The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-04
WOMEN R0USED
OVER MRS. KIRBY
Club Members Hurt Over Her
Actions at Biennial.
SHE WAS NOT A DELEGATE
MANY ARE INCLINED TO VIEW
SITUATION AS RIDICULOUS.

Il RIDAI'S incident at the biennial In
Los Angeles. involving the speech
Of Mrs. Charlotte Ives Kirby. and
its consequences, has created more talk
in this city during the last twenty-four
hours than 3 senatorial campaign. Not
only that Tt has caused Indignation
and singing criticism. this among club
women who assume that Utah was put
in ridiculous light by the incident.
Mrs. Kirby not having been a delegate.
How did Mrs. Kirby get into the
convention? Why was she allowed to
speak? Why was she not stopped at
once Who authorized her 20 talk?
These and 100 kindred questions are
being asked by indignant Utah women,
and echo is answering them.
So Tar as they have been able to as
certain, Mrs Kirby was never a mem
Der of any club in salt Lake, and GER
tainly was not a delegate 10 the bien-
NAL. That being the case. the local
club women are mystified that she was
admitted to the floor, when the rules
governing credentials are so strict.
They marvel, too, that Mrs. Denison,
who was the acting president. did not.
even after learning from Mrs. R0yle
that Mrs Kirby was aot a delegate,
call the speaker to order That she
was allowed to go on with her talk to
the time limit and set the convention
into an upr0ar Of laughter before any
attempt was made to suppress her, is
a source OF much annoyance among the
club women who are in town, although
they admit the possibility that the full
account Of the circumstances has not
reached here.
Lives in Eighteenth Ward.
Mrs. Charlotte Ives Cobb Godbe Kir-
by is very well known in Salt Lake.
and especially in the Eighteenth ward,
where she owns considerably property
including a beautiful home on the cor
ner Of Second and A streets. Although
public spirited to a degree, Mrs. Kirby
has not been a club woman and has
heretofore taken little part in women's
affairs. Her apparent desire to become
a delegate to the biennial is therefore
q source Of surprise 10 her friends and
acquaintances The club women say
they have nothing against Mrs. Kirby
personally. but they consider her con-
duct at Los Angeles hardly proper.
The fact that the convention laughed
her into silence and believed her TO be
a Utah woman. casts discredit upon the
federation OF this state, the women de-
clare.
How it All Happened.
Mrs c. D. Moore, president Of the
state federation. takes the matter less
seriously than most club women.
ITO me It is overwhelmingly funny.
said Mrs. Moore yesterday. after read
ing the dispatches from Los Angeles.
Mrs Kirby. after trying TO get the
governor to commission her. which, Of
course. he could not do. went down to
Los Angeles. and, as it appears TO me
met Mrs Caroline Severance, who
holds an Office similar TO that Of Mrs
Royle. and who is a great power. Mrs
Kirby very cleverly induced Mrs. Sew
erance to believe that the governor OF
Utah had delegated her to represent
the state at large. and Mrs. Severance
out of courtesy 10 the governor and
the state. used her influence and per
suaded Mrs. Denis0n. the acting presi.
dent, to allow her the privilege of tn,
floor for a short time. Then il hap
pened.
Il fear the club women are takins
the incident too much at heart. j.
could not have injured Utah, for Mrs
Bickford rose Immediately and ex
planned that Mrs. Kirby had nOthini
70 do with the Utah delegation, and
was not a delegate. It is really a yer,
funny occurrence. The convention
doubtless understood the situation AM
no dIscredIt could have fallen on Utah
j believe"
Mrs. EmmeHne p. Wells. Mrs Viii
liam Jennings and Mrs. c. s. Kline.
are among those who showed annoy
ance over the incident when first the,
heard Of it, but. ike Mrs. Moore. the.
are inclined. on second thought, TO con
slider It less seriously.