The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-23


who made a study OF the subject found
ont that they had been the victims OF
active and cunning workers Probably
never before had great company Of we'll
ntentioned women. ignorant Of all willy
ways. strangers TO parliamentary manipu-
lations. and DESTROYS only OF doing the
right thing been 80 completely misled and
banlod. They soon understood the move
10 have been one 20 secure control OF the
society by capturing its Board of Man
agement I'm whose hands the affairs ~
the society were shaped by earnest. able.
competent and enthusiastic women, OF
whom Mrs President Harrison was a
type. II also became clear that those who
had manipulated this seizure Of the So
cietv had been playing for its autocratic
control through Selling the machinery and
power OF the Board OF MANAGEMENT by ir-
regular means that they might use the
whole as a ladder TO social prominence.
The first step was a necessary one to
the scheme without general notice
selected secret caucus was assembled,
nougll being quietly brought from out
Of Washington 20 make "A sure majority
of an likely 20 attend the next regular
meeting of the board. and the necessary
work decreed. though the steps were
clearly unconstitutional
The hoard met with little knowledge
on tho part Of its most influential mem
bcrs of what was TO be attempted. and
i'm spite of the declarations of the Presi-
dent deciding herself "A skillful parlia-
mentaran, that the proposed action was
"at once unjust. Illegal. discourtcous
| and unnecessary" the first game i'm the
play was carried through. Several of
tho ladies Of the board who had taken
Ia ID block
game which the discussion had made APP
| parent and save the society from hands
which ought not TO control il all OF them
Of the highest social and official stand
| ing-felt that they could only sufficiently
protest against such methods by resign
| ing. Several concluded that they might
still be able to defeat further destruc-
tive action. and. 50 hoping, remained on
the board.
The full control OF the Board Of Man
agement and Of the machinery OF organ
| ization having thus been secured, the
next work undertaken was TO hoodwink
| the chapters as TO the plans on hand, 10
mislead them by ev>ry species Of mlsre-
| presentation, to blind them TO the real
purposes in view and so appeal by
shrewd devices 10 their prejudices as 10
make II easy TO control and use them
when the Congress assembled
Then came the convention. Never did
a political ward convention or any 9TH
or machine assembly meet in tho land
where more elaborate preparations were
| made to carry through all things which
| the plotters had devised against every
| form OF opposition, no matter how reg
| ular or how fully supported by constitu-
| tional and universally recognized parlia-
mentary methods.
| To accomplish this. everything was
| packed with a skill which must excite
| the admiration even of veteran observers
of machine methods The poor health
| Of the President. an officer Of fairness.
prevented her from doing more than open
| ing the sessions. In arranging the hall
| those delegates who We're mainly relied
| upon TO force through the scheme In hand
were chiefly seated I'm advantageous posi-
| tions, and those who We're considered
| doubtful put i'm the least desirable places
/ while the cX-onicers of the society, who
| had long served 10 with distinction and
most faithfully, were crowded of into a
| corner and the presiding officers so Civ
| en- an excuse OF which some OF them con-
| stanuy awaited themselves. for not seeing
| those who rose 10 address the chair. Even
/ i'm this corner such close personal watch
was kept upon them that they were final
| lv reduced to the necessity of writing
| what they wished to say 10 each other
on slips of paper. to prevent the PROPOSE
lions they were considering being over
| heard by listeners and reported 10 the
| managers OF the movement
| The members Of the Advisory Board,
| nearly all OF them gentlemen OF nigh
| official position. were given no place, and
! when they sought admission TO the floor
| were not only refused, but word was sent
| them that they We're not wanted. They
| had served the society faithfully for iWO
| years, but all but one or two were known
| 10 be opposed 10 the pending schemes.
| Women who claimed to be parliamenta-
rlans were on hand To insist upon points
| which violated every primary element oil
| parliamentary law \ printed programme
| was prOvided and treated as the regu-
| lar order" Whenever questions of the
highest personal privilege. and even the
| highest constitutional privilege, involving
| the legal membership OF the congress.
were raised. they were called down by
| cries OF regular order" 10 which those
temporary presiding officers who were the
mOuthpiecCs OF the cut-and-dried element
almost invariably yielded.
Some Of the most estinable and cult
waited women in the land were received
with disOrderly cries, and there were
grOans and Kisses for those who were
| only trying to be heard when they had q
clear constitutional right 10 the floor, and
when flfNN
ewes Of the delegates TO the monstrous
confidence game which was being played
upon them.
In the midst Of pandemonium. such
as Washington. with all it's wild con-
gressional experiences, has seldom Wit
Iessed the conspiracy To secure the con-
troll Of this great patriotic society was
consummated by taking no notice OF re-
heated demands for a yea-and-nay vote
on the final propositions 10 sustain the
board. II is really doubtful whether this
was carried. In fact. II Is certain that
Il was not carried in a parliamentary
manner. except by the arbitrary an
nouncement only the cut-and-drled bus
mess of the plotters was completed.
Nearly everything else was rapidly thrust
aside. And as a fitting end in the con-
fusion a resolution was slipped through
giving all unfinished business into the
hands of the new Board of Management
TO transact at their sole will. This in
claim she expected to lay before the So
| ciety.
This statement does not exaggerate the
cunning and arbitrary work by which
the ends sought to be attained were Sc
cured on the contrary, IL only serves
| 10 inadeduately shadow IL forth. 1t
stands without precedent or parallel In
| Washington.
Thus the control OF n great and worthy
| soc ETY. passed temporarily into the hands
of those who had thus schemed TO con-
| troll H. Ever since the delegates from the
| chapters have been seeking TO regain
what was lost. AT each succeeding con-
gress some advance In this direction has
been made. though constantly against
persistent opposition. For example, one
of the. issues forced upon the last con-