Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-03
MRS. DECKER'S PLACE SURE
No Organised Opposition TO Her Re election
Is Head Of General Federation.
MRS, DRAPER SMITH URGED FOR A PLACE
Woman Suffrage Question shelved
and Any Resolutions Presented
WIN Never Get Beyond
the Committee.
From a stan Correspondent

woman suffrage and the undeniable mystery
surrounding the origin of the suffrage
resolutions issued recently by the industrial
advisory committee. and interpreted by
many as a scheme to defeat Mrs. Decker's
reelection as president of the Federation
Of woman's clubs, there is little chance
of any serious opposition to Mrs. Decker.
There are persistent rumors, however, Of
an organized opposition from the southern
states, which were strengthened by the
calling of a meeting Of the southern delega-
lions Saturday afternoon. The southern
women deny that they wish to defeat Mrs.
Decker, but say that in case an opposing
candidate is put up they will support either
Mrs Philip N. Moore OF ST. Louis or Miss
Louisa r. Poppenheim OF South Carolina.
Rumor says too that Massachusetts, IL not
solidly loyal to Mrs. Decker and the sorosis
Of New York is openly knocking. This
position, it is said, Is based chiefly upon
prejudice against a western woman In
the first ONCE. Massachusetts demands the
return Of Mrs. May Alden Ward of Boston
TO the second vice presidency or. in case
Of Mrs. Philip Moore vacating the first
vice presidency, that office. Miss Louisa
Poppenheim. corresponding secretary. is the
only one of the present officers ineligible
for reelection, but Mrs. Perry Pennepacker
of Texas refuses to serve as treasurer an
other year. so this leaves two ofices still
to be filled in case all elegibles are re-
elec l.. 1t is probable that one Of these
offices, probably the corresponding secre-
taryship, will be given TO Minnesota.
Boom for Mrs. Draper smith.
little boom for Mrs Draper Smith OF
Omaha for chairman of the General Fedora
ton industrial committee, started by some
of her friends, caused a futter in the Ne
braska delegation Saturday. There is Httle
possibility, however. of Mrs. Smiths getting
this appointment from the board of dlrec-
tors. Mrs. Rheta Childe Dorr OF New
York, the present Incumbent admitted to
The Bee correspondent Friday that she
has no intention OF resigning that position.
to which she is certain of reappolntment
unless her contemplated trip abroad this
summer is extended indefinitely. In that
event she will resign In favor Of some
woman experienced I'm the phases Of indus
trial work that are being considered by
the General Federation. This possible sue
cessor has not been decided upon, but Mrs
Raymond Robbins and Miss Anna Nichols
both Of Illinois, were mentioned as posi-
| bIities.
The fact that Mrs. Belle NJ Stouten-
borough was elected to the board of direc-
tors as a resident of Nebraska even though
she left the state before the convention
that elected her had adjourned. promises
! to prevent Nebraska's getting another
member on the board for awhile. The
women have not given up their demands,
however. t'
Woman Suffrage sheIved.
There seems little possibility now that
the question Of woman suffrage will come
before the convention at all. The petition
of the Colorado delegation that anything
pertaining TO It be tabled, was presented
to the resolutions committee Saturday
morning. Dr. Kendall, acting chairman
OF the resolutions committee, admitted Sat
iurday afternoon that the committee had
arbitrary power TO dispose OF any resoiu-
ton brought to II and that It would GER
tainly be guided by the wish OF the dele
cations II SUFFICIENT number desired to
table the suffrage resolutions. Mrs Flor
ence Kelly OF the advisory industrial com
mittee, who formulated the suffrage reso-
/ lutlons. is an ardent woman suffragist and
| says that she had no idea that they would
ever be brought before the convention and
that they were intended purely in an ad-
visory sense. The committee will make
no effort to introduce its resolutions and
unless some of the suspected and alleged
mischief makers present them to the reso-
|
come UP at the st. Paul biennial 1t is
impossible to determine what the result
would be II It should, for the majority
Of the delegations admit that they hesitate
to repudiate woman suffrage, even at the
expense Of the prejudice It would entail
should they fail TO do so. ,,
Petty Things Eliminated.
In every department OF the eighth bien-
NAL convention there is evidence OF the
elimination OF the petty and broadening
to the serious responsibility entailed In the
banding together Of nearly 100000 OF the
most intelligent women OF the nation.
Social AFFAIRS nor over-dresshG have in
no sense interfered with the seriousness of
the gathering and the admirably arranged
program has made II possible for every
branch OF work 10 receive It's full share
OF consideration. The attendance at con-
ferences is unprecedented and the lively
discussions attest the Intelligent interest.
The undeniably sentimental enthusiasm
OF the majority OF a few years ago has
given place to a comprehensive grasp Of
every question under consideration. This
weeks business has pertained chiefly to
matters affecting the organisation.
One OF the most important actions Of the
convention was the adoption Of Mrs. Deck
er's recommendation to continue during the
coming biennial period the federation bu-
reau OF information. established a year
ago. This ACTION carries with 81 an ap-
preparation OF 1900 for the support OF the
bureau for this time The retaining OF the
bureau as a temporary institution is merely
to demonstrate its real value before fixing