The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-10
They Answer Charges Made in a
Newspaper Publication
AS "FLIMSY AND BASELESS."
There Was No Combine" TO Promote
Elections Of Particular Candi-
dates and No Barter of
Votes-Frauds Practiced.
Editor OF The Times:

| warranted, ana kIOuHuiets attack upon
! the Daughters Of the American Reyolu-
tiOn, as "a body, Of such a character that
Il cannot fail, II left unanswered and 30
| accepted as true 20 shake the confidence
/ Of the friends Of the Society in its use
| fulness. and seriously impair It's future
! success
The circumstance that the signature 10
! the article bears the same name as that
| OF q prominent member and eN-oficer OF
| the Society, and that the author Is
! prominent member OF the Sons Of the
| American Revolution gives Significance
/ and Importance 10 the article with Us
! grave charges. which II might not other
/ wise possess ono might suppose that
his svmpathiss would De for rather than
| against the Daughters.
However distasteful II may be 20 right
7 minded women 20 engage in the publicity
/ OF newspaper controversy, especially
] with a professional writer 10 becomes the
| duty Of those knowing tho facts. 10 an
! swor this article.
The article IS made uD Of false assump-
tions. and misstatements Of facts. and
! the web Of falEehood and undisguised
innuendo Is woven with great skill. and
| lngenlously devised 10 mislead. but II VIII
! eli vanish before he truthful. narration
/ OF the real facts in the case.
THE CHARGES.
! The sum and substance % the article.
| strpped OF he yeTbiage, are tho charges
! OF allegations that the District DauRh-
tiers" formed a combine 10 prumote the
| election Of n particular candidate 70 the
! Office OF President General and the
! scheme was set UP 10 control the sur
/ Traces OF eight hundred deleSatee-'the
| very .alt Of countless communities all
| over tho Union" (which became dough
later. In the hands OF the combine as
| asscrted). BY a barter Of oihces Tor votes,
/ FOR the charge is distinctly made that
| every office was promised In exchange
| for votes" for the leading candidate Of
| the district. And IN furtherance " her
| election. as asserted. "the very unusual
precaution Of selecting n certain number
! OF tellers TO count the vote. had been at
tended to two months Boo NJ 1uc-.' and
that the whole aim and pu~nlse or the
combine" was "to retain possession OF
tho machinery Of the great Society for
another year. and thus secure the means
| 10 execute their own will with their puz-
| lied sisters ror the prize IS rich one,
| since the estimated venucs ~ the So
ciety for the coming year are S1o90' IAN
unworthy dispersion upon q body OF the
| finest women in the land).
! What omnipotonce and what omnl-
science the author ascrhos 20 the Dis
| trict Daughters. whom. Or they accom-
| plshed such ASTOUNDING results. he may
| well characterize as "the mistresses OF
! intrigue"
How tho Combine" were 20 ect hold
| Of these funds. and what they were 10
90 with them when they got hold of them,
is left to the imagination.
SWEEPING DENTALS.
| Now. let us sea how nlmsy and base
! less this charge r..
Under the constitution and bylaws Of
| the Society. the treasurer general has tho
| custody Of the funds Of the Society. and
| for their security. She is required 10 give
| ample bond 10 deposit the same in a bank
| selected by the Board" and can only
| draw thereon by check when 80 directed
/ by the Congress o. National Board.
| Comment IS unnecessary.
The next charge is the barter for
votes"
! Under the constitution. the hcadquar-
| ters for the Society Is The city Of Wash
| lngton. From the foundation Of the So
/ ciety. the active officers have been. as
q rule. selected from members psrman-
emily residing in the city. 10 is unneces-
| sary 10 enumerate these Offices but u
| IS utterly impossible 10 conceive how
| these Offices could be hartercd for votes
! for the alleged district candidate for
| President General. II viii be observed
| that the whole controversy raised by this
article is over the office OF President Cen
! eral The other offices are only mention
"a as subject OF barter.
! The constitution also provides fer the
] election annually Of twenty yice-presi-
! dents general. who arc located generally
| only one I'm a State. and that one uni
! formly IS put IN nomination bv the state
| delegate and IS selected for fitness. work
| done. or distinguished official position.
! They and the active officers and the
several State = ~-~fe constitute the -
/ tional Board Of MANAGEMENT.
The method Of proceeding IN the Con-
| gress for the election OF officers precludes
| the idea OF a Combine" or . barter FOR
| votes" The nominations are an made ir
! open convention from the floor and the
various candidates nominated are posted
on a blackboard, ara can only DC elected
! by ballot.
"a INDUSTRIOUS CHARGE"
The last charge Is that the selecting
OF a certain number OF teucrs 10 count
the votes had been attended 20 two
months in advance.
This IS n morstTous charge. fCr II Inn
plies without disguise the purpose Of the
combine" was 20 select tollers IN adj
vance. committed 10 a par ocular caudi-
date for President General. and who would
count I'm the combines" candidate.
The fact IS THAI tho President General
appointed a chairman OF the Committee
Of Tellers. and on motion. In open con-
vention. II was decided that each State.
! delegation should nominate Two tcll'rs TO
| be- selected from the alternate delegates.
/ and these nominations were made and
| confirmed by the Congress.
Nothing less than omuisclence could
have foretold 10 the combine who the
deICratcs were TO be. so az 10 select tell
/ ers from them two months IN advance
| OF their election.
Now. il seems 90 be pertinent 10 make
| n brief statement as TO the canvass FOR
! tho Office OF President General
The art 70 asserts that there were
/ three caudidates-one from New York,
/ backed by prominent influences, and two
! from the District Of Columbia. This Is a
| mistake. There were two Candidates from
| the State OF New York and one from the
! District OF columbia.
! II would be unmpOrtant 20 discuss this
! matter but for .he fact that this article
/ asserts substantially that the successful
/ candidate was elected-not upon her
| merits. but as the result OF intrigue on
the part OF the combine" and by 3
| barter Of Offices"
A short time before the meeting Of the
| Congress. IL having become generally
| known among the Daughters that the
regent OF the New York city Chapter
| had constituted herself a candidate for
J President General and had been az work
] for n year by personal and written APP
/ neal 10 the various chanfer regents. 10
! secure support for her candidacy Il was
| thought best 90 hold conference Of rep
/ rasentativc members OF the National So
/ ciety 10 consider The question NJ suit
| obie candidate for President General.
/ such a conference was held and II was
| The unanimous sentiment OF those present
-. -. -f..tfau ~ fha rDoenf ~ tho Natrf