Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-03
STORMY SESSION
HELD BY D. A. R.
SOUTHERNERS CLAIM TO HAVE
GAINED CONCESSIONS
STATE REGENT SAID TO HAVE
BEEN ROUTED
Los. Angeles Branch of Organization
Meets at EbelI Club Behind
Closed Doors-Sounds of
Conflict Heard

1--WE want fair play and recognition."-
Mrs. james johnson, regent Los Angeles
chapter ID. A. II.
Il anu dissatisfied with the outcome of
the meeting. Mrs. John i. Swift. ma
tional vice president ID. A. X.
II have nothing to say at this time
Mrs. Frederick Jewell Laird, state regent,
ID. A. Il.
1t was like a tempest in a teapot,
with about the same results, /. e., the
lid blown off and somebody slightly
scalded, at the EbeH club yesterday
afternoon when members of Esch-
scholtzia chapter, better known as the
Los Angeles branch of the Daughters
of the American Revolution, met to
explain and to be explained to by
State Regent Mrs. Frederick Jewell
Laird and Mrs. John F. Swift, national,
vice president general. For a time
there was a storm and then cooler
heads prevailed on all parties con-
cerned to quiet down to a calm dis
cussion of the points al issue. APP
parently from statements made by
local Daughters, Mrs. Laird, who is
accused of trying to dominate the
Southern California chapters and run
things with more or less of a high
hand, was routed, for she agreed TO
many changes, especially in relation to
the nomination of candidates for the
office of state regent.
Although none of the local Daughters
will admit 1t. there seems to be some
ground for the belief that Southern
California with its seven chapters seeks
to have a Southern California woman
named as state regent. The custom
has been to give this position to
northern California woman and to Sc
lect one from the southern part of the
state for the office of vice regent. At
present Mrs Laird, who lives at Berke-
ley, is state regent and Mrs. Nathan
Cole. ir., former resident of Los An
geles, is vice regent.
When the meeting opened yesterday
afternoon there was a war cloud no
bigger than a mans hand in the sky.
Admission was denied all persons ex-
cent those who are actual members of
the local chapter. Even visiting Daugh-
ters were not allowed inside the sacred
precincts. Judging from the sounds of
feminine voices pitched high, and
from the flushed faces of some of the
members when they emerged from the
meeting, there really was something
doing all the time.
After the meeting had been called
to order by Regent johnson, the very
first thing done was to place on rec
ord a general denial of all charges
made against the local chapter by the
northern visitors. Mrs. Johnson said
that she, together with Mrs S. Grant,
vice regent and the regent of the
Riverside chapter, had called on Mrs.
Laird the day she arrived In the city.
Mrs Laird had charged that she had
not been treated with proper courtesy,
that no social functions have been ar
ranged in her honor, and in fact that
she has been generally ignored and
snubbed Mrs. Swift, being national
officer, also looked for some such at
tention. She was not made the re-
cipient of any marked favors beyond
perfunctory call. This was one of the
most serious breaches of D. A. r. eti-
quet, it is alleged The local Daugh-
ters, after they had been told that the
local officers had called on the visit
ors, seemed satisfied and quickly rail-
lied to the support of Regent john
son.
Charges Denied
Another allegation made against the
local Daughters is that they have paid
more attention TO bridge and pink
teas than to the real work of the or
ganization. Mrs. Johnson stated last
night that in six years the local
Daughters have given but one card
party and that instead of attending
bridge parties and pink teas, the mem
bers have listened to helpful patriotic
lectures, principal among them being