New-York tribune., 1901-06-07
A LIVELY AFTERNOON.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN HAVE AN ANIMAT-
ED DISCUSSION on THE REVISION
OF THEIR CONSTITUTION.

The extra meeting OF the West End Womans
Republican Club, held yesterday, was the most
lively and exhilarating affair Of its entire year.
Whether the June thermometer was responsible
none tell but certain It Is that the scene was
calculated to make q pariiamentarian weep. At no
time there fewer than four talking al once.
and dozen fair average.
II was chapter OF mild horrors from the begin
ming, the special meeting having been called by q
few TO revise the constitution, at a when
nobody wanted TO come The president and her
few immediate supporters, who were responsible
for the meeting were conspicUously absent; the
members Of the committee revision who were
present seemed 10 be as much surprised by the
proposed changes as anybody. and the general
feeling was one Of resentment at the suggestion OF
revision. at any rate
Finally the meeting called Mrs. Larrabee.
third vice-president who ranking officer. 10
take the chair but II became evident that her
gentle voice and manner could not control the tur-
bulent assemblage. and Mrs. Clarence Burns. with
her clear tones and dominant presence, came TO her
assistance.
The meeting proceeded as surely never meeting
OF that staid and decorous club ever was carried
on before. Nobody seemed 10 know quite what
was wanted. and II she did, she objected. anyway,
The first point suggested for revision in the cir
cuar sent out two weeks previously. as ordered by
the constitution was the second paragraph OF
Article II, reading:
This association being for the study and fur
therance
work and influence shall be devoted entirely to this
end excluding discussions relative to such reform
movements religion, temperance, suf-
frage, etc"
II was proposed 10 strike this bodily, and
then arose a '...ue and cry" one Of the charter
members said: we put that clause in for the
definite purpose Of preventing people from bringing
extraneous matters into a club whose object was
avowedly political. We have seen the wisdom OF IL
many times II prevents no member from join
ing any church, temperance or suffrage organiza-
1ion. but il saves US from many dangers
Mrs. Cornelia S. Robinson said that she agreed
with every word and. further thought that the
club would have no reason for existing II the re
Wise said that 10 remove IL would be TO endanger
the clubs fe and others expressed the same opin-
ION collectively and more or less indiVldually
Then they tried 70 put II 10 vote ailc the tansle
became beN-ilder5ng For several minutes the ques-
tion was presented in such a way that II they
meant yes" they had 70 say no, but fnaIIy II
was straightened out and the presiding officers -
by diut Of repeated blows with the SaNel and Ter
vent ertreaty. such Ladies, Will you stop talk
with the result that the proposed amendment was
defeated with iglcniny, only one voice being
raised n its favor. with about thirty opposed
proposition 10 create n HleIIioeiSI4p CoIl'iit-
tee then was taken up but was mercllessly reject
ed the opinion that IL was wholly opJectohaDle
being freely expressed. An insignificant insertion
- - rb~eea fbat changed nothing was accepted
eoodnaturedly lust 10 save time. nut the at
tempt 10 incorporate clause giving the PRESIDENT
committee OF for future elections was prompt
ly suppressed - .. ,t-.t.,,.o
April for January the time Tor holding the an
rllaI Meeting and election. A compromise was ef-
rerceS finally bv adopting November. and then the
members hurried away 70 9ilaeI. @ Ma ~" tbs- s 70
amend a constitution that was IN such eAce'lene
health that no Improvement was possible