The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-17
4 STORMY SESSION
WAS OPENED TO-DAY
Congress of Daughters of
American Revolution to
Be a Lively One.
1American News Sorvicc)

Washington, April 1.-THE twenti.
eth continental congress of the Daugh-
ters OF the American Revolution con-
ycncd today in the new Memorial
Continental hall Several thousand
delegates and other visitors from all
the states of the union were on hand
for the opening. The principal feat
ures OF the initial session. following
the customary exchange OF greetings
were the address of the prcsident-gen-
cral. Mrs. Matthew T. Scott of Illinois
and the annual reports of the other Of
icers. The latter showed a gratifying
growth in the membership of the So
cicty during the past year. The or
ganization now has eleven hundred
chapters with "a membership of 66,07s.
The delegates will be formally re-
Ceivcd by the president and Mrs. Taft
at the White House on Wednesday
afternoon. This evening the dele
gates. with other members of the Or
Ganization and OF the Sons of the Am
erican Revolution will be given "A re-
ception by President-General Mrs.
Scott, Tuesday evening has been re-
served for meetings OF state delega-
tions.
Are to BE Squalls.
When the congress was called to or
der today by Mrs. Matthew Scott of
Illinois. the preside general. 1t mark
I'd the opening OF what is expected to
be one of the stormiest sessions in
the history OF the order. Questions
S,f toH In
nation of factions. each with its own
ideas, radically different from those
Of its opponents.
Naturally. interest centers chiefly in
the election of officers. with Mrs.
Scott, the presiding officer, in the stra-
tegic point of the conflict. Mrs. Will
liam Cummings Story of New York,
defeated candidate for president gen
cral at the last congress. will Garry
the fight" to Mrs. Scott and her adhe-
rents. She has raised the cry of oil
garchy" and declares that Mrs. Scott
IL and has been attempting. through
the medium of the governing board,
20 rule the society against it's consti-
tuition" AS part of the campaign of
Mrs. Story's friends in her behalf.
100000 letters have been sent to the
members In the various states petit
tioning their support in the move
ment to "dethronc the ruler and her
clique"
The eruption Is an old one and has
been kept up continuously since Mrs.
Story's defeat for the chief Office. The
warning factions at present appear
about equally divided as to numbers
with tho result that a lively battle Of
votes will form the climax when the
ballot is taken Thursday. No end Of
clectioneering will be done before
that time. however, there also be a
fight on the proposed amendments to
the constitution of the organization
All In all. there are spirited times
promised.
Organized in 1890.
Tho Daughters of the American Re-
volution was organized in 1890 in this
city. Its founders were Miss Mary
Desha Of Kentucky. Miss Eugenia
Washington OF Virginia tboth now
deaD. and Mrs. Ellen Hardin VOL
worth Of this city. Mrs. Mary Lock
wood prominent figure in the con-
sress. who is sometimes referred to
as a founder. was not present at the
first meeting. but is recognized as one
of the quartet who contributed more
than any other to the society's forma-
lion. The three founders were pre-.
scented several years ago with jewelled
medals valued at upwards of $1,000
and Mrs. Lockwood was given a spe-
Gial jewelled medal for her assistance
in placing the congress on a perman-
Fnt basis.
The story OF the formation of the
daughters. as told by one OF the
founders. Is interesting. Application
was made by a number of women of
the District of Columbia to the Sons
Of the American Revolution, for per-
mission to form an auxiliary body to
that society. After long elaboration
10 was decided not to let the women
form such an organization. The call
was then sent out by the three found
ers for the purpose of establishing
their own society. Today the ID. A.
II. has outstripped the other organiza-
tion by many thousands of members.
AS u monument 10 It's Achievements
the society owns one of the handsom.
est buildings in -Contin.
entail Memorial hail. where the pres.
cnt congress is held. The building
and grounds were purchased through
the efforts of the congress. without
any outside aid. About $4,000 women
contributed The largest single do.
nation was from Mrs. A. II. Manson OF
Connecticut. who forwarded her
check for $4,000 to the treasurer. 9th.
or contributions came through the me,
dunn OF the chapters located in the
various states of which there are sew.
eral hundred.
A Great Show Place.
The present home of the congress
was not completed until last March
although meetings of the congress
have been held in II during the past
six years. II Is one of the show places
OF Washington. and cost $500. 1000. The
various rooms in the building were
furnished by chapters in Ohio. Hin
OILS. Texas. Alabama, Delaware. Michi
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