Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-05
MRS. BALL SATISFIED
EXPRESSES HER VIEWS OF NEW
HAVEN INCIDENT.
Regards Action ofsWomen's Auxiliary,
S. w. ", as Sustaining Her Posi-
tion-Her Subsequent Expulsion.

Mrs. Isabel Worrel Ball has returned
from New York. having stopped there on
business on her way back from New
Haven, where she attended the national
convention of the Spanish War Auxiliary.
THE trip was delightful one declared
Mrs. Ball this morning 1.-The weather being
ideal New Haven is quaint old town, all
its interests seem to center around his
tcric old Yale. The freedom of the city
was given the Spanish War Veterans and
they seemed to have royal good time
Il thing that no city ever does as well by
gatherings of this character as Washington
does. but the hospitality extended the
young veterans by the Grand Army of the
Republic of New Haven was of the most
cordial character
1.-The convention of the National Aux
Hilary opened it's business sessions in the
officers room of the armory on Tuesday
morning. The convention was diSappoint-
ingly small. there being only about thirty
five voting delegates, twenty-seven o1
whom were national officers. On arrival in
New Haven the national council met and
filed all vacancies with ladies who were
present in the convention.
THE program showed Twenty-Five aux
iliaries, of which four stand suspended.
The report of the national secretary shows
about GOO members in good standing 2O0 or
these being in the District of Columbia.
Nest of the others are in" Ohio, New YORK
and Connecticut.
ut was expected that determined fight
would be made upon the organized rele1
workers by the 'fesh-and-blood' contin-
gent but it found impolitic, as the
Spanish War Auxiliary was the creation
of an organized relief worker, Miss Har-
ret Hawey, and If this clause were pressed
it would cut out Mrs Isabelle Alexander OF
Ohio. who desired to be elected national
president, and who is herself only an or
ganized relief worker Under this clause
the organization would also lose Miss Cor
nelia Clay, the retiring national treasurer:
Mrs. Elroy Avery of Cleveland, the newly
elected national judge advocate; Mrs. Mus
sey, the national senior vice president; Mrs
Judith Ellen Foster, Miss Clara Barton,
who is the national sponsor for life. and
many others. The organization could not
stand the test of such losses, SO the flesh
and-blood' members will have to lie low for
another year.
A Material Revision.
1.-THE constitution and bylaws were ma
terally revised, especially along the lines
of which some of the decisions of the Dis
trict president called attention and caused
considerable controversy during the past
year
washington people were especially in
terested in the District organization, which
was suspended a few weeks before the
convention assembled. l was decidedly OPP
posed to the organization of the District
auxiliary in the first place, for / saw plain
ly the conflict of authority that would come
from imperfect bylaws and constitution
and the location of the national and Dis
trict organizations IN the same city, where
the temptation would be to appeal directly
to national officers without regard to the
intermediary District authority. There
were but two state organizations, Ohio and
the District. Conflict of authority devel-
oped trouble in both, and so the state or
CARNATIONS have been wisely abolished.
We who We're interested in the work in the
District did not like the arbitrary manner
in which our charter taken, and strong
protest against it was sent the national as
sembly by six charter members of the Mary
A. Babcock Auxiliary but it was not
needed
THE matter of the Mary Sherman Miles
Auxiliary was left to, the incoming council
to arbitfate. There is no doubt that the
charter will be restored and everything be
amicably settled. l think the subject of
controversy has never been quite plainly
stated Mrs. Miles is perfectly innocent
party in the controversy and a most &C
ceptable member. A legal point is involved
In the controversy as to whether national
president can grant verbal dispenSation
to initiate lady as charter member at
a social function year and half after
the charter is closed.
1.-THE district president declared that a
verbal dispensation was no dispensation at
all and that the national president, under
the rules. had no jurisdiction in the matter
and proceeded to declare Mrs Miles a
member without further action, thus max
ing legal record of the transaction 1t is
around this decision that all the war has
waged.
Her Own Experience.
"As to my own case. am quite satisfied
had to enforce the Injunction to secure
any semblance of right upon the floor |
was not given five minutes in which to re-
ply to the charges. BY my own unaided
"ord-for l was not permitted to introduce
single letter or paper-I convinced the
thirty-five delegates present of the unjust
ness of the charges against me- BY a
unanimous vote of the convention with the
eAception or one delegate. l was restored
10 my office, my record cleared my actions
sustained and the convention then voted To
eXpunge the whole business from the min
utes and the incident was declared closed
The convention did not vote to sustain flo
administration, either.
AT 12:3O the convention adjourned for
lunch; at 30 without reconsidering the
acuoh Oh the morning, without preferring
charges, and with no opportunity 70 de-
reno myself. the convention voted to exneI
me- AS the motion was made and as tbe
vote stands, l was simply expelled from the
once OF past president. which, of course,
expelled me from the national body. AS
no charges rest against me anywhere I
seem 10 stand In the unique position of
being expelled Just because
Washington people are interested was that
OF Miss Cornelia Clay, national treasurer.
AS the programs are printed Miss Claws
name has opposite 1t suspended pending
charges. 1t took Miss Clay about five
minutes to convince the convention that the
charges could not be sustained but after
a plea by the national president to the con-
vention to indorse her action In suspendinp
Miss Clay the convention voted first to
sustain the action of the National Council
and then to lift the stain from the name
of Miss Clay, eXpunge the discussion from
the minutes and Miss Clay stood cleared
before the world The convention. voted
to do this.
The national convention adopted badge
for the order. 1t has a center medallion
representing the army and navy, and a
fligree outer edge in red, white and blue
enamel. 1t is round Gand can be worn as
a brooch or a stick PM
Il think there is great future for the
organization of the 81 W. A. when it gets
to the place where it can rise superior to
personal prejudices and do the work de-