The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-07
NO LONGER A CANDIDATE
Mrs. Helmuth Not After Presidency
of Federated Clubs.
Mrs. Lowe, of Georgia, in the Lead
for the HOnor-The Color Question
NIny Defeat Her. ms the Northern
Women Are in the MnjOrity-The
Contest Becoming Acrimonious.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, June 6.-Mrs. VIII
liam Tod Helmuth, of New York, is NJ
longer candidate for the presidency o
the General Federation of Woman's Clubs
The Western New York delegates las
night deserted her, and today Mrs. Hell,
muth withdrew from the field. The an
rouncement of Mrs. Rebecca Davis Lowe
of Georgia, that she was ready to run fci
reelection as president changed the entire
aspect Of the political situation.
1t now transpires that Mrs. Lowe was
holding off until she could muster some
strength in the New York delegations
Mrs Charles Denison, of New York, and
done the trick of securing the western New
York delegates for Mrs. Lowe. Mrs. Deli-
son will be the running mate OF Mrs. Lowe.
But the Lowe Denison ticket will not have
clear sailing. Not only are Mrs. Helmuth's
friends aggrieved, but the color question is
going to cut much figure in the campaign.
In fact, the issue has already been drawn.
Massachusetts is heading movement 10
| defeat Mrs. Lowe. An effort will be made
! to swing all the Northern States into line
| with this end in view. Mrs. Charles Nor
ris. of this State. and Mrs. Annie d. West.
| of Massachusetts,, are to be brought out
for president and vice president
The color question is causing row such
as the federation has not seen before, and
where it is going to end no one can say.
1t is predicted that the prosperity of tae
federation is threatened. The Southern
clubs are free in their assertions that II
any attempt is made to admit the col
ored clubs they will secede.
fha fhnr han fha Nnrthn doll
gates are demanding the reconsideration
of the directors action in excluding Mrs.
Joseph st. Pierre Rufin and the New Era
Club Of Boston. Massachusetts, has passed
resolutions protesting. So have other
States. Z The Northern States are greatly
in the majority and it is predicted that
when a test vote is taken the South will
be beaten.
The Georgia delegation has passed res
olutions to amend the constitution and has
laid the request before the board of di-
rectors. which is trying hard to keep the
amendment secret 1t has become
known. however. and states in part:
That Georgia will present at the next
biennial convention Of the General Fed
Grafton OF Woman's Clubs a resolution to
propose to amend the bylaws SO that
section 1, article 2, will contain the fol-
lowing words: Clubs or State declarations
desiring to join the General Federation
of Woman's Clubs must be composed of
white women and must show that no Sec
tartan or political test is required for
membership
The Georgia delegation respectfully re-
quests that the board will during the en-
suing two years refrain from admitting
any other colored clubs - membership and
that it will request the club of colored
women now in the federation to with
draw.
Mrs. ]. st. P. Ruffin. the colored dele
gate from Boston, says there is no doubt
that the matter OF her recognition by the
General Federation will be brought up by
the board this week.
There was no opportunity for the coIored
question to come Up officially today, so
there was no official action. But outside
Of the convention It was the leading topic.
At the general business session this after
noon the question of reorganization was
considered. The subject was discussed all
day and was finally disposed OF by reject
ing the plan to reorganize. Two reports
were received today. The majority report
was against the plan of reorganization
and favored leaving the national boiy in its
present form. that is by admitting ind.-
vidual clubs, State, federations, and ma
tional societies. The minority report fav-
ored reorganization or the basis OF admit
ting only State decorations and thus bar
ring individual clubs
The conference this morning discussed
THE Public Schools and THE Press"
Mrs. Mary S. Gist of Washington. spoke
on the latter topic This afternoon the |
visitors were given a drive in carriages
Authors Night" was at the Alhambra |
tonight. Mrs. Lowe presiding. Several |
authors read papers.