The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-02
WOMEN VOTED.
Members ofGerman Hospital
Aid Lost Id Intricacies
Of the Ballot.
HAD TO ASK REPORTERS HELP
And Then When He Decided
Against Another Exercise
of the Privilege, They
Didn't Like 1t.
HAD TO ASK REPORTERS HELP

The Ladies' Aid Society of the German
Hospital and Dispensary Fund Assoeia-
ton met last evening in Columbia Han,
Greenville, when officers for the ensuing
year were elected. The meeting was pro-
ductive of all kinds of amusement. There
were about eighty women present, and the
| efforts of the officers to conduct the meet
ing were ludicrous.
Order was out of the question. Inc
| women simply could not resist the tempta-
| ton to talk. The president, Mrs. Blum
| 1ein, repeatedly raped for order, but the
| incessant prattle never ceased.
The meeting was a spirited one at the
beginning over the contest for president.
Mrs. Blumlein and Mrs. Staoser were the
candidates. Here the fun began.
A committee of three was appointed to
look after the election. Papers were dis
tributed for each member to write her
choice on, but there were nc pencils in
sight. A News reporter was button
holed for the requisite piece of lead. That
pencil must have passed through the
hands of every one Of the eighty odd
members present. Some one evidently en-
deavored to sharpen it, for it resembled
a piece of wood hacked with an axe when
it was returned.
The ballots were taken. up and put into
a box. Then all present were requested
to stand while they were counted in Or
der to ascertain just how many votes
there should be. This method was given
up. as the counters were unable to ae-
complish the task. hen the members
were divided into sections and in this
manner another count took place. It APP
peared that each section counted had
counted almost everyone in the room, for
the total amounted to about twice as
many as there were present. Then the
counting of the members was abandoned.
The counting of the ballots proceeded
without further interruption. At the con-
clusion it was announced that there were
four ballots in the box marked for vice.
president and treasurer.
IT make a motion, Mr.. President" ex-
claimed one woman. that the voting be
done over again as those ballots are
Illegal Then she sat down with a
triumphant look on her face.
Cries of Eyes, yes were heard and
the motion was put and carried. Another
motion giving each woman the privilege
of going to the table to vote was also
passed.
1.-The News reporter was the only one
Of the opposite sex present. He was ap-
peaied to by several member as to
whether the motions were in order. The
scribe suggested the illegal ballots be
thrown out instead of taking another vote.
1.-THE reporter says that the illegal bal
lots should be thrown away" shouted a
woman, and a motion to that effect was
quickly put and carried.
If looks could kill this story would
probably never lave been written. About
a dozen dagger like glances were turned
on the reporter. Each glare seemed to
say that the reporter had no business to
interfere.
The last motion evidently saved Mrs.
Blumlein from defeat, for as soon as
the motion for another ballot for presi-
dent was made, several women began an
active canvass for the opponent, Mrs.
Staoser. The result was, Mrs. Blumlein,
fifty; Mrs. Staoser, thirty.
The talking which followed drowned
the voice of the president. Finally the
business proceeded and Mrs. Mitzenius
was elected vice president by accama-
ton.
Almost every woman in the room was
nominated for the position of recording
secretary, but Mrs. Schraft was finally
persuaded to take it. Mrs. G. Thiesen
was elected financial secretary without
opposition and Mrs. Abel was elected
treasurer in the same manner. Mrs.
Rhode, Mrs. Jaene and Mrs. Mathishei-
mer were elected trustees. Then about a
dozen committees were appointed.
The report for the time the society had
been in existence was then read. 1t
showed that there was a balance on
hand of s., 459. 65, most of which has been
turned into the general FUND No plans
for the future were considered. That will
be done at the next meeting.