Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-09
WOMEN WERE MUDDLED.
Mrs. Baily Had to Be Smoked Out Be-
fore Her Position Was Made

fore Her Position Was Made
Known.
Des Moines, May 9.-Perhaps the
truth will never be told Of the election
of the fifth biennial OF the Iowa Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs. Certainly all
of it viii never be told, fof all of ii Will
never be known. The candidates for
the presidency were generally believed
10 be Mrs. w. II. I3aily of Des Moines,
Mrs. Horace Deemer of Red Oak, Mrs.
T. j. Fletcher of Marshalltown and
Mrs Walter /. Smith of Council Bluffs.
Mrs. Baily had had successful admin
istration, and by many was urged to
stand for second term. Mrs. peemer.
whether she would or wouldn't. was q
favorate candidate with many, even al
tho she persisted in refusing to permit
her name to be presented. Many, how
ever chung TO Mrs. Deemer to the last,
believing that if it were not for COM
plications in the Ninth district she
would consent to be a candidate. Mrs.
Fletcher had many strong supporters,
but Mrs. Fletcher consistently refused
to let her name be presented, in case
Mrs. Baily should be candidate. Mrs.
Walter /. Smiths candidacy was an
nounced some weeks age. thru the col
ulnns of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil.
Miss Mary 0'Donnell. " the Nonpa-
reil staff, who represented the Nonpa-
reil during the convention, was re-
garded as Mrs. Smiths manager, and
the one who was pressing her candi-
dacy. The reason for Miss O'DonnelPs
interest in the matter was said to be
the fact that it was hops1 TO make the
Council Bluffs paper the official organ
OF the state federation. a function now
filled by the Mail and Times of Des
Moines.
Mrs. Baily, up until yesterday, said
she would stand for reelection. She
had numerous pledges OF support, even
from the Ninth district. 1t was ex-
nected that Mrs Smith. like Mrs.
Fletcher. would withdraw. in case Mrs.
Baily's name was presented. But
things did not turn out that way. When
the nominating committee reported the
names of Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Smith,
saying that Mrs. Baily and Mrs. Deem
er had withdrawn a protest went up
from the floor to know IL Mrs. Baily's
was irrevccable. She re-
ceived a great burst of applause upon
starting to speak. She was in an en-
barrassing situation. Apparently will
ing to take the election, if it was unani-
rendered to her, she didn't know
what to do She told the women she
didn't know what to do. The fact that
she said she didn't know was enough for
another round of applause, and it was
apparent her doubt was to be interpre-
ted as consent 1t was hard for Mrs.
- Ct, H., u l.. i r1aI
result was: First she Scid she would,
then she said she wouldn't and finally
She said, Well, I'll see.','' Mrs. Fletcher
arose and told the convention She knew
Mrs. Baily would accept The nomination
if it was unanimously given her; she
urged that the convention
vote for Mrs. Baily, and said she would
positively refuse to allow her own name
to be presented. If Mrs. Smith had fol-
lowed Mrs. F'letcher's lead, Mrs. Baily |
would no doubt have been elected then
and there. But, Mrs. Smith hung on.
Mrs. Fletcher Elected.
Still, Mrs. Bailys name was not put |
On the blackboard with the other cam
Still many in the convention
were confused as To whether she We're a
candidate or not. All The while. also,
Mrs. Fletchers friends were urging her
% run. Finally Mrs. Fletcher arose, and
II an earnest tone said she thought the
was entitled to have direct
statement from Mrs. Baiily. 1t was then
Mrs. Bailly finally, and with some show
If evaporation, announced that she
would not accept the nomination. Here
ipon, Mrs. Fletcher announced that in
his case. she withdrew her withdrawal,
md would permit her n3me to stand.
There was an uproar of applause. The
-ote was taken, resulting in 247 votes
or Mrs. Fletcher and g. FOR Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Fletcher was declared elected, and,
lpon q clamorous request for her to
show herself, she went upon the plat
orm, and briefly expressed her thanks,
md was presented with huge bouquet1
Il American Beauties from the Mar
halltown women.
Mrs. Gibson from Kansas.
Mrs. Gibson, of Ames. strange as 1t
nay seem,probably owed her election to
he treasuryship of the Iowa federation
o the fact that she lis from Kansas" 1t
this way: Miss Lake, in pre-