Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-09-04
CANDIDATE TAINTED
Result of National w. R. C.
Election.
Fight for Senior. Vice Almost Knock.
Down and Drag.Out.

BUFFALO, N. Y, Sept. 2-The annual
election of the Womans Relief Corps just
held here resulted as follows: President,
Sarah J. Martin Of Missouri senior vice
presi lent, Susan +. Atkins of Buffalo: junior
vice president Casta X. Jones Of Vermont;
treasurer, Isabelle Il. Bagley OF Ohio;
chaplain, Sara l.. Rothrock OF Iowa;
The executive board consists OF Mary
G. Deane of Massachusetts; Augusta b. Ham
mond OF Connecticut; olive Laux Of OKLA
hOmn; Emma l.. Southwick OF New Jersey,
and Carrie House OF California. The con-
test for two of the offices WAS interesting,
even to the point OF bitterness. Mrs. Mar
tins rival was Mrs. Flo Jameson Miller Of
illinois. Mrs. Miller received strong support
from the East, particularly from Massachu-
sotts, her nomination having been seconded
by Mrs. Deane, but she was defeated by u
vote of 228 to IN. Mrs. Miller tainted when
the result was announced. The confess
between Mrs. Atkins and MIS-. Putnam. both
OF New York state, for the position OF senior
ce-commander almost descended to the
level Of a Notwithstanding out fight.
Both candidates flooded the place with
literature booming their respective candi-
dates, and bel,t.iing that of each other.
Their supporters descended to personal
spats, and the battle was altogether
lively one. 1t was so lively, in
fact, that many OF the delegates from
outside OF New York state were Disguised
with the situation, and at one time 1t looked
as II the place would 20 to some outsider, as
u rebuke to the candidates for the methods
employed. Colnmander-in-Chef Goblin,
Past Chief Clarkson and Col.
Winan.. Gen. Clarkson's chief Of stan, were
presented to the convention and made
short speeches. There were various other
visitors from delegations; in fact, so much
of this that the real business of the c"nvan-
tion delayed. Mrs. Deane received an
extremely Complimentary vote as chairman
OF the executive board. The speech which
placed her in nomination was made by Past
President Emma Il. Wallace OF Illinois, and
was seconded by Department President
Waterman OF Massachusetts. 1t was voted
to admit comrades of the Grand Army as
associate members; to make a change
in the ritualistic work by the
ments relating to patriotic teaching,
and to create u new office. that OF national
organizer.
Mrs. Sarah J. Martin Of Missouri was born
in Wheeling, w. Va. For Is years she has
been a member OF the order, and each year
has found her in active service. AS char
ter member of her own corps and of the de-
partment she has witnessed every phase OF
the departments existence. During two sue
cessive years she stood ut its head,
its chief executive, served faithfully rs insti-
tuting and installing officer, chairman OF ex-
ecutive board, and was twice appointed by
department presidents rs their counse. Tor.
Mrs. Martin has attended 10 out of IA nation
al conventions, has three times been elected
corps president, and for six years served her
corps rs treasurer.
The Massachusetts aspirants for the posi-
ton of president of the Daughters of Veter-
ans were rather unfortunate In their efforts.
There were two of them in the field, Miss NJ.
Lizzie Kimball of Fitchburg an Miss Cora
b. Pike Of Boston. The queer part of the
whole thing is that neither knew that the
other was II candidat Each ha the presi-
dental bee in her bonnet and each had
pledged herself to some Of the prominc-:
Il. A. II. workers that she would be a cd
didate. Both were nominated In the
convention, and then for the first time each
realized the situation. There was no vindic-
tive personal feeling in the matter. The la
dies are the best of friends. but 1t happened
that neither had discussed with the other
tho mutual aspirations, so that both names
were presented to the convention.
presented Miss Pixies name. and Mrs.
Ellen NJ. Walker OF Worcester per-
formed a like office for Miss Kimball. Both
OF the candidates occupied the same
room ut the IroquOis, and after talking the
matter over Miss kimball generously de-
cldcd to withdraw from the contest so as
not to jeopardize the chances of Miss Pike.
1t turned out, however, that the latter did
not have sufficient support to secure her cleo
ton, and was beaten by a narrow margin
by Miss Julia Croft of Ohio. Tho other Of
fcers elected were: Senior vice president,
Anna Schmidt OF st. Louis; junior vice
president, Anna Clark of New York ;treasurer,
Ida j. Allen OF Newton, Mass. inspector,
Cora b. Pike of Boston, mastering and in
staliing officer, Bertha Ray OF Illinois; chap
lain Kate Matthews Of Pennsylvania; coun-
cillors Alice Ingram of Illinois, Miss Day of
Nebraska, Miss Dicus OF Ohio, Mrs. Ellen
NJ. Walker OF Worcester and Miss NJ. Lizzie
Kimball of Fitchburg, Mass.