Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-15
OVERWHELMING VOTE IN FAVOR OF
ABANDONING IT.
PRECEDED BY BITTER DEBATE
CONVENTION INVOLVED IN A PAR
LIAMENTARY TANGLE.
Miss Anna Gordon Closed the bait
With n Statement of Miss Will
ards Views Regarding the
Natfer-EIectiSa of Of
Gccrs To-day.

ST. PAUL, MINI. Nov. 1.-THE w. c.
IT. L. national convention decided to-day,
ty a vote of 2S5 TO Il. 10 abandon the tenn
pie project as an affiliated interest. Five
hours OF animated, vigorous and OCCASION
ally bit Ter and personal debating was
necessary before the vote was reached. The
onposition 10 this action declared it was
an act of ropbdiation of a moral obliGa-
ton, and bought every inch of ground. but
most of the leaders were against them and
carried their point. Just before adjourn
ing, Mrs Durham presented some resolu-
tons on the subject which may precipl-
rate the whole controversy once more. If
she calls them up in the morning, as is
expected.
At the beginning of this afternoons ses-
sion the president announced the temple
as the order of business. Mrs. Matilda B.
Csrse, of illinois, read her report on the
temple. which was a full history of the
building and the connection of the w. c.
T. L. with the enterprise, and making a
strong plea for the convention TO stand
by the temple. She criticised sharply the
action of the general officers against the
temple. She read anew letters from Mar
shall Field, dated November .. 1898. in
which he promised TO extend such obliga-
tions as he may be interested in, and, in
addition, he will give $4,000 cash to pay
opliSdlloiS VI L SOOLl " DttOIle uuc
and $4,000 in stock. or q total of 500. 900.
Notwithstanding the rule adopted against
applause, there was a hearty and general
burst of handclapping at this announce
ment. The burden of the report was a
plea for the completion of the temple as a
fitting memorial to Miss Willard.
The annual report of the financial secre-
tary, Miss Sarah G. johnson, was present.
ed, showing receipts of SIS. e61. %; eXpend-
lures 81 OFF 81. balance S6 e21 II
The recording secretary read the report
of the action of the executive committee
adverse to the temple, and Mrs. Chambers,
of Pennsylvania, moved its adoption. As a
substitute, MIS-. Durham, of Iowa, moved
that, in view of the 1891 convention in
dorsement of the enterprise, this conven-
ton pledge itself to the temple In the mat
ter of retiring the trust bonds.
1t was decided, however, to consider the
report instead of the substitute, and the
discussion was taken up energetically.
Much time was devoted to an attempt to
find out what had been done by the con-
vention, many insisting they did not under
stand, Mrs. Banjamin, of Michigan, who
was called "the conventions parliament
tarian," making a plea to begin all over
again. Finally. out of the confusion, the
president disentangled a motion to have
a yea and nay vote, which prevailed, 1S7
TO lis.
Before the next vote was taken, the re-
port of the credentials committee was
called for and made, showing a total of
1874 delegates and officers present and en-
titled to vote.
Miss.Anna Goode moved to reconsider the
decision to vote by yeas and nays, owing
TO the parliamentary tangle. Reconsider
alton prevailed and Mrs. Clark, of Ohio,
moved to amend to vote by ballot. but this
was lost. This amendment had been con-
sidered the first test vote, the friends of
the temple having desired a vote by ballot.
Aye and nay vote was then again de-
cided on.
Rock of Ages was sung by the delega-
The general discussion was then resumed.
the motion being TO adopt the action of the
executive in declaring the temple
TO be no longer an affiliated interest to the
The recording secretary, Mrs. Hoffman,
the executive commiitee. Alter T'P eRe tiD Dl
fshed. the debates were limited to three
minutes each, and a rafting debate fol-
lowed, in which the memory of Miss Will
ard was invoked by both sides. The de-
bate was protracted, and it was several
to cool and freshen the air. Finally. after
al who wanted to speak had been allowed
aneir limited Tune; MISS Anna A. Gordon
against the temple. the previous question
being ordered to follow her remarks. which
were unlimited as to time. Her speech was
largely made up of a recitation of what
Miss Willard. in the last few months OF
her life, had said in regard to the temple,
and her hopelessness regarding its success.
There had been some confusion and much
excitement during the debate. but Miss
Gordon spoke amid intense silence. At ten
minutes before Z. the secretaries began the
roll call on the motion to adopt the action
of the executive in abandoning
the temple. 1t was a long roll call, lasting
fortytwo minutes. nearly ten minutes
more being required for changes and count.
ing. The vote resulted 2S5 to Il in favor OF
the temple being dropped as an affiliated
body.
Mrs. Durham. of Iowa. presented a reso-
luton indorsing the action of the Boston
convention, approving the temple. but IL
went over till Tomorrow. A resolution OF
thanks to Mrs. Carse for her efforts on be-
half of the temple was adopted. An ad-
Journment was then taken to 30.
The evening session was delayed in start.
ing and was devoted TO rejoicing by North
Dakota. Kansas. Ohio. Minnesota, Texas
Southern California and Indiana unions
over their increasing 500 or more each dur.
ing the year.
An election of officers will come up to.
morrow morning, and present indications
are that Mrs l.. NJ N. Stevens will be
elected president without difficulty. as also
will the other officers so far as they seel
reelection.