The San Francisco call., 1898-02-19
WOMEN TALK
 OF SECESSION Trouble in the Ranks of the Equal Suffrage
 Association.
Santa Clara Clubs May With draw from the State
 Organization.
Claim That They Are Not Granted Fair Representation by It's
 Officials.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Feb. 1S.-There were some interesting proceedings at the annual conventions of the Santa Clara County Equal Suffrage Club at the Unitarian church to-day, and threats of seeding from the State club were made. There was good attendance, and the various clubs throughout the county were rep resented by delegates. The discussion of the State convention at San Fran cisco last year stirred up much dissat- iSfaction, which almost amounted to a declaration of independence from the authority of the State Equal Suffrage Association. A number of the acts of the authorities of the State organiza- tion, of which Mrs. Mary A. Swift of San Francisco is president were called into question, and threats of secession were made.
 The principal complaints were against the actions of the powers that be at the session of the State conven- tion at San Francisco last year. It is stated that the San Francisco dele gates managed to secure monopoly of all the advantages as well as the honors through the union of clubs throughout the State, while the clubs in the southern part of the State especial ly were ignored almost entirely as far as being granted a proper representa- tion was concerned.
 It was stated that the authorities at San Francisco seemed perfectly willing that the clubs in Santa Clara County should contribute quite a neat sum to the general State fund, but there was a corresponding lack of willingness on the part of the State officials to allow the clubs in this county to have any voice as to how the funds should be eX- pended.
 It was pointed out that taxation without representation was the iden- tical wrong of which women were now complaining as regards their relation ship to political affairs in general, and the government of the country in par ticular, and they did not care to con- tinue an alliance with a State OrganiZa- tion of their own sex that itself prac- ticed these very wrongs. The con- plaintS that are made against the State association of clubs are along the same lines as those that were complained of by our forefathers in the Revolution, and if some of the offending State off, cers should come to San Jose to at tempt to hold a tea party here it is very much to be feared that some of their tea would soon be thrown over board.
 No decisive action was taken as re- gards the threatened breach in the State organization, but Mrs. J. M. Me Kee of the Willow Glen Club, in behalf of her organization, presented the formal resignation of that club as an auxiliary to the State organization. It was stated that the Willow Glen Club was unwilling longer to pay a rather high assessment to the State Associa- tion without having any privilege as far as having voice in the disposition of the funds was concerned Mrs. Me Kee was one of the delegates from Santa Clara County to the recent State convention.
 No action was taken in the matter of the resignation of Willow Glen Club from the State organization.
 The Santa Clara County Equal Suf- frage Club elected the following officers for the ensuing year: President, Mrs. A. l.. Corbert of Palo Alto; vice-presi- dent, Mrs A. k. Spero; recording sec retary, Mrs. E. c. Dyer of Palo Alto: corresponding secretary, Mrs. Dr. Aida c. Avery (re-electeO; treasurer, Miss Flora Smith Ge-electeO; auditors, Mrs. Orvis and Miss Bolis.