Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

the proceedings of the national board, not
intended for eyes profane and read to the
reporters accounts of brisk board meet
ings- What "f' said. what she said. how
the president general ruled with a rod
OF iron her statements pierced out by
her friends. chief among whom were Miss
Harvey Weed, who asserted that she would
stand by Miss Desha TO the bitter end.
Most OF the statements made at that
time were by hystericai women who were
weeping and angrny protesting against
everything.
Resignation Accepted.
The opening session of the evening was or
Derby. and there was little discussion about
the hail prior to the CAN to order.
The official reader. Miss Janet Richards.
was directed to read communication
which. she said. had been directed to the
Congress. and not to her. as president gen.
eraL 1t was written on a scrap of paper
and was as follows:
Members Of the fifteenth Continental
Congress. hereby tender my resignation
Hstnistraton. Thanking you for past cour-
tesies and assuring you OF my continued
interest In the society Of which was one
OF the founders am very sincerely +.
Mrs Bryan Of Kentucky came to the
front.
"As chairman of the John Marshall Chap
ter OF Kentucky and as a charter member
| now move to accept Miss Desha's resig-
nation" she said.
Mrs Patton of Pennsylvania seconded
this motion. Miss Ballinger Of the District
spoke eloquently for peace.
las one OF the oldest members of this
organization" she said, II want to ask
that the house duly consider this action.
Don't be too hasty IN q decision. Even IL
the recording secretary general be In error.
oo oh bet t,< 49,. III.
now that next year We would gladly undo
Miss Ballinger then moved to amend so
as not to accept the resignation Of "a char
ter member and founder"
The chair ruled that II Is not proper to
change entirely a motion by amendment.
Miss Ballinger asked for Information from
the parliamentarian. but the chair said she
was competent to give such Information.
On direct rising vote So voted In the
Affirmative and 81 In the negative. and Miss
Deshas resignation was accepted.
Mrs. Mclean then said that she had
every respect for all charter members, and
especially a founder. but was wounded by
the manner in which the matter was pre-
sented to the congress.
''The chair will further ask your permits
sion." she said, that she may accept Miss
the coming year II she sees fit to come
back. The congress then elected a record
ing secretary pro tempore.
The congress closed with the adoption of
! q resolution OF tudukS 10 ING pTeSucub
general for her kind, courageous actions
and for her justice and fairness in all her
rulings" This was carried by a rising vote
before 1t could be put
All the pages. the messengers. the official
reader and everybody connected with the
congress was thanked.
For San Francisco.
The funds In the ballot box that have
been accrufng for the California sufferers
were counted and it was stated that about
500 had been donated. Later 1t was an
nounced by the president general that a
check for the $1,000 appropriated by the
congress had been forwarded to Mrs. May
Wood Swift.
The president general gave the congress
some information as to the financial stand
ing Of the organization which was or q
gratifying nature.
At IL o'clock Mrs. Heustis sang the
''Star-Spangied Banner. Rev: Dr.. cotton
Smith pronounced the benedictfon, and the
Fifteenth Continental Congress was de-
clared adjourned sine die.
Past Presidents General.
What to do with past presidents general
is question that is beginning to trouble
the Daughters of the American Revolution
as much as what shall we do with our ex-
Presidents" is troubling the people of the
United States. The National Society of the
D. A. r. now has four past presidents gen.
eral Its first national head, Mrs. Caroline
Scott Harrison, died while in Office. Those
living are Mrs. John w. Foster. Mrs Adlai
E.. Stevenson, Mrs. Daniel Manning ana
Mrs. Charles w. Fairbanks.
The organic laws of the National Society
Of the D. A. r. do not provide for the vot-
ing in any of its board sessions or the con-
tinental congress of any one of its past ma
tional officers, not even the president gen.
eral. So when the president general re-
tires from office there is positively no place
for her in continental congress. She may
not sit with the delegates, for she cannot
have place With voters, not having vote
She cannot sit with the alternates, for the
same reason that she may not sit with the
delegates. To provide accommodations for
past presidents general the continental con-
gress in 1896 established the Office of hon
orary president general" electing to that
office Mrs. John w. Foster. In 1888 Mrs.
Adlai Stevenson was added; in 1901 Mrs.
Daniel Manning. and last year Mrs. Fair
banks Immediately upon her retirement
from the chair, was elected honorary presi-
dent general.
This office. though not honored with a
franchise attachment, gives to the past
presidents general local habitation and
q name" for especial provision Is made for
them In the way of seats. box being re-
served for them at the sessions OF the con-
tfnental congress and their names are car
ried upon the official list; but for this ONCE
the moment a president general retires her
name would be dropped from the official
list
While this distinctive provision is made.
It is not a little curious to learn that with
the exception Of Mrs. John w. Foster. no
past president general has ever yet entered
a session of the continental congress. 1t Is
stated that three past presidents general
have been In the city all during the week.
but not one has been interested enough 10
attend the sessions of the continental con-
gress. This has been matter OF much
concern to the D. A. R., and they say they
do not like 1t. They believe that after they
have given woman the highest honors In
the society she should honor them by her
presence when the congress convenes. even
though she may have no voice In the delie-
erations Of the congress.
A good many of the daughters are con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of giving past
presidents general vote In the congress.
D. A. b. Convention.
The Evening Star will be sent