The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04
president with her secretaries, the two

up brightly and beckoned me to a seat
near her. One Of the women behind
uoh, that's the little friend of DR..
Haven; Mrs. Parsons seems to have
'a1 The ga gavei fell and silence crept over
the whispering women nov+ rhe o annual
the nominating committee for their re-
port. .s ~.
An elderly woman with strong feat
Ward.. N %Your Jour committee. Ma Madame
gse and we ee ha aS" erere nft two 5o ny
ports to make" Mrs. Beckett 3 name
headed the majority report and Mrs.
Parsons the minority. g..~.
It was as good as a play to me, who
had never seen a woman's business
meeting, to watch the tellers 20 about
ment of the next forty minutes. The
new house in chaos, Che babies who
needed me, even a hungry husband,
vanished from the background of mem
Dry, and I became almost recklessly ex-
Ts tens The WITH eesmsn Of 4Se toeW
air we breathed was charged with cleo
tricitv, so that it was impossible to sit
quietly; one was drawn into the play of
things as if one had been on the edge Of
a .maelstrom. .,,
'"Whom are you going to vote fort"
asked the woman next me.
"For Mrs Parsons" I said promptly.
IT don't know" she answered.
"Mrs. Beckett g fine presiding officer,
but Mrs. Parsons's got the most St money
Cob, vote for Mrs. Parsons" I
urged. "she III make you proud of this
club before the year 8 up.
The woman hesitated moment and
then wrote Mrs. Parsons name on her
ballot. Then tall woman came over
from the enemy's country.
/ "Whom are you voting forY' she
asked us. "Better give Mrs. Beckett
service in the club.'' .
"Mrs. Parsons has served, it ten
years. I began, as tho from long and
full knowledge. .
"And Mrs Beckett twelve" she re-
torted, passing on to sow her good seed
elsewhere. For few minutes confusion
reigned;- women whispered and
scratched ballots and went, out and in
at the door. The two candidates tried
distraught, while their faithful bench
women passed up and down the. aisles,
advising the competent and urging the
weak Voters. At last the gavel fell
again: ~ ,oo.uo +o.,,
e ess mat the setR Fssjaent eff So the tell
Amid profound silence the three tell
ers went into an anteroom and, empty
ing their boxes on table, proceeded to
entered and their faces were eagerly
scanned by every woman for some tell
tale expression. The result was made
known as follows:
Whole number of votes cast. 203
Necessary to a choice. ................:. 1O2
Mrs. Beckett .......................9 5
Mrs. PARSONS ..s............ ......... oO
scattering '..................... 70
"There being no majority for any one
candidate, the house will proceed to an
other ballot said the president.
; The Beckett forces were elated. Only
seven more votes and their candidate
, MADAME President" shouted a
woman in the back Of the room, Il
nominate for president of this club,
Jane Morton-Smith.'
The president bit her lip. Mrs. Nor
| ton-Smith was her bitter enemy.
. edo understand that Mrs. Norton
Smith will allow her name to be useda"
she. inquired Jelly.
Certainly" answered the woman
! WHO had nominated her: ,.:
RaafE e 1Bs RRstot %gSrtsrs
around Mrs. Morton-Smith, pleading
that she withdraw her name. But she
was not 30 easily disposed Of. Already
a representative of the Parsons forces
had convinced her that she held the key
, request she decided to remain in the
contest for one more ballot.
For the first time a tremor OF mis-
giving ran thru the Beckett forces.
While the tellers were counting the
votes for the second ballot they ex-
nh %o vi %1o
> chief tellers rose to announce the result
one of the more emotional members of
the faction giggled Historically. Mean
4 while,s the Parsons forces waited for the
. report from the second ballot. It was
r as follows: H.. 49,.
Necessary to a choice .........:; 1o1
Mrs. Beckett ............. %
Mrs. MIS-. h Mortan.smith g
And again there was no choice.
At this point the seesaw of politics
tipped to new angle, and the dark
horse' candidate rose slowly from her
!. chair. A ripple Of excitement ran thru
the assembly, and in voice tremulous
! to her friends for the high honor they
had conferred upon her. Then after
!. insisting that the honor was unsought,
! Mrs. Morton Smith concluded:
I "Fellow members, ] withdraw my
9aI Mr and pa ask al my friends to vote
There was q tremendous outburst Of
enthusiasm at the end of these remarks.
| Mrs Parsons smilingly acknowledged
. the congratulations Of score Of friends.
, The Beckett faction sat silent and pale,
: but with logged determination in their
. faces. Then the Parsons force literally
fell upon each other 8 necks, while the
Beckett party crowded together in the
: feverish desperation Of those, who see
the destruction Of their last hope.
The third ballot was called for, and
again the Beckett lieutenants went
forth valiantly to gather in the scat
tering votes. But enthusiasm was on
the wane. It was getting toward
o CLOCK, and the club members wanted
to go home. The tellers withdrew in
l silence and SOON reported:
: Whole number Of votes cast. .....:........ 1893
Necessary to choice. 100
I Mrs. Beckett.......... 90
MIS- PARSONS .1US .la
HMrs. Parsons is declared elected, -
said the president, and she could not
suppress note of triumph, for every
body. knew she had been bitterly OPP
posed to Mrs. Beckett.
2 A loud clapping. Of hands resounded
] thru the room and the Parsons forces
t waved their handkerchiefs, while the
: successful candidate rose and bowed
smilingly right and left. But Mrs.
4 Beckett was nowhere tn ha seen