Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-24
HUNT FOR AN ELIGIBLE
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION AT SEA.
Unable to Agree Upon President Gem
eral-Mrs. McLean's Prospects
Believed to Be Bright.

1t is stated that those who compose the
so-cafled administration branch" Of the
Daughters of the American Revolution are
at sea again over the selection of a can
didate for president general on whom ev-
erybody can unite In opposition to Mrs.
Donald Mclean Of New York. 1t Is well
understood that 1t is Mrs. Mclean against
the field, and with the field divided, as 1t
seems to be. there. is a good chance for
Mrs. Mclean to win, according to the
views of prominent antiMcLean wo-
man.
The committee Of Daughters delegated to
call upon Mrs. Metcalf, to request her TO
become the candidate of the ''adminstra-
ton forces met an unexpected obstacle
in the fact that Mrs. Metcalf Is not yet
member Of the Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution. though eligible through
several ancestors. The committee knew
this. of course. but 1t was the intention
to rush Mrs. Metcalf Into the society, and
then, in April elect her president general.
A few years ago this would have been pos
slble, but some one we'll acquainted with
the constitution of the D. A. r. pointed
out that there is clause which absolutely
prohibits this action. This clause recites
that no one shall be eligible to the office
active memb of the organization for two
years previous to the election.
1t is stated that this clause was inserted
by the friends of Mrs Mclean four years
ago. 1t was at the time that Mrs. Roose-
welt came into prominence as the wife or
the Vice President-elect. and. the society
desired to have her elected president gen.
eral. Although eligible she was not a
member of the D. A. R., but 1t was the IN
tention to have her become a member OF
the society at-large. and then place her
at the head of the organization. 1t IS
stated that Mrs. Roosevelt positively de-
clined to have her name used, and for the
time the matter was held in allegiance.
Meantime the friends Of Mrs. Donald Nc
Lean got the above clause inserted In the
constitution. and that cut or all hope of
having Mrs. Roosevelt or any other wo-
man so situated elected to the highest Office
within the gift of the daughters. 1t was
good game of politics which engineered the
clause through, for 1t Is thought Mrs
Roosevelt might have been persuaded TO
take the Office a little later
Mrs. Stevenson's Election.
1t was In this manner that Mrs. Adlai
Stevenson became president general. The
organization was at sea as to candidate,
and frantically rushed about, iguratively
speaking, to find one of national promi-
nence. When 1t was discovered that the
wife of the Vice President of the United
oldleS was GliSlUlc W HlciiDci oiiP lA tiiO
D. A. R. committee of ladies immediate
ly called upon her and asked her to join.
She was invited to take this step with the
distinct understanding that she would be
rendered the president generally. Mrs
Stevenson accepted the tender of the nomi-
nation and was made a member that very
day. The next day she was elected preSi-
dent general of the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Donald Mclean was candidate for
the office at that time, and when her
chances were about to be spoiled in the
same manner again by the wife of another
Vice President of the United States her
friends devised the plan. it is stated, which
is now about TO foil the national board
second time.
Bars Mrs. Fairbanks.
In this same manner a clause was adopt
ed two years ago which operates against
Mrs Cornelia Cole Fairbanks being again
made president general. Mrs. Daniel Man.
ming then president general for two terms,
was aspiring to a third term, and it is
stated that feeling ran very high against
her At the congress previous to her re-
tirement as president general for the sec
ond term clause was adopted which made
ineligible to Office all who had served two
consecutive terms.
OF course, Mrs. Manning could not be
elected to a third term, and Mrs. McLean's
friends had very strong hopes of electng
her but Mrs. Fairbanks became the cam
didate of the stronger forces and was cho-
sen. She was reelected two years ago
and is now ineligible for a third term. Mrs.
Fairbanks is said to have been uniformly
fair In her dealings. Under her admins
tration all the old snarls and tangles have
been Strengthened out, and peace and har-
mony reign in d. A. r. circles. 1t is stated
that she would be unanimously elected If
the constitution did not prohibit her cam
didacy.
The name of Mrs. Manning has been
again suggested for the Office of president
general, but 1t is said the national board
of administration, to a woman, is against
her candidacy, and it is believed to be
therefore impossible for her to be elected.
1t Is recalled that Mrs Manning has not
attended a national congress of the
daughters since she left the chair, though
she has been in the city a week previous
to the sessions of the congress, and has
returned to the city the week following.
The fact that she has not enough interest
in the congress to visit it is very much
against her, it is said.
Work on the D. A. r. building Is pro-
crossing slowly. but the administration ex-
poets to hold the congress in that building
during the week of April 10, unless some
thing unforeseen happens