to alter their opinions.
Kept Her Lips Scaled.
In this respect Mrs. Acklan measured up
to all requirements. She declined to allow
herself to be brought into controversy
with members of the legislature even when
they called her unkind names. She kept
her lips sealed thightly, and she never lost
nope She resolved that the members of
her unfairly, and that she was entitled to
hearing. She bided her time, which
came yesterday, with the result that she
emerged from the fray with victory on her
banner.
Mrs. Acklan stands today as a heroine, in
SO far that she has rescued her fair name
from an ignominious death at the hands of
me delaware legislature. Ten days ago
Representative HAZEL stood on the floor
OF the house of representatives. and.
while voting for a motion to indefinitely
postpone action on her bill, said
Ihis woman is as much an adventures
II
dared to be an adventurer. She should
have stayed in Ohio. Persons connected
with her case claim they have letters be-
smirching the names of members of this
legislature, but they, and even she, refuse
to give the investigation committee any
information to aid it in its work.
Mr.. HAZEL was the chairman of the in
vestigation committee, and as such he was
opposed to Mrs. Acklan. He had never
met her; he did not even know what she
looked like The words he uttered created
a sensation and, incidentally, much sym
pathy for Mrs. Acklan. Mrs. Acklan how
ever. did not make answer openly to his
imputation. She was diplomatic, and Sc
cured far better results. She slipped down
quietly to Mr.. HaZells home in Smyrna last
Saturday and there talked the matter over
with him. He apologized for thus malign-
ing her and assured her that he would re-
tract his imputation on the spot on which
he made 1t. He kept his word, though he
declined to the end to vote for her bill.
hcr silence surprised Her Enemies.
Mrs. Acklan's silence and silent work
is what secured her divorce. Her silence
surprised the members of the house. They
expected she would make some startling
charges. and when they discovered that
she positively refused to say anything they
gradually dropped their prejudice against
her. In fit of passion, caused by this
prefIdice. they voted TO Indefinitely post
pone action on her bill. The bill was then
in committee and had not been reported
The procedure was contrary to parliament
tar law. but Mrs Acklans counsel did not
discover it. He made an effort to have the
vote reconsidered, but in vain. Then it
was that Mrs. Acklan engaged Josiah Mar
vel, a young lawyer of Wilmington, TO take
hold of her case. Marvel is successful
lobbyist, and he quickly discovered the
flaw in the procedure. On this technicality
those members who were anxious to have
Mrs Ackian say something condescended
to set aside all their prejudice and to be-
gin to deal with the bill anew. They voted
for a motion to have the bill referred back
to committee and reported yesterday, and
also to give Mrs Acklan a chance to an
swer for herself. This is how Mrs. Ack-
Ian got before the legislature yesterday to
tell the story that gave her victory.
Mrs. Acklan's story was brief. She told
it between sobs. Nevertheless it was very
effective. She denied emphatically the re-
ported charges that she had been ap
preached by persons connected with the
legislature and asked for 5000 to secure
the passage of her bill through the senate
Had No Charges to Bring.
II have not the slightest charge to
bring she said. Il am not responsible
for these reports
She was asked several times about her
intention to remain in Delaware and each
time replied that she intended to remain
report that she had offered her husband
$1,000 to return and live with her were
true, she denied 1t emphatically. The last
question asked Mrs. Acklan SO embarrassed
her that she burst INTO tears and Sobbed
bitterly. The question was her reason
for not returning to Cleveland to live. She
said that she did not care to return to
Cleveland, where all her friends had been
happily married and she had not. Her
emotion moved several members to tears
There were twenty-four in the room and
their eyes were riveted on her.
After the hearing Speaker Riggin, who
last week ruled out e motion to reconsider
her bill, declaring that it was dead and
could not be resurrected approached Mrs
Acklan and grasped her hand Tears filed
his eyes He thus spoke:
MIS- Acklan, you are a much maligned
woman. have heard your story and l be-
lieve 1t. l voted against you last week.
put am going to vote for you now
MIS- Ackians hearing occupied little less
than an hour. When the house resumed
Its session, Representative Dempsey re-
ported her bill favorably from committee
lie opposed Ii last week, but yesterday
made vigorous speech in favor of ii. Rep-
resentative HAZEL, after apologizing for
calling Mrs Acklan an adventures, made
speech in opposition to the bill on the
ground that he was not convinced that Mrs
Ackian would remain in the state He re-
FUSED TO attend the conference and did not
hear her statement
speaker Riggin and Representative Whit
hey, VINO was also opposed to the bill last
week. made strong speeches in favor of its
passage. 49,
Lost on Viva VOce Vote
When Speaker Riggin put the question TO
the house, on a viva voce vote the motion
10 pass the bill was lost. but the speaker
asked for poll of the VOTE Several men,
beers left the hall before the poll was made.
Inc poll showed eight for and six against
the bill. Speaker Riggin then declared IL
passed.
Mrs: Acklan received the news of her VIC
tory by telegraph, and held an impromptu
reception at her hotel to those who ten
oered congratulations and sympathy. She
says she will retain the name Acklan be-
cause II Will aid her in travelling over the
weird without a chaperon.
She is willing. she says, to forgive all
those who opposed her bill.
Mrs. Acklan need live In Delaware only
three more days. IL she moves out In that
time her bill can be taken up again and de-
feated.
Mrs. Acklan has been here since Feb
ruary She served notice then of her in