The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-04
APOLOGIES DUE
ON BOTH SIDES
That Is What the Friends
of the Bramacharin
Think.
The Incident Discussed by the
Woman's Congress in Execu-
tive Session.
o fcers Elected by the Bo1y for the
Ems uing Year-Mrs. Swift
President.

at the meeting Of the Woman's Con-
gress, held in one OF the smaller rooms of
the Golden Gate Hall yesterday after
noon, the president, Mrs. Swift, took occa-
sion to state the position OF the congress,
or of its executive board and officers, with
regard to 1.-THE Bramacharin incident" of
Saturday night. The meeting was one of
the members of the congress, the doors
being closed to all Others and to the mem
bers the president thought statement
was due.
The Bramacharin had complained that
he had been insulted by ladies on the
platform; that he had been invited to
speak before the congress and, accepting
the invitation, his robe had been pulled
from behind while he was speaking. Mrs.
Swift said that the young man occupied
position upon the Stage where she could
and did see him al, the time he was
speaking, and she was sure-she knew
that he was mistaken with regard to this.
If, however, he felt him self to have been
insulted in any way he had erred in not
com planning to the board, which would
have made every reparation called for, for
it Was certain tnat no slight of any kind
was intended.
She had understood, she said, that Mrs.
Wadham, a member OF the congress whose
guest the Bramacharin was in this City,
knew that lie felt offended, and that he
intended to give some expression OF re-
sentiment at the public meeting. She said
she did not think that Mrs. Wadh am had
done what the congress had right to ex-
pect of her in not informing The board of
this intention and thus preventing q
scene.
At this Mrs Wadham, who was in. the
audience, rose, saying, Il wish to say that
that is not true. While 1 knew he felt
offended l had no thought that he in
tended to refer to it."
"If YOU knew that he felt offended
think you should have advised the board
of it, Tor no offense was offered him, or at
least none was intended. | saw nothing
that could possibly give offense."
At this Mrs. Edward L. Wadham, Mrs.
| Wadham's dau .hter-in-law, arose and
said that Mrs. Swift was not in a position
to see what had taken place, but that an
affront had been offered.
What was it them" asked Mrs. Swift
"a lady back of you and back of him,
while he, the Bramacharin, was speaking,
made motion with her hands in view of
| the audience suggestive that he should sit
down. Then Mrs. Gardener. whose ex-
pressed opinions the Bramacharin was at
time. In view of the fact that the Brama-
| charm was there by invitation of the con-
gress he felt this as an insult"
Mrs. Swift repeated that however this
might be, she knew that nothing of the
| kind was intended, and that had slight
been unintentionally given it would have
been intentionally apologized for had
notice been given.
| With this the incident was dropped and
the congress went about its business of
| electing officers for the ensuing year.
Mrs. John +. Swift was elected presi.
dent Mrs. Lowell White was elected vice.
president at large, Mrs. Van Pelt, record
ing secretary; Mrs. George T. Gaden, cor
responding secretary, and Mime. Sorbier,
| treasurer.
The following were chosen to the execu-
tive board: Mrs. David Starr Jordan, Mrs.
Stanford, Mrs. Austin Ferry, Mrs. Lloyd
Baldwin, Mrs. Asa Simpson and Mrs
George Gutter.
The congress has been invited to hold
a session at Stockton. and will probably
do so. carrying with 1t some OF its best
speakers.
In speaking of the Bramacharin Incl
dent after the meeting yesterday after
noon Mrs. Edward L. Wadhams said that
she felt that the Bramacharin 'had been
strucK first" and that he had made the
mistake of resenting it. She thought
apologies were due from both sides. but
that the action of Mrs. Swift throughout
was without blame.