New-York tribune., 1906-09-22
A ROW In CHURCH.
W. {. n. u. Headquarters Bone of
Contention.

What looked like concerted effort to down
the Martin element in the New York County
Woman's Christian Temperance Union was
sprung yesterday at the annual convention. in
the Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church
The effort was successful in so far as the sub
ject OF temporary headquarters for the Organiza-
tion is concerned. and hereafter. unless some
deus ex machina intervenes. the professional
women temperance workers OF the county will
be without home
For some time the women have been divided
over the advisability Of continuing the head
quarters In the Presbyterian Building and they
went 10 the meeting Yesterday determined to
have IL out They did Yet there is probably
more TO follow. What would have happened had
the meeting not been IN church there is
knowing. AS It was. accusation of attempted
bribery and public apology enlivened the ses-
sion. while women talked each other down.
"sassed" each other and invoked the name of
the Almighty in an attempt to have their own
way.
MRS. MARTIN INDIGNANT.
Mrs Emile d. Martin. who has paid the rental
Of the headquarters for the two years 1t has been
open. and her followers. who Of course. favor
the headquarters. sat on the left OF the centre
aisle. Their opponents massed themselves on the
right
Mrs. Martin came fortified with telephone
message from her husband. John Martin.
I'VE are going down." said Mrs. Martin. I'VE
are losing in membership. For some time have
felt that the money for headquarters should be
turned into the general work My husband and
I have prayed together over this. To-day he
telephoned me that the society for conducting
missions among the Adirondack Iumbermen. OF
which he is president. is 70 open an office IN
New York. Our union share this office Just
as well as not. and Mr.. Martin win pay the
rental and the salary of a secretary-provided
Mrs Jennie Fowler Willing is elected vtce-presi-
Mrs Martin. who IS a portly handsome
woman. sat down expectantly. Nobody said
anything tfl Mrs Mary B. Thomas. the treas
urer' said: IT'S TOO bad for you women TO sit
still and then do your Objecting afterward- Per-
sonally. think It unwise to continue the head
quarters. The practical results have been slight
and we are in debt to the fund $3.50"
This brought Mrs. Martin 10 her feet again.
I have not received the recognition I should
as national officer, she said with dignity. her
face flushing. Il have a good deal Of feeling in
my heart, and you may we'll know IT, I In
response. Will give up headquarters unless
MIS- willing Is made vice-president"
SELL OUR VOTES? NEVER"
Mrs E. Odell. Of Newark. n. j., the vice-presi-
dent. was on the platform. Rising and eying
the indignant Mrs. Martin, she said, with cold
hauteur, I should be perfectly willing 70 see
/ Mrs Willing. any one else made vice-presi-
L dent. II ought In justice, 10 be said however,
/ that the headquarters came as the direct result
/ OF Mrs Martins offer 10 pay the rental Nhe
/ experiment has not succeeded The women who
were expected TO call there
When gave my money 1 had no thought OF
/ calls tnterpOsed Mrs Martin with spirit.
But doesn't this Offer attempt 10 dictate
| vote?" chirped UP a gentle voiced sister.
Mrs Martin right about faced 1t does not
/ she denied hOtly. i never dictate am a woman
| Of prayer" The woman Of prayer glared across
/ the pews at the gentle voiced sister.
But the opponents OF headquarters refused
/ TO be convinced Are we. as Christian women,
/ free 10 vote according 10 our conscience de-
manded 1lrs. F. E Walker, the recording secre-
tary, and Mrs. Helen j. Andruss. the president,
I having nodded. then If vote 70 accept Mrs.
Martins proposition. conditioned il is. are
] We not really selling our votes ?"
In the very teeth Of this bomb Mrs. Martin.
scarlet in the face. but resOlute. rose for one
, final repluse. Leaning over the pew back, her
features moving, her voice tren1ulOus with emo
ton. ANY woman" she said. with sOlemnity.
who votes against Mrs. Willing votes against
the viii OF God"
AT the election which followed. out OF 45
votes. "a were for Mrs. OdeH and only 10 for
Mrs. Willing. II was voted. IS TO 13 TO discOn-
tinue the headquarters. Before the vote was put.
however. Mrs. Martin had withdrawn her offer.
The convention was so opposed to the COntinu-
ance Of headquarters it had forgotten 10 thank
her for t.