The San Francisco call., 1904-02-12
Fair Delegates to the Fedora
tiOn of WOmen's Clubs Re-
ceiye Rather Serious Shock
OFFICERS ARE ELECTED
Mrs. George Law Smith of
San Francisco Is Chosen Presi-
dent to Succeed Mrs. Darling
Special Dispatch to The can.

that has so far disturbed the serenity
of, the California Federation of
/ Women's Clubs. 1t was just before the
I balloting began this morning and each
fair voter was trying not be nervous
over the important question she was to
decide, when somebody jumped up in
startled way and somebody else
promptly screamed "Mouse!" Imme-
diately half the assembly was wob-
bling unsteadily from the uncertain
vantage of the revolving chairs, and
the silken skirts of the other half were
gathered safely out of reach of the
dreaded monster mouse. Not until the
lady who started the commotion eX-
planned that she thought she smelled
smoke" did the fears of the timid legis-
lators abate. Even then dainty ruffies
We're frequently given a nervous shake
and many a furtive glance sought the
floor
With such an auspiciouS start things
kept moving at a lively rate and the
scheduled events followed each other
in rapid succession.
For the first time in the history of
the federation the election of new State
officers was the most absorbing topic
of the convention, owing to the fact
that the president will represent Cali
fornia at the General Federation of
Womens Clubs at ST Louis in May
The three-cornered fight in the nom
mating committee. the quiet, smiling,
but deadly work carried on among the
different district delegations and the
usual dissatisfaction with the commit
tees plans were very evident The gen
eral result, however, seems to be fairly
satisfactory.
The precedent of One-year term and
leo Of rsr-Fw-
nately to the north and south seems to
have been established. Mrs. L. F.
Darling gives place to Mrs. George
Law Smith of San Francisco as presi-
dent. Mrs. ]. Z. Cowles of Los An
geles developed such surprising
strength, both north and south of Te-
hachapi, as to alarm Mrs. Smiths ad-
herents for a time. 1t was with great
relief they learned that Mrs. Cowles
would accept the second place of honor.
thus shutting out any possible nom
ination from the floor which might
have resulted in defeat for the San
Francisco candidate.
Mrs. George w. Haight of Berkeley
president of the Laurel Hall Club of
San Francisco. was nominated from
the floor by Miss Maria Babson of the
Oakland Ebell Club. Through a tech
nicality the nomination was not al
lowed
The large complimentary vote given
Mrs. Haight in the balloting, however
indicated that she would have made
formidable fourth in the race for pres
idential hOnors had there been an or
ganized effort on the part of her
The following State officers were
elected:
President. Mrs George Law Smith of san
Francisco; vice president at large. Mrs. j. f.
Cowles Los Angeles; corresponding secretary.
Mrs. Arthur W. Cornwall san Francisco; re-
cordng secretary. Mrs Charles y. McLouth.
san jose; treasurer, Mrs Charles NJ. Beck
with, sacramento; auditors. Mrs. Oliver c.
Bryant, Los Angeles. and Mrs. +. B. Wrenn.
Bakersfield; state secretary to the General
Federation, Mrs l.. +. Darling: district vice
presidents-San Francisco district. Mrs A. E.
Osborne; Los Angeles district Mrs. Frank T.
Prior san Joaquin Valley district, Mrs. e. u.
Buss; san Diego district, Mrs Victor Mont
gomery: Alameda district, Mrs Frank NJ VIII
son; northern district, Mrs. W. H. Lawson.
The principal speakers of the morn
ing session were Mrs. Emma Fox,
Mrs. H. E. Thompson and DR.. Doro-
thea Moore of Juvenile Court fame.
The latter urged the women to keep
on ''nagging the men to do what was
necessary TO save not only the little
boys, but the big ones" from be-
coming criminal charges on the pub
lie.
An important resolution was offered
follows:
Resolved, That the chairman of
the education committee be instruct
ed to recommend the clubs to unite
in an effort to raise $1,000 to estab-
lish a clubhouse for the women stu
dents of the University of California,
such clubhouse to be established by
the board of trustees of the clubhouse
loan fund and to be governed by the
rules put forth by that body"
Mrs. Bulkley talked to the resolu-
ton and considerable discussion fol-
lowed, much interest being manifest
ed by the federation women.
The talk of Mrs. j. b. Hume Of
Berkeley at the evening session on
"Mormonism" was one of the most
remarkable and eloquent of the fed
Grafton and was frequently interrupt
ed by applause. At times her state
ments seemed overdrawn, her statis-
ties showing the startling growth OF
Mormonism and it's deadly menace to
the United States being almost in
credible.
A. II. Elliott of Oakland was un-
able to be present. so Mrs. Robert
Burdette took up the thread of his
chosen discourse. Uniform Divorce
Law" and spoke at length in strongly
denunciatory terms of the present lax
ity Of the marriage tie.
The defeat on Wednesday of the
proposed amendment to the constitu-
tion eliminating the word "women's"
from the title of the Federation OF
Women's Clubs came as a great sur
prise to the advocates of the measure
The proposed change having been
voted down by a vigorous majority, it
is doubtful If it ever will be suggested
again.
The convention before adjourning sine
die tonight passed resolutions favoring
the granting of lands in severalty 10
landless Indians in Northern Califor-
mia, and pledging loyalty to the Big
Trees.
After choosing delegates to the bien-
nial convention of the General Fedora
tion at st. Louis the convention in
structed its delegates to st. Louis to
propose for president of the General
Federation Mrs. r. ]. Burdette.
The convention tabled the resolution
of sympathy for Clara Barton in her