The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-16
DECLINES TO ACCEPT
MRS. w. {. BRAMHALL GIVES
FEDERATION A SURPRISE
Sends Message to Yesterdays Session
Refusing Positively to Be Candi-
date for President-Mrs. +. S. Al
len, of Dodge Center, Is Then
Chosen.
nv a Staff Corresnondent

by stan correspondent.
MANKATO. Oct. 15.-Election day
brought the interest of the convention
to a climax, and the declination of Mrs.
Bramhall to be a candidate for presi-
dent of the federation gave the dele
gates surprise.
When everything was apparently
settled and Mrs. BramhalIs election
was sure, a sensation was made this
morning by a telegram which Mrs.
Dibble read from Mrs. Bramhall, abso-
lutely refusing to allow her name to
be used. This threw the whole matter
up in the air and an informal ballot
had to be taken again. The result of
it was a heavy vote for Mrs f. 5. AL
len, of Dodge Center, and few scat
tering votes here and there for other
popular women, but the convention
realized that Mrs Allen was practically
elected, and everybody drew sigh of
relief that this important matter was
almost settled.
The withdrawal of Mrs. BramhalI at
the last moment was for good and suffi-
Client reasons from her point of view,
but it was a great disappointment to
the st. Paul delegates, who have work.
ed faithfully for her because they con-
sidered her an excellent woman for
the position. Mrs. BramhalPs telegram
of withdrawal was as follows:
I'm my letter of June 8, which was
written upon the understanding that
Mrs. La Penotiere had already declin-
ed a second term, and in which I stated
the conditions under which / could ac-
cept the presidency of the Minnesota
federation, said that would take the
office only if there was a general de-
mand upon me, and not if there was
even respectable minority opposition.
l have never deviated from this posi-
ton. 1 feel that the informal ballot
shows that no such general demand
has been made and l must therefore
positively refuse that my name ap-
pear before the convention as a can
didate. Please thank the convention
for its complimentary vote and read
it this telegram to make my position
clear. Florence Bramhan."
Convention Accepts the Inevitable.
After the excitement of the renewed
balloting had somewhat subsidized, the
order of the day was taken up, pro-
ceeded as usual and with a little more
expedition than is customary. Mrs. G.
A. WEIGH, of Fergus Falls, read an
able report on the subject of the state
reformatory for women, recommending
the complete separation of the girls
training school at Red Wing from the
similar institution for boys, and urging
that the federation work for this meas
ure during the coming two years. This
is the topic upon which Prof. Sanford
spoke so eloquently yesterday. Anoth-
er able speaker on this subject was
Mrs. Russell Dorr, of st. Paul, who
presented forceful arguments in favor
of isolation of the training school and
also for the establishment of state
reformatory for women. Facts and fig
ureS show that it is the nearnesS of the
two schools at Red Wing which has
caused 95 per cent of the crimes which
have sent boys and girls back to the
schools for second and third terms.
There is a telepathic communication
between criminals Of the two sexes,
which keeps the inmates of one school
perfectly informed of the doings at the
other. Mrs. Workman, of Tracy, read
a letter from Mrs. Higbee, one Of st.
PauTs most beloved philanthropic
women, which was a most earnest plea
for the continuance of this work and
begging the club women of the state
not to abate their efforts in this regard.
Mrs. LIE Penotiere also spoke moving
ly on this subject.
Mrs. G. r. Davis, of st. Peter, gave
an able report on the library work, fol-
lowed by the Mothers club report, and
that on membership, on which latter
subject Mrs. La Penotiere reported 1877
clubs in the organization, which is
gain of Is over last year. This shows the
and in no way affected by the with
drawal of a few city clubs.
Discuss 1.-THE Simple Life"
The feature of the afternoon pro-
gramme was a symposium on "The
Simple Life" the Wagner book which
has so impressed the reading world as
being the first hint of reaction
against the life strenuous. Mrs. G. o.
WeIch, of Fergus Falls, read an appre-
citation of the book, which she greatly
admires as a philosophical work She
said the writer advises simplicity as
against complexity and sounds
warning note to those moderns who
are burning the candle at both ends.
Mrs. ]. w. Andrews, of Mankato
spoke of the club woman's responsible
ity for the simple life in an excellent
and brief paper, followed by Mrs. r. M
Seymour, of Duluth, who spoke of
art and the Simple Life" Mrs. Sey-
mour's paper was one of the gems of
the whole session; it was finished, po-
etc and full of pearls of thought
The convention met In the evening
with sadly diminished ranks, as many
OF the delegates departed for home on
the afternoon trains. However, there
was no lack of an audience to hear DR..
Jenkin Lloyd Jones, of Chicago, who
spoke Interestingly of Woman as a
Homemaker"
After this the new officers were in
PRODUCED from the platform and made
brief addresses. Mrs. La Penotiere then
declared the ninth annual convention
OF Minnesota club women closed.
Improved Committee Work.
One improved method of committee
work which is to be tried this year Is
concentrating committees to districts:
that is, combining one committee in one
district. This will probably result in
better work, as the members can come
together frequently, which was not pos
sible under the old method.
For the coming term the committee
On education has been given to the
Third district; on domestic science. the