New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-05
WHO WILL BE PRESIDENT?
Tsuo General Fed" Candidates in
Fied-Hints of Dark Horses.

Who VIII be the new president OF the General
Federation Ct Womeu.s Cluhsf This is the cues
tion which VIII most interest the gathering thou
sands who VIII hoci 70 ST. Louis for the biennial
convention which opens on Nay l. Mrs DIMES
T Den.sol. ~ this city, has declined 10 be her
own successor. This is definite and anal. she says
The withdrawal ot Mrs uenison leaves the con-
test between Mrs. Decker. Of Colorado. and Airs.
Robert j. B-rlerte. az California, with odds ia
favor Of the Denver candidate These are the only
candidates IN the feId-at least. the only ones 70
he perceived with the naked eye. SIX years ago, OF
four wears ago The California woman would have
stood uo chance lt aI. ~ woman IN the fedora
t-u wauId have stood any chance against Mrs.
Decker. either az Denver or Milwaukee. The pTesi-
deary was ar her feet ar both places. But for
tae vary reason that she refused then take what
was 50 strenuousIy urged upon her ar both those
places. Mrs. Decker. II is said. is not popular
90 the Genera. Federation as she once was
prominent NeW-YCrk clubwomau said recently
"A 5000 rary5of-us can't help feeling that Mrs.
Decker has strned away her day OF grace. Il
would have saved the General Federation a great
zeal OF annoyance and trouble Il Mrs. Decker had
taken the office ar Denver There was bitter
right on the bitterest The General Federation has
ever had.
'N-s. charles Herrotr tle president, was de-
termiaed that her vice-g-esde-r. 2I-s. Ives Breed
o, Nassac l-seJts. should not succeed her great
deal ~ bitter personal feeling was aroused After
W snW what "a IElr was on, many or Us would
have been very glad 10 get OUT % q by combining
Oa AIRS Decker then Mrs. Plat Both candidates
could. AND would have Withdrawn gracefully for
her Because 0f her co1ma-1iug personality and
ere fact that she was the most prominent woman
-a The hostess llrg. she was ,Le only woman IN
tAe whole federation who could have filed the
breach. she absolutely refused TO do Il. and the
tliHg mad % be fought through 10 the bitter end.
Two years later, az Milwaukee IL would, Tor
various reasons, UEicH aye row ancient history
have helped the federation very much a second
q I'd
would have saved the federation q great deal - TN
ccrtairty ana annoyance II she would have con-
scented 20 stand again She refused and II was
necessary TO elect president who made 81 the ex-
press condition 70 her accepting the Office that she
should not 1e required 70 fulfil the duties pertain
ing 10 H.
'Ncw. here comes the funny thing about Ms
DeeSers present candidacy. Last fan. nearly
year before tae biennial. Mrs Denison was in
fiti AS president of -e General Federation, 10 at
tend the meeting q the colorado Federation. She
was there aa The -ational president, and the guest
OF The State T. aaS so bs supposed tnat she
W1a.a Dee nominated .or second term. as this IS
60 honor paid ro au pre~ic.-.ss and she had not
a. yet sigrite7 her intention 80 not standing. Yet
or Che door % thar convention al Colorado Springs
win Mrs. Douisou Sitting on rn- platform. and
Mrs Decker present, tie candidacy OF the latter
announced
Certainly tins was curious exhibition Of
courtesy and hospitality 10 guest. Why. after
The meeting was over Deny<r woman even pinned
Mrs. Delison down and demanded that she should
q, them wheth=r she were going 70 run again
Mrs Robert j. BurdetJe Of Los Angeles Is the
VII OF the well known humorist- she Is lively.
pleasant. energetic little woman. who as Hrst VICE
President FOR Two years past visited hundreds
~ ct-5s and met Thousands o: clEbwCrneu. II Isl
sac tl2t there ls opposition 70 her also IL her
acme state, but thar this Is only little natural
yed.oes. aroused oy rather sudden rise 20 fame
. between the two. Mrs. Decker is undoubtedly IN
- -ea1 HalQ alOtAer clLu woman. chiefly because
VI iler power a "A public speaker. Let Mrs Decker
g. OF t4e platform Of The biennial make itst
- % Ler charOctertsLc speeches. and she TCiIl
4.'lc-t me convention. IN The uoloTUlOus chorus
~ af'Ia@e cllD oralury ce- speeches stand o1r
- $50 y, the desert She has also ~ irrestsri~
- "-lh-,el1 personality. II il only those uho
49, WORKED long with Mrs Decker and arrived a.
~ LtI..taL4oi-s tl1t grow lUkewarm First corners
But The g. r. W. d, Is sarnC-rs To-. --.-4..-.
dark morse al IRE last rnorne.s.. .-5 II Il s1t a
Itlal an 2ctlFe can Is being made m ~ T,--
--o-4ltllt 20 --scoFer one some have sskaF -
S-e-sa.te-s etLS slcL-C not have the uresilerc,-
s--ssaHllSells clGEs UNDOUBTEDLY stand IL ~ 800
.n eNesy line or club work educat!o-lsl rrfia-0
.lTo9ie, reform aoc literary. Its rFefsrgricr -
letln Is incompafatly the best Of an SraTa 49,
organs II mas quarterly conferences vvb9ct -
supeflOf 70 the annual conventions ~ - -
5Ldte. y mas now a president Mrs NJ kfSoo--
" arc VINO would m any Office IN the 80, = -, -
clOp world with marked ability. She b. - -
nigh social position and delightful roeTso,iis u
writer and lecturer. Mrs Ward nav n. TFa y a
horse az y. Louis - e-ie caFk
Mrs. C. ?. Barnes, o. Kentucky. who e-tabl,sns,