The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-25


one connected with the outgoing ad-
uinistrstion, and with expressions Of
thanks to those who have contributed to
the success OF the present session, the
Eighteenth Congress OF the D. A. r. was
ushered into history last evening.
The stormy scenes Of the morning we're
forgotten as the hour Of adjournment
approached, and the Daughters were out
{ doing themselves IN adopting declarations
Of gratitude until Miss Benning. State
regent Of Georgia, proposed vote Of
thanks to the press.
For the first time in the history Of the
organization the president general re-
fused to put the question, asking:
For what?"
Judging by the expressions Of assent
made AT Mrs. Leans action. the disap-
proval came from the sections In which
{ The administration forces were seated.
Discrepancy Arises.
Aside from the customary proceedings
: generally enacted on the last day of ev-
cry congress. the sessions would have
: been exceedingly dull had II not been
that some discrepancy had arisen re-
gsrding the result announced by the tell
srs in the election Of two secretaries
general
Rumors that movement was on foot
s 20 contest the election OF Mrs Scott by
: the conservative element were dispelled
Immediately. and this attempt 10 en-
liTen the meeting fell fat
Evidently DESTROYS TO settle the cues
~aal-H --4Nr l.
end the turmoil that had been caused
by Mrs. Elroy N. Avery. chairman OF
tellers, the president general directed
that body to reconvene and decide as
&c how more votes had been cast than
had been reported IN the election OF the
secretaries
For few minutes the babel Of
voices drowned the sound Of the gaveI
and It was suggested on all sides that
the ballot boxes had been tempered
with
Mrs Avery, after the conference. as
serted that Miss Mar Wilcox. con-
servative candidate, had been elected
recording secretary over Mrs Howard
l. HOdgkins by vote Of ABS 10 424. in
stead Of 434 as previously announced
Mrs Avery announced that another
vote was necessary TO decide who
should be the next corresponding secre-
tary general hrs. Mabel G. sworn
stedt. OF this city. had tOtaled 429 votes
IN the election on Thursday, and Mrs.
Elinor Thorne, Of Seattle, received 425.
Another BaIIoS Taken
Inasmuch as SIS ballots had been reg
isteTed. 4ST votes were necessary for a
majority Accordingly, another ballot
was taken at the Afternoon. session, in
which Mrs Svormstedt, an administra-
ZIONIST. had received 1s3 votes 20 Isl for
Mrs Thorne.
The dissatisfaction shown al the situa-
ton announced by Mrs Avery in the
morning was not confirmed 10 the eager
delegates. A number Of the telle-s
notably Mrs. John Francis Yawger, OF
New York, demanded 10 know WHY the
tellers were allowed 70 leave the counting
room thinking SO votes were necessary
to elect the corresponding secretary. and
why the chairman OF the tellers later
announced from the stage that so votes
had elected Mrs Swo-Instedt
Mrs Mclean then interjected & remark
expressing her surprise al the develop
ments- She said she had been informally
told by the chairman on the preceding
night that there might be no decision as
to the winner Of either secrstaryshfp-
The audience had by this time been
excited TO a point Of turmoil. and the
conservatives especially expressed their
7ispleasure by audible CALCULATIONS Of dis
1tent-
Mrs. Avery Explains.
d to explain her stand. Mrs. Avery
Sed to the front OF the stage and
rea1 the following statement:
Confusion has arisen in both cases
because there were votes cast for other
candidates and votes cast in blank. Yes
terday afternoon al one Of the tables the
result was made up as given here for
the recording secretary general, and that
report was signed. There IS no doubt
about that
Then I found that there we're votes
IN blank and votes for other people
There was one for Mrs. Story, for in
stance. I, therefore. so reported 10 the
president general that ] was afraid OF
complications, and on that account, and
after thinking the matter over. although
am likely 70 be wrong in this, Il seemed
70 me the best thing was 10 report the
matter as it stood, and did not reopen
IL I took the report simply as signed -
retired 20 settle the matter That the lie
was passed IN the secret session OF the
telIers is the report that soon spread
over the auditorium. but when these Of
ficisls reappeared on the stage after an
hours discussion this rumor was de-
nied
Il took less than an hour for the teUers
TO count the vote for corresponding sec
Rotary at the afternoon meeting. Al
though their candidate vas elected the
administrationists could not summon
enough applause 70 distinguish their VIC
tory
Five Against -Four.
AS the national board Of the D. A. r.
now stands. the conservatives have five
members. against four administrationists.
Mrs Sect. the new president general
s chairman OF the board. but Is not en-
titled to vote.
Most OF the delegates left Washington
last evening. and the voters who answer
ed the roll call in the afternoon numbered
less than 100. The closeness Of the con-
lest for the presidency-generaI and other
Offices seems to have made the Eighteenth
Congress notable. and were II not for The
stirring election. the convention Just clos
ed would have been unintersSting.
There has been 10 legislation enacted
that viii prove a material change in the
existing order of D. A. R. affairs Aside
from the amount Of money contributed
for the Continental Hall and the gifts
Of furniture for the various rooms OF the
building. nothing has occurred in the
last week 70 recommend itselef TO future
gatherings
Il has been said there was too much
campaigning going on IN the corridors