The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-24
VOTE ID REMAIN OUT OF FEDERATION Alabama Federation Will Not Join National Organization ONLY ONE VOTE NEEDED Motion to Affiliate Was Lost By One
 Vote-Want to Establish a
 Gulf States Federa-
BY ANNIE KENDRIck WALKER.

After an hour of spirited discussion the vote to join the general federation of
 womens clubs was lost by one vote at
 the afternoon session of the Alabama fed
 eration. The vote stood 31 for and 2l
 against the motion to join, and as the
 constitution requires a two-thirds vote before the federation may become an
 auxiliary to any body, the question of
 joining the general federation which has
 been voted against for ten years, was again settled.
 While the question of joining the gen eral federation has been pending so long
 and promised to furnish a dramatic chap
 ter in the present convention, the result did not seem to create dissatisfaction
 among the large number of club women
 who favored joining, and while disappoint-
 ment was felt by many. the utmost har- mony prevailed when the official count was announced.
 The motion to join the federation was
 made by Mrs. Zac Smith of the Cadmean ,, Circle. She was strongly in favor of such a step and she at once referred to what she called one of the specific reasons why the Alabama federation had refused to join the general federation. the fact that negro delegates had been admitted and might possibly be admitted again, but she hardly thought that such would be the case. She said that as far as being no | benefit in joining, that that was not a | logical suggestion that could be support ed She made several reasons that she
 said would benefit the federation if it became a member of the national body. Among the women who personally fa- vored joining and who were also instruct ed by their clubs to vote favorably were Mrs. Edwin Craighead of Mobile, Mrs. J. Sydney Robbins of Mobile Mrs J. D. Wyker of Decatur. Mrs. F. D. Thames of Greenville and Mrs. Joseph McLester of
 Birmingham. All of the officers, with the exception of Mrs. l.. J. Haley, the secre-
 tary voted to join the general federation.
 Brilliantly leading the opposition were Mrs. c. P. Orr of the Highland Book
 club and Mrs. George Cruickshank of
 the Clionian club.
 The quietest moment during the dis
 cusson was when Mrs. J. D. Wyker had
 the floor and explained the now famous
 incident of the negro delegate from Bos-
 ton at the Milwaukee biennial. Mrs.
 Wyker said that this ghost of color'
 would hardly ever appear again. as when
 the credentials of Mrs. Ruffin were pre- sented to the committed, the vote to table
 them was effectually carried.
 'They have been on the table ever since," said Mrs. Wyker.
 Mrs. Orr was recognized at this point. She said that she withdrew her objec- ton to joining the federation because of the color question. as for the first time she had understood perfectly the incl dent at Milwaukee. Continuing she de- clared that she still saw no reason why the Alabama federation should join the general body, and she said that she fa- vored the forming of a gulf states federal ton in preference to becoming a member of the general federation.
 There were several women on the floor
 at the same time, but the president with her wonderful tact and thoroughly i'm
 partial rulings. preserving as much order
 as it was possible when so many delegates
 were anxious to be heard.
 When the vote was announced the dele gates who favored joining the federation were delighted and the applause was al- most deafening. In the midst of the excite ment the president recognized Mrs. C. P. Orr, who was sitting very near the plat form.
 Madam President" said Mrs. Orr, "the
 constitution requires a two-thirds vote