Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-15
Three Candidates for President Gen.
eral of the D. A. r.
FRIENDS OF TIE ASPIRANTS BUSY
Mrs. Fairbanks Candidacy Came
as Surprise to Others.
VIEWS AS TO ELIGIBILITY
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

NEW YORK, February 10, 1901.
Particular interest is attracted in this
city to the coming convention of the
Daughters Of the American Revolution,
which will be held in Washington February
%. This year there are three powerful
candidates in the field They are all in for
the finish, and they can't all have It
there are bound to be at least two cha
glined persons, not to mention their ad-
herents. The strenuous situation began
last autumn after the formation of
the West Point Chapter Of which Mrs. w.
T. Helmuth is president. 1t Immediately
appeared as a separate faction, for it put
up Mrs Washington Roebling candidate
and entirely overlooked Mrs. Donald Nc
Lean, whose goal for years has been the
Office of'president general. For some rea-
son unknown Mrs. Mclean seems not to
be favorite with those members Of the
D. A. r. who form the new chapter. She
Is woman of much force; SO are several
of the West Pointers and perhaps it is a
case Of two likes not being congenial:
At all events when the West Pointers
threw down the gauntlet by setting up
Mrs. Roebling there was considerable ex-
element in the ranks Of Mrs McLean's
devoted friends. and every one Immediately
thought that the influence Of Mrs. Daniel
Manning, present president general, would
be thrown the way of Mrs. Roebling, Tor
1t is very ancient history that Mrs Man
ming and Mrs. Mclean are not bosom
friends.
Shock From without.
While the New York daughters were torn
by this inner dissension it experienced, a
shock. In Washington appeared the third
candidate in the person of Mrs. Charles
w. Fairbanks, wife of the senator from
Indiana. The empire state is so accus
toned to running all club matters over the
country it likes that at first 1t was
struck with the impertinence that any one
should have dared be exalted to the posi-
ton of candidate without asking its per-
mission, and then the women here meta
phorically tossed their heads. and thought
1t did not matter anyway. Mrs. Manning
is influence that means many votes for
her favorite, and she is said here to be
supporting Mrs. Fairbanks.
Considerable stress is laid here on Mrs.
Fairbanks national reputation One OF
the daughters said recently
Our theory is that we are a national
organization and as such our headquarters
must be at the capital. with our own presl-
dents, whenever possible, the wife OF the
chief executive of the alton. That was
the intention Of the wise founders or the
society Whenever impractcable to have
the wife of the President of the United
States as our president general our selec-
ton should be woman who is or has been
identified with the national government
through her husband and consequently
well EeTSeu III ne DIT liiC tepheAA "i.A w..
known to the country at large. sucn a
woman is Mrs. Charles w. Fairbanks, wife
of the senior United States senator from
Indiana"
hcpes Of the New Workers until up speaks
a hacker of Mrs. Mclean, whose screening
words of irony are combined with those
OF praise
Views of Mrs. McLean's Friends. o.
'.The policy pursued in Washington by
small executive board. whereby the inter-
ests of the country at large are ignored ID
not agreeable to the majority of the so
ciety. That majority has hesitated FOR some
time to enter into an actual contest.
'.The point of widest divergence between
the party in Washington and the daugh.
tiers throughout the country is this: Shali
the Daughters of the American revolution
elect as president Of their society a woman
whose claims upon the office consist merely
in the fact that her husband is or has been
an officeholder in Washington, or shall the
society elect as it's head woman known
throughout the land because Of her work
for the interests and the constant exercise
of her energies in it's behalf; because OF
her ability or a presiding officer, as clear
and just in her decisions, and Of an orator.
cal ability which has been recognized IN
the organizations of born men and women
in every part Of the country; whose repu-
tation for ability is not confined to any 10
caity, but has become nationally recog-
nzed? Which, then. is the national woman
Mrs Mclean or the wife of some transient
officeholder?"
About Mrs. Roebling comparatively little
is being said, that is in public. But her
friends it is asserted, are laying train
for her election which is calculated to
weaken Mrs. McLean's support. They are
pulling various wires, and losing no oppor-
tpnity to turn any influence in her direc-
ton.
MIR. Lehr's Clever Ideas.
Harry Lehr, former wine agent, now so
cial secretary to Mrs. Aston and inherttor
of the duties of the late Ward McAllister
has just hit upon the cleverest idea of his
career. He proposes an entertainment at
which not only the furnishings and decora-
lions of the interior of the Moulin Rouge of
Paris shall be reproduced, but at which
the guests will try to emulate the actions OF
the unconventional habitues OF that we'll
known resort The entertainment will be
given in one Of the town restaurant build
ings in a few weeks, and will have as the
hostess of the evening very wealthy ma
tron. The affair will be very select, but at
the same time true to life as far as pos
sibe.
Mrs. Aston does not approve Of entertain
ments of this kind and will not grace the
occasion with her presence, but she has
kindly lent the young man for the evening
to her friends. According to whispered re-
ports carpenters and artists will transform
a large ball room into long hall Of the
red milf and have in it the dance floor
proper, the shooting galleries. the vaudeville
compartment, the little drinking alcoves and
even the India gardens In the rear. Around
on raised balconies. will be scores of little
tables where drinks will be served and on
the floor quadrilleS and can-cans will be
danced The costumes and dancing. how
ever, 1t is intimated, will be slightly amend
ed in several important particulars.