The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-02
And Steer Through the First Days
Session without an Angry Word
or Parliamentary Tangle.
MRS. ROBERTS NOT PRESENT
AND THE SECRET SOCIETY DELE
GATE DID o PUsH Her CLAIM.
Mrs. Lowe "Never Looked Better,
Though Mourning for the Death
of Her COIOred Cook.

Los ANGELES. Cal. May 1.-The formal
opening OF the club woman convention
this afternoon was markedly brilliant. Hun
dreds of delegates and visitors packed the
Simpson Auditorium TO the roof. The in
terror was embellished with 5000 Gala
lilies and representative American women
sat on the platform. while the usual happy
greetings were exchanged between hostess
and guests. The opening day was other
wise distinguished by two separate ques-
tons which would have developed into SEN
sations had they reached the convention.
One of them, which got as far as the board
OF directors. had TO do with rejecting a
delegate from a secret society. The other.
which concerned the possible unseating Of
Mrs. Roberts. of Salt Lake City. wife of
the former congressman from Utah. in the
event she should try to appear as a dele
gate. was squelched in it's native State.
The first affair. which affects a national
organization of 5000 members came up be-
fore the board of directors in the morning
at its secret session. Mrs. c. H. Mcmahon,
of Salt Lake City. it seems. had been APP
pointed delegate from the p. f. o. Chapter
I'm that city. which had applied for admis-
sion 10 the General Federation, and she
had received her credentials. But at the
last minute Mrs. DenisOn, as a member of
the membership committee. discovered that
secret societies were not admissible and so
notified the delegates. Mrs. Mcmahon, in
stead of pushing her claims. withdrew am
icably on two conditions; That the men,
bership committee shoulder the mistake
and that she De seated in the convention,
Notwithstanding "a vote was denied her.
The Roberts matter has been simmering
ever since Mrs Roberts said she. as presi-
dent of the Authors Club of Salt Lake
City, would be "A delegate TO the convention
by virtue Of her office. Mrs. Roberts
changed her mind before an underlying
current or protest came TO the surface, and
stayed at home. Ii Is understood. however,
that a prominent Eastern woman had been
importuned by Utah women To lead the
fight in the event Mrs. Roberts undertook
10 push her right.
In the meantime the colored question will
started in California that Mrs. Ruffin in
tended TO come TO Los Angeles. Mrs. Anna
West. one of the leaders in Massachusetts.
sought a denial through the Associated
Press.
LIKE A FLOWER GARDEN.
One feature that largely made impressive
the opening session was the magnificent
floral decoration scheme. The convention
hall looked like a great flower garden.
After invocation by Mrs. Chester r. Oar
land addresses Of welcome were given by
GOV Henry T. Gage. Mayor NJ. p. Snyder.
Mrs. Kate a. Buckley. of Oakland. presi-
dent OF the California Federation. and Mrs.
Josiah Cowles, president OF the local. Mrs.
Lowe responded in so gracious a manner
as 10 call out rounds OF applause. Then
cam greetings from fraternal delegates
including Mrs. Rudolph Blankenburg. of
Philadelphia who spoke on behalf of the
Suffrage Association; Mrs. Helmuth. Of
New York. the president Of the National
Council OF Women Mrs. Linda Hull
Larned, OF Syracuse, y. Y. president ~
the National Household Economic Associa-
ton. and Mrs. Frederick ShOn, OF PhiIadeI-
phia. president OF the National Congress of
Mothers.
AS chairman OF the on rulas
and regulations. Mrs. Douglas, OF Okla
homa. specified. among other things. that a
delegate should speak only twice 10 a sub
ject and only three minutes at a time: that
there should be no proxies and that a mem
Der could be a delegate from only one or
gsnizatiOn.
AT this point Mrs. Denison was intro
duced. She moved that Mrs. Charlotte
Severance. mother OF the Woman's Club in
California. be made an honorary vice prest.
dent OF the general federation. Mrs. Sew
erance responded happily, the audience
paying tribute 20 her age by rising 10 IT'S
feet when she stepped 70 the front.
The arrival OF the leaders has crystallized
the presidential situation. Mrs. DENIS
DenisOn, OF New York, was seen this morn
ing. AS she has been quoted so variousiy
In her candidacy for the presidency. she
consented To make a statement After as
porter that she would not be a candidate
she said: Il have not declared myself a
candidate for the reason that unless / am
tne choice or the convention | DO not want