The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-31

The return Of the Minnesota delegates
from the General Federation biennial con-
vention in Los Angeles is yielding lib
era! crop of convention stories and con-
vention details that throw an interesting
light on that great meeting.
The dramatic incident Of the convention
and the chief parliamentary struggle was
in connection with Mrs. Sarah Platt
Decker's determined effort to withdraw
her name as a nominee for the once OF
president q nomination made without her
knowledge and consent. She insisted that
40 one and no rule could hinder her from
withdrawing her name. Mrs. Lowe seemed
to lean to the view that a nomination
could not be withdrawn without the con-
sent Of the convention, but that it was
courtesy to permit Mrs. Decker to do So
Mrs. Mary Urquhart Lee, a California
parliamentarian took the ground that the
convention could not withdraw name,
but that the candidate could Mrs. Lowe
overruled her and by a close vote Mrs.
Decker's name was removed from the
ticket.
In order to secure recognition Mrs.
Decker was forced to become clamorous,
for the desire was very general tnat ner
name should stand and the presiding Of
acer fell in with the trend Of sentiment Of
the convention. When Mrs, Decker final
" got the ear Of the convention by sheer
energy she said: Il do not mind being
called a politician and wirepuller, but
do object to being called coy" This adjec-
tive had been employed by local paper in
describing her attitude towards the poilt-
zeal situation the inference being that
che wanted to be urged to accept the
office. Her way of putting her protest
raised a laugh. but she went on with dra-
matte earnestness to denounce anyone
who accused her Of double dealing and of
harboring any other sentiments than those
she had publicly announced Of loyal sup
port for Mrs. Denison.
Notable Parliamentary Tits. "
Parliamentary law was a conspicuous
feature OF the convention. Mrs. Lowe was
an admirable parlamentarian, able to
guide the convention through the most
complicated kinds Of procedure without
any tangles and there were several inter-
esting situations to test her skill and also
that OF the body. There was apparently
no patience with quibbling and parlia-
mentarian who was disposed to raise
needless points was on one occasion
sharply Kissed. One parliamentary strug-
gle conferred around the position OF the
organization under the new national char
ter which the Milwaukee biennial had au-
thorized the board OF directors to secure.
After hearing the views OF the reorgan-
fzation committee amt an opinion from
Judge Moves of Wisconsin that II there
: were any slight irregularities in the pros
cedure, there would be no difficulty n
remedying them, the convention accepted
the report without hearing the directors
who came with weighty rolls of docu-
ments to prove all sorts Of irregularities
Of deep and dark meaning. The only point
Of particular interest in regard to the
new charter. in fact the only one In
which it seems to differ from the first ar
ticles Of incorporation, is that in stating
the objects Of the federation social cul-
ture" Is omitted. AS the social idea in the
organization has been one Of the strongest
arguments In the color line debate, the
omission is at least interesting
It Is claimed that Massachusetts, with
drew its amendments providing for re-
organization on account Of advice that
they would not stand legal test, that