Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
WON EMS COUNCIL
Social and Financial Benefits of the
Organization.
DISCUSSION OF FRlEhNlAL REPORTS
Animated Scene Enacted at the
Election of Officers.
NOTES AND ENTS

The Council of Women opened it's session
this morning with an audience that but
partly filled the church proper. The au-
dience chamber was handsomely decorated
with flags.
The report of the Rathbone Sisters of the
World was given by Ida NJ. Weaver She
made an interesting statement of the social
and financial benefits of this great organ
izatiOn. which Is an auxiliary of the
Knights of Pythias.
Mrs. Fannie Humphreys Gafney of New
York, the president-elect gave a talk on
Education in Citizenship which went
deeply into the subject of municipal affairs
and reforms needed there. She was fol-
lowed by Rev. Amanda Deyo with report
OF the Universal Peace Union She ia
vors the disarmament project of the Car
of Russia, and thinks the agitation of the
subject by women will bring practical re-
suits. She links the council should inaug
urate peace congress at the Paris expo
S.uon. and invite the participation of all
the peace societies of the world.
Mrs Zina Young Card of Utah, a daugh-
ter of Brigham Young, gave a talk on
Mother and Child and education in cit
izenship. She thinks the mothers reSpon-
sibilities are very heavy, and that this ed
ucauon begins at home with children and
husband. Then womans forces should be
tremendously united for work abroad, car
ryinS always the doctrine of love.
Mrs. Susa Young Gates of the press COM
mittee gave some well-timed remarks on
the press work of the council. She said
the press of the country had always been
most generous in its treatment of the coun-
Gil She deprecated the disposition of the
women of the council to object to desCrip
tiOns of their gowns, their gloves or their
hair. She said Miss Anthony's rich black
silk and red shawl had all but canonized
her, because people who never had seen
her could ciOthe her picture thus and
member her always. Women and pretty
things should never be divorced. She sug
gested that personalities If not too cut
ting. were much better than no mention at
all. Her talk was entertaining and most
instructive.
Peace and Arbitration.
Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon reported for
the committee social peace and interna-
tional arbitration. 1t was strong plea
for peaceful methods of settling interna-
tional difficulties. Then followed a general
discussion of the themes of the reports.
Late this afternoon there will be reports
from the following standing committees:
On dress, Annie White Johnson, Illinois;
dress as sociological factor, Ida Evans
Haines, Illinois; on social purity, Rev. An
ma Garlin Spencer, Rhode Island: on care
of dependent and delinquent children, Jul
dith Ellen Foster. District of Columbia.
Tonight there will be reports of commit
tees as follows: American Administration
Society Caroline Earle White, Pennsyl-
vania: National Council of Jewish Women,
Hannah g. Solomon. Illinois. There will
also be addresses on the following themes:
The Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil"
Sadie American, Illinois; Women as Citi-
zenS in England" Harriet Stanton BlatCh,
England: The Retrogresslon in Equal
Rights" Susan b. Anthony, New York
The Election of Officers.
quite little furry. serni-political, semi
religious. but wholly feminine. came up
when the National Council of Women
elected It's officers yesterday. It was sup
posed that the struggle would be short for
first place ana the others would all but go
begging Not that the offices are not con-
sidered honorable and to be sought, but
the duties are arduOus and unpaid and
very few women have the time 20 devote
to them. The initiative and referendum
way of balloting gave Rev. Auua Garlin
Spencer of the big Unitarian Church of
Providence. X. l.. % votes for president:
Mrs. Fanny HUMPHREYS GaffEey of New
York. IS: Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, . and
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, l.
Immediately there was a stir. Miss An
thOny and her immediate suffrage friends
favored the election OF Mrs. Spencer as
she is an ardent advocate of equal suffrage
and would use her large influence for the
success of that cause. On the other hand,
the administration candidate was Mrs
Gafncy. She was also the candidate of the
more orthodox wing.
As soon as the nominations were an
nounced Mrs. Gaffney arose. and in a quiet
speech withdrew her name. throwing her
support to the Rev. Mrs. Spencer. saying
she had only been receptive candidate at
best. at TIE solicitation of her friends. This
action made her supporters look blank: for
De ii known, the National Council of Wo-
men is already charged with being a kind
Of stepping stone for the SuffragiStS TO GET
at other organizations of women who would
n n
and Mrs. Sewan although an ardent suf-
fragist herself. deprecates the effort to
make her organization the organ of any
particular propaganda. save and EXCEPT the
promotion of ..armOny and economy of la
Dor in womans work. Hence it was that
there was absolute dismay when they saw
the organization seemingly Slide right into
the suffrage camp as it were.
Surprise No. 2.
At this point Ms Spencer arose, and,
thanking Mrs. Gaffney for her gracious ac-
uCA, went on to say that unless some
method could be devised whereby the enor-
nous amount Of work hitherto imposed on
the president could be distributed among
the committees she did not feel that she
could possibly undertake the duties of the
office. This precipitated surprise number
two, as ii was well known that the friends
of both ladies had been working like Tro-
jams for each. and had things all cut and
her candidate would stand fast and be
elected. 1t also precipitated discussion as
10 what the duties of the president are and
Il really did seem as though the president
had been pretty much the whole business
up to that time. After much discussion il
was decided that more work should be de-
manded of the committees and other off
Gers. and second vote was taken This
time Mrs. Spencer got twenty-sfx votes and
MIS- CARNEY twenty-five. although she had
asked her friends to vote for Mrs Spencer
When this vote was announced and Mrs
Spencer had been declared elected she got
the floor and said the closeness of the vote
showed conclusiVely that the delegates
would about as soon have Mrs Gaffnev for
their president as herself She said she
had not wanted the office anyhow. as the
duties were most burdensome and while
she appreciated the honor, she felt she
must decline to accept it. and would ask
her friends to vote for Mrs. Gaffnev. II
was a most remarkable incident MANY
thought, and a good many of the delegates
were indignant at being tumbled around
from one candidate to another, without so
much as saying by your leave" How
ever. Mrs. Gaffney was elected president.
and was so declared
The next Office was vice president at
large. Mrs. Spencer was nominated by the
administration wing and at once there was
ll-Sf a.,