The Washington herald., 1910-03-31

Unless Miss Agnes Gerald. clerk
ordered dismissed by the president gen
eral. gets her share as usual to-day.
there is a possibility that other clerks at
the business Offices Of the D. A. r. will
90 home tonight without their monthly
pay envelopes.
Mrs. Lyman G. swormstedt. correspond
ing secretary. and strong administra-
tiohist. declared yesterday she viii uphold
the order OF Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, dis
charging Miss Gerald for insubordination.
If she does. and If Miss Gerald does
not get her pay. Mrs. Martha R. Wilcox,
recording secretary. and acting leader Of
snti-administratIon forces. viii not afflx
her signature 10 the pay roll in her
division, and the result win be nhancIaI
tie-up that will turn preliminary skir-
mishes into a war
Claim Fair Play.
The anti-administration faction that Is
supporting Miss Gerald and attacking
Mrs. Matthew T. Scott on the grounds
that she had no right to discharge the
young clerk. believes that turn about is
fair play anu good strategy, too.
Acting upon the advice Of her coun-
sci, I. Caben Williamson, Miss Gerald
ignored Mrs. SCOTS order discharging
her for INSTRUMENTATION" Mrs. Wilcox
eoncurred, and it is whispered that most
of the Office force sympathized openly
with the young woman in her stand But
there were a few who did not and
among them is Mrs. SWormstedt
Miss Gerald will certainly not be men
toned in our pay roll tomorrow" she
said yesterday. why should We pay her
fer work she has done after ths presl-
dent general using her authority justly. !
discharged her? OF course. she will re-
ceive no money"
Mrs, Swormstedt is chairman OF the !
national finance committee. and all pay
checks must bear her signature. so her
announcement caused a furry OF anxiety /
among the insurrectionists. But not for /
Ions.
UphOIds Mrs. Scott.
1T Is perfectly absurd to say Mrs.
charge a clerk" said Mrs Swormstedt.
Mrs. Scott or any other president gen /
eral has no authority TO either appoint (
or discharge a paid employee said Mrs. /
Wilcox. /
And there the matter rests. with every 4
Daughter who has been heard from TAX /
ing one side or the other with vigor.
When it was suggested that possibly /
Mrs. Swormstedt's decision Will result in 4
a damage suit against Mrs Scott and 4
the society. she intimated that was no |
concern of hers, and that the president /
generals order viii be upheld Just the /
same
At the general Offices yesterday, when
the corresponding secretary announced |
her stand. there was noticeable tighten
ing Of the tension that has kept things
in a state Of excitement for weeks.
The news spread quickly. Telegrams
we're even sent TO leaders in the big cities
OF the East and West, and all of The
strategy at the command OF the "antis"
was concentrated on counter stroke.
Sending Out Circulars.
Both sides had sent out circulars IN +ba
uncertain terms. The anti-administra
tionists stole march on Mrs. Scott's CO.
horts by issuing a bulletin through Mrs
Wilcox. charging openly that Miss Ger
aid had been the victim of a relentless
persecution, and that she was discharged
because she ignored another clerk. Miss
Amy Draper.
A mysterious communication was YES
terday mailed to every daughter whose
sympathies are with the president gen
eral, and one or two who have not an
nounced how they stand
The letter incloses a pledge OF support
to the president general. and asks that
the recipient sign it.
The circulars for both sides are in the
nature of a double caucus. feeling out
the probable vote at the convention.
Mrs. Gerald has received scores OF let
ters from daughters in other cities ex-
tending their sympathy and promising
votes when the case Is put before the