The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-10

York Tribune from Mary Katherine Johnson,
| ex-vice president general Of organization of
| chapters, and enc of the tellers at the con-
gress; Augusta Danforth Geer, honorary vice
president general and Mary Desha, honorary
vice president general and founder.
The counts which Gen. Boynton made
| against the national congress were these:
| THAT by wtre-pull.ng and political CHI
cane "a little handful Of women in the Dis
| trict OF Columbia have beaten New York and
| the rest OF the country out Of the field and
nave retained possession Of the machinery of
the great society another year, and thus to
| secure the means to execute their own will
with their puzzled sisters"
EIhe inducement for indulg.ng in such
methods was the control Of the 600 rev.
enue.
S-The specifically unriehteous and nm
Wcmaniy methods employed were: Buying
woes Wlth promises of patronage, appointing
tellers two months before the congress and
taxing advantage Of the sincerity and frank
less OF the other delegates. In the course of
ms letter Gen. Boynton makes this statement
never mas such interesting illustration been
presenter IN Washington Of the capacity of
woman to discount man in all that pertains
TO nne play in campaign intrigues The old
Isl tsa observers recall no speakership contest
mat matched the vigor and the cunning of
the little band of manpulators among the
daughters who once more undertook the task
OF running the congress-
:, In answer to Gen. Boynton's charge Of
ulstrlct combine" and its purpose there
appeared a in the New York Tribune this state
mentioned above: "i
This, 1t will be seen, is an unworthy asner-
sion SION upon body of the finest women in the
OF these funds (the $50. 600 annual income Of
the society, and what they We're to do with
To the when they got hold of them, is left
and baseless this charge is.
Under the constitution and bylaws of the
society, the treasurer general has the custody
u n nfry
security she Is required to give an ample
bond and to deposit the same in a bank
selected selected by the board, and can only draw
thereon by check when so directed by the
congress or national board. Comment is un-
necessary.
Another charge is the
BARTER OF VOTES.
Under the constitution, the headquarters
ton From the foundation of the soc,ety
the active officers have been, as a rule
Sc from members permanently residing
IN the city. 1t is unnecessary to enumerate
these officers. but 1t is impossible to con-
ceive how they could be bartered for votes
i 6an, the alleged district candidates for pres
whole controversy raised by this article ia
over the office of president-ge general. The other
officers are only mentioned as a suhiect of
barter. ~
-. The constitution also provides for the cleo
ton annually OF twenty vice presidents gerer-
state, and that one uniformly is nut in nomi1
nation by the state delegates, and is selected
Tor fitness. work done or distinguished ofii
ella! position. They are the active officers'
and the several state regents constitute the
national board Of management The method
OF preceding In the congress for the election
OF officers precludes the idea of a com
pine or barter for votes The nomina
tons are all made in open convention from
the floor. and the various candidates nomi-
mated are posted on the blackboard and can
only be elected by ballot.
me last charge Is that the selection of
certain number of tellers to count the votes
had been attended to two months in advance
This Is a monstrous accusation. for II
implies without disguise that the purpose of
the combine was to select tellers In advance
committed to particular candidate for presf-
dent general, and who would count in the
combines candidate The fact is that the
president general, Mrs. Stevenson, appointed
chairman Of the committee Of tellers and
on motion, in open convention. 1t was de-
cided that each state delegation should nomi-
nate two tellers. to be selected from the
alternate delegates, and these nominations
were made and confirmed by the congress-
Nothing less than omniscience could have
foretold to the combine who the delegates
were to be- SO as to select tellers from them
two months in advance Of their election"
The letter closes with a description of the
canvass for the Office of president general
The statement is made that conference of
representative members of the national So
ciety was held with the object of re-electing