Evening star., 1903-08-03
Second Annual Convention
Opened Saturday Night.
PRESIDENTS REPORT
CONDITION OF ALL THE BODIES IS
SATISFACTORY.
Speeches by Male Veterans Who We're
Present as Guests-Real Work
to Begin Tonight.

The second annual convention of the Dis
trict Auxiliary to the Spanish War Vet
Grams opened Saturday evening in Spanish
War Hall, with every delegate and most OF
the alternates present and with large
number OF the members of the auxilarles
and friends. The big lower hall was made
attractive by handsome silk flags grouped
round the room in the hands Of some six
teen young women, all attractively gowned
in white.
The guests Of honor OF the evening were
numerous and comprised representatives of
the staffs of the Department Of Potomac.
G. A. r., the District Corps of Spanish
War Veterans and the Department Of Po-
tomac. Woman's Relief Corps. The ses-
sion, which had been declared an open one.
devoted to the reception and speeches
of the numerous distinguished guests and
the reports Of the District officers of the
Spanish War Auxiliary. In her address the
acting president, Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball.
asked that when adjournment was finally
taken for the evening 1t be in respect and
love for the district president, Mrs. Mar
garet w. Castle, who was unable to be
present because of her late bereavement
in the loss of her son, James A. Castle.
When the session was called to order
there was picturesque presentation Of the
representatives of the various organiza-
tions, the chairman of the committee on
courtesies, Miss Agnes l. Little. and her
assistants. Miss Mayme Burke Lewis and
Miss Etter Austin, each carrying large SILK
flags escorted the guests to the altar,
where they were formally presented with
color guard of twelve young ladies. who
Immediately formed in two lines up which
the guests passed to the platform. The
representatives of the Grand Army o. the
Republic Senior Vice Commander Abra-
ham Hart, Department Inspector Randolph
and Surgeon DIR. Thomas Calver, were the
first to be presented. Mrs. Rosamond B.
Mea cham president Of the Department OF
Potomac and Major Frederick Hodgson,
commander Of the District Corps, Spanish
War Veterans, accompanied by the senior
vice commander, Capt. Byron Inspector
Horne Capt. l. N. Dolph. Capt. Ullrich.
Cant. Shorey of the John Jacob Astor Com
manu and Mr.. w. w. Smith were present
ed later.
The convention opened with prayer by the
district chaplain, Mrs l. N. Dolph, after
which the color guard. under instruction
from the acting president escorted to the
platform the whole department staff Of the
Spanish War Auxiliary, and AIRS. Ball In
troduced them to the assembly with few
words eulogislic Of their labors for the
year.
Presidents Annual Address.
The Junior vice president Of the District.
Mrs. Elmra Foley. then called to the
chair by the acting president. who pro-
spoke Of the chaotic condition of affairs
when the District was organized year ago,
and congratulated the organizatio on the
progress that the auxiliaries had made un-
der dlscouraging and inauspicious begin
nings. She stated that the membership had
Increased to a ratifying degree, and that
the auxiliar ries We're financially in q pros
perSous condition. Mrs. Ball declared that
the ritualistic work was not well done.
however. and recommended that inspections
begin directly after installation of officers
in January. that instruction might be
given in what she considered very necessary
work. She also recommended the setting
apart of 10 per cent of all funds for relief
fund.
Mrs Ball declared that the relations Of
comman nds and auXiliarieS were of the most
cordial character She declared that abso-
lutte harmony in all organiZatiO OF this
character was necessary. as the people
would not lend their aid and support to or
ganiza zations all the time disrupted by quar-
rels. She emDhatically denied the right of
any command of the Spanish War Veterans
to interfere with the elections or eligibility
Of any of the members of her auxiliarieS.
and announced that she would severely dis
cipline one of her members who made any
ATTEMPT to create a disturbance in Of
the commands.
The trouble between Miles Command and
its auxiliary was given but brief mention.
"Put one exception IS noted to the harmony
between commands and auxiliaries." said
Mrs. Ball. And l am OF the opinion that
wounded pride and in niudtcOuS gossip of aux
iliary matters by those not MEMBERS com
bined with unwarranted interference of in
dividual members of a command tended to
augment a deplorable episode. all Of which
might have been avoided had common sense
and cool Judgment been exercised by all
parties concerned
Mrs. Ball spoke with a great deal Of
pride of the patriotic labor that the auxil-
farieS were doing. and of the SPLENDID work
done members q
section of Arlington on Memorial day.
Other Reports.
The report of the District secretary. Mrs
Lulu Adams. was very full and dealt large
ly with the history Of the organization.
which Mrs. Adams has now gathered in
compact form to file for future reference
AS companion piece of historical litera-
ture came the report Of the District chap
lain. Mrs l. N. DOlph. who gave an in
teresting account of the Spanish war sec
ton in Arlington from the time of the
burial of the Maine dead to Memorial day.
The reports of the District inspector, Mrs
Anna M. Baden. and of the treasurer, Mrs
Ada c. Williams. dealt with the statistical
work Of the auxiliaries and were exhaus
tive.
Mrs Ball stated that she had requested
that the reports be made full pos
sible as the documents would be historical
as the first that had ever been made by the
District Auxiliary. She said that she was
perfectly astounded to learn a short time
ago that when the District Corps came to
get seal for the Spanish War Veterans.
there was not member OF the organlza-
ton who could tell the day and date of
the organization of the District Corps. She
was determined that this should never be
said Of the District Auxiliary, a search
was instituted by Mrs. Adams for the min
utes Of the first meeting. 1t took two
weeks to find these. but they are on file
in the District archives now.
Speeches by Guests.
The remainder Of the evening, after the
reports were all presented. was devoted to
short speeches by the veterans present.
Senior Vice Commander Hart at once won
the hearts Of his audience by telling them
that he was the father of a Spanish War
Veteran, and DR.. Calver followed him with
q like statement. and then recited hu-