The St. Louis Republic., 1901-01-24
Worlds Fair Matter Gone Into
Again, but No Change of Atti-
tude Reported.
SUFFRAGISTS PREPARE TO ACT
They Are for a Woman's Depart
ment-President Whitney Says
They Outnumber Club Wo-
men Two to One.

| The Wednesday Club held spirited meet.
| ing yesterday afternoon. The club calendar
announced an inoffensive session OF the
Literary Section. but every woman on ths
roster felt reasonably sure that the main
topic of the afternoon would be the much
disputed Worlds Fair matter; and not one,
unless positively prevented by illness or the
sudden arrival Of unexpected guests. had
| any notion of absenting herself
Though social functions prevailed four or
FIVE strong. every "Wednesday Club woman
denied herself the pleasures thereof. and
gathered with her fellow members at 3
O'clock in the cozy clubroOm in the Y. NJ. C.
A. building II there were any deserters
their places were filed by members whose
interest in the club workings has hitherto
been felt to be somewhat Iukewarm, but
who FASTENED to appear yesterday, seeming
excitement
They had IT. Enthusiasm reached con-
cert pitch, when. after preliminary busi-
ness meeting and reading Of minutes, Mrs
George H Shields, president of the club,
broached the topic OF the clubs official let
ter, written. addressed and delivered to ex-
Governor Francis last sprfng-the letter
that was lost and then found; the letter
abide
Mrs. Philip n. Moore, chairman OF the
Press Committee, was not present. The
remaining list Of absentees Is unimportant.
The faction OF the club which is ardently
supporting Mrs. James Lawrence Blair as
the representative woman of st. Louis for
the Worlds Fair, board or no board wom-
ment. made its presence felt The faction
is strong. but IL sat back yesterday and
let the Wednesday Club letter-writers huri
the first javelin. They adopted this policy
at Kansas City, with the result that moth
ing happened and they took the same tack
yesterday; with not quite such beatiic re-
suits.
The partisans of Mrs Moore. who wrote
the letter last spring, and who propose to
defend their position with their last gun.
took the floor early with the question of
inoorsfng that original letter as the first
dash out Of the box.
Letter Question Up Again.
The letter question, It's Endorsement by
the federated clubs. the strong movement
in opposition 10 a womans department;
were all thoroughly ventilated. Many sup
porters of Mrs. Blair who belong to the
club. and whose position may become en-
barrassing II the club ever admits that
its viewpoint has changed, were prominent
IN the discussion. II is understood that
arguments were advocated against any
that the club desires that II shall stand as
now on file at the Worlds Fair Bureau, as
Indicative Of club sentiment.
A persistent rumor noised abroad the |
early part Of the week the result Of |
much discussion was TO the effect that Mrs. |
Moore and her partisans had decided to |
formally Withdraw her name for represen- |
aion on the Board OF Managers should |
here be board appointed; this being the /
opposition. and the hard work
n which Mrs Blair's champions have been
ngaged.
The rumor appeared at the meeting to be 1
mt rely unIounded. So far as the Wednes-
,ay Club itsclf is colCe ned, the se=s on /
e-terday is believed 10 have the effect OF |
itude OF opposition toward a separate ce- /
"a tment for women, and an adherence TO
drs. Moore as the clubs representative on
Worlds Fair. The partisans OF Mrs. Moore
tated yesterday that the aspect of things
vas net in the least changed by the DIS
10 re is sun their. candidate. Those
RI nds OF Mrs. Blair who. as estimated yes
e day by an impartial member. number
% are greatly re ieved from embarrassment
{ nct being oblised to rescini their IN
orsement of Mrs Moore for the club
note Mrs. Biair's interest as Madame
resident" Of the Fair.
Equal sunragists Getting In II.
Incidental to this controversy for the first
osition, comes another brought forward
y the Missouri State Equal Suffragisis,
tho expect to buttonhoie the commission
Washington. and make their desires known
1r a woman's department Now the EQUAL
unragfsts want a woman's department.
nd they have no hesitancy about saying
D. They propose to leave no stone un.
lrned. no Commissioner unapproached. un-
their purpose Is accomplished They are
also determined. And their {
resident in st. Louis, Mrs Victoria Conk- '
ng Whitney, declares, with telling effect {
rat while the club women may represent !
600 souls in the States of the Louisiana :
urchase, the Equal Sufragists outnumber /
lem two to one In the same territory The I
quail Sulfragists are workers. I
But their vigorous action would seem un-
=cessary-indeed. futile-as the clause pro-
ding for a woman's department is now {
the amended bill which will be taken up {
: the commissioners IN Washington to-
ly and introduced into Congress as soon
practicable 1t is most unlikely that the
II will be further amended in either the n
ouse or the Senate.