Evening star., 1897-02-24
Effect Of the Report on the Project on
the D. A. E.
MEMBERS PROMPTLY CONTRIBUTE
A Lively Debate on Stenogra-
piers Pay.
OTHER RBUSINESSTRANSACTED

good big job on Its hands IL IL does all
1t has cut out for the present session. The
largest undertaking, or at least it is so
considered by many. Is the alteration of
the constitution. The present one was
adopted when the society was put on ma
tonal basis. and, like all first" constitu-
tions. proves to have some Objectionable
features in It, though many of the daugh-
:ers think that 1t will last for good many
years yet. At the last session of the con-
gress. In 1896, it authorized committee,
mposed OF Mrs Donald Mclean, chair
man. OF New York; Francis Parsons Ed
wards, secretary, Washington, d. c.;
Helen Boudinot Stryker, New Jersey;
Mary A. Green, Rhode Island; Sarah B. C.
Morgan, Georgia, and Virginia K. Maddox.
California, to revise the constitution and
report 1t to the present congress for action.
The constitution is now prepared In
pamphlet form and has been thoroughly dis
cussed by the board of managers. The re-
vision is sure to meet determined opposl-
tion in the congress, even though 1t is
championed by so eminent woman as the
distinguished chairman of the committee
Mrs. Mclean.
Mrs. wnIwOrth's Views.
Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth, who was
one of the three or four charter members
daughters should consider well before
adopting the new constitution and Its so
called improvements. She says:
THE changes in our organic law are
sweeping. The national officers are re-
duced from thirty-one to twelve. and a
few of them are given despotic power in
an independent executive committee The
board of management is practically abol-
ished. The head of the organizing depart
ment, the vice president general OF organ
ization. is discarded. The chapters are de-
prived of their immediate communication
with the board of management. A species
of absolutism is granted to state regents
in the power to appoint a corps of state
officers at will; If adopted it is disorgan-
izing to the national society and is danger
Gus, since no uniformity, method or re-
StTiction is imposed.
THE continental congress is wrested
from Its home at the capital Of the nation.
Let us, of all things, preserve our perma-
nent and patriotic home In Washington.
ITO my view, few well-placed amend
ments to the old constitution would be
safe and wise course. Legal experience
establishes the fact that it Is usually safer
to change and enforce existing laws than
to make rev ones
OF course Mrs. Mclean Is goirg to stand
by the work of her committee till the last
outpost is taken, and Mrs. Mclean enjoys
the reputation of {, vocabulary and stay
ing powers such as Senator ingalls, is said
to have possessed. If each of the 65;. dele
gates undertakes to have a say-music
is impending.
Another subject that is giving them
much trouble is the magazine, the organ of
the D. A r., now called "The American
Magazine" and edited by Mrs. Mary S.
Lockwood. This magazine is a handsome
book, and Is printed in good style. But
II does not pay expenses. On the other
hand. it costs nearly $500 year more
brings ha ~ A hos
very restless under this and wants to
make change, and yet they are not will
irs TO lower the tone Of the magazine by
cheapening the paper and style, and SO
many favor stopping 1t entirely. This it
is felt by many, would be extremely disas-
trous for the organization. 1t is very
plainly shown that in an organization of
lS,UU members the magazine ought TO
of the members instead of having a sub
scription list of only about 1900 or under
Question of Consolidation.
Another question of paramount import
ance to thousands Of these defendants of
patriots Is the question of the consolida-
uon OF the two orders. d. r. and d. A. R.
Inc separation grew out of personal diff
ferences and jealousies and a neat little
scrap over ancestors. Large membership
Is now claimed by both organizations but
'ne,e Is continual CONFUSION of the two
and a consolidation is devoutly hoped for
by the majority of both congresses. The
only thing that will prevent this CONSOLE
cation, In the opinion of a prominent offi-
ciai OF the D. A. r., is the personal ambi-
tion of some of the members and a do
termination of some of the members tn
nave their say before consolidation is
erected If this discussion is entered into
IN an acrimonious spirit. as it promises
to be on the part of some, the consolida-
uoh VIII not come about this year
This Mornings Session.
Ihe morning session Of the D. A. R. con-
sress opened at 1910 the president general.
MIS-. stevenson, in the chair. Prayer was
offered by the chaplain general. Mrs. Ru,-
lock- and Hail Columbia" was sung In a
sweet, round. young voice by Miss Virginia
foweii Goodwin, accompanied on the piano
by Prof. Arnold W. Meyer
The president general found it difficult to
keep order, as the members insisted on
talking and visiting, so she appealed to the
regents and delegates to refrain from talk
ing while the official reader, Miss Janet
hlchards, was presenting the journal min
utes of Tuesday The journal was read
but quiet was not preserved. Just after
the reading of the journal the sad incident
OF Tuesday noon was referred to by Mrs
Draper. who said:
Il arise to speak Of the great sorrow
which has befallen one of our sister re-
gents, Mrs. Burdett of Vermont, who came
here to attend the congress, leaving her
husband at home In good health. but last
evening received telegram announcing his
death l move that a committee of three
state regents be appointed to extend to
Mrs. Burdett our warmest sympathy"
The president general appointed Mrs.
Draper chairman of the committee she
to select her associate regents.
The minutes were, after short discussion
accepted. Mrs. McWilliams of Minnesota
offered a resolution that action of Tuesday
be recOnsidered and Abe minutes of the
hoard meetings be presented In full in the
american Magazine. the organ, of the order
This precipitated a discussionT which was
warmly engaged in for some, time. Mrs
II. V. Boynton objected She.,said it was
not proper that these minutes be printed in
full. They should not be sent broadcast
through the land and displayed on public
newsstands.
Row Over the stenoEraphic Report
Many Of the members thought 1t best to
print these minutes In full. so that the
members through the country could know
what the board was doing and whether II
was best to re-elect them to office again
or honor them In any way.
DIR. MCGEE said she thought the congress
ought to know what 1t would cost to prinl
pamphlets before 1t voted to print them.
Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Loud OF Massaehu