The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-22
A Woman's Organization Ac-
cuses Member Of Ballot
Box stuffing
MOREVOTES THANVOTERs
Fraud in Selecting President Excites
Anger, but the officer Herself
Is Exonerated From
All Blame.


the Chicago Culture club have brought
against a sister member. The Culture
club women know that someone manipu-
lated the vote at their recent election.
Who did the manipulating is a question
they are determined to decide.
The question has caused a panic in the
ranks of this formerly peaceable woman s
club, and a fractional fight has been organ
lied which promises to imperil the organi-
zation.
1t was a week ago that the Culture club
elected officers for the year. Mrs G. II.
Hood and Mrs. H. A. Phillips were the
candidates for the presidency. The cleo
ton lasted the entire day, the voting
booth occupying the hall while the club
was in executive session in the club
room Illinois hall.
Things went smoothly enough during
the morning and at noon friends Of Mrs
Hood were fearful of defeat Several
| hours before the announcement of returns
| Mrs Hood congratulated Mrs. Phillips
upon her victory.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
| report was whispered about that the ball
| lot box had been stuffed. There is one
woman who says she saw the fraud ac-
complished and that she is willing to give
names.
Mrs. H. T. Currier. chief teller, scoffed
at the charge, but the club women were
| ncne the less certain that it was true.
Says She Saw the Act.
When Mrs. Phillips was announced as
the fortunate candidate the club cheered
her, for she was a popular choice, and
there is no charge against her in the
troublesome affair.
Upon another woman and friend of
Mrs Phillips is placed the stigma and
there is plan on foot to expel her from
the club. A meeting Of the club executive
|
and the first work of the session will be
| the consideration of the case.
The matter will be brought to the atten-
ton of the board by those members who
are certain of the truth of their charge,
and the woman who says she saw the
manipulation of ballots will be called upon
to give testimony.
one woman was the only eye-wit-
ness of the affair She says she stood at
| one side of the teler's table and was IN
noticed. The false ballots, she says, were
put into the box in a handful and the
woman who put them in was nervous and
hurried
Witness Tells Friends at Dinner.
Hurrying into the meeting hall she told
her friends what had happened, but al
though they talked with many club mem
bers no action was then taken. 1t was
after the meeting that the offense as
sumed SO serious an aspect and that the
women determined to ask discipline for
such conduct.
Those who are pushing the investiga-
ton are bound to have what they consider
an honorable termination of the affair.
They ask that the old board take the mat
ter up and push it through
Whether this will be done is doubtful
since tomorrow's meeting is the last
scheduled for the body. If the investiga-
dow to1y 4I7ov
hope to arrange for extra sessions of the
board at once, which will be continued
until the truth is arrived at.
If it is found that the accused is guilty
she will be asked to retire from the club
before its fall opening. If she refuses to
do this the club must consider the case
and her expulsion may result.
Accused Prominent in Society.
The plan of her friends who have re-
pudiated the charge, is to delay proceed
ings until the new board shall have taken
office. 1t is believed that this will save
the member and the club from public dis
grace, since the majority of the members
of the new board ere friends Of the I'M
fortunate woman. The new board will not
be organized until fall and the investiga-
ton would be seriously delayed py this
proceeding.
The women who are prosecuting the case
say they will allow no delays. They are
comparatively certain of the action of lie
old board, and if it refuses to take up .--e
| case at special session their point rv
be lost.
Under such circumstance they have
determined to contest the election, which
would inevitably force the issue Should
such contest be brought about there
would be a second annoyance before the
club.
Mrs. Phillips is a popular club member
and no one would wish to force her retire
! ment. The contention on this point must
overshadow and perhaps defeat the point
of honesty, since many members would
stand loyalty by Mrs. Phillips, despite
| their feeling that dishonesty in the club
should be summarily dealt with.
The woman whose honesty is questioned
is well known club woman. She is 4
member of some of the largest clubs in
/ the city and a prominent worker among
them She has been named as a biennial
! delegate.