The Washington herald., 1913-01-09
ELECTION Lines
TIGHTLY DRAWN
Supporters Of Candidates for
Officers Of Democratic
Women Electioneering.
TEST TO COME TO-DAY
Little Accomplished During the Day.
All Guests at Tea Given by
Mrs. Belmont.

Brisk. swift skirmishes. in which the
steam roller of masculine politics was
said to be an engine of war, enlivened
yesterdays proceedings Of the Women's
National Democratic League, holding its
first annual convention at the New Will
lard Hotel.
The two recognized candidates for the
presidency, Mrs. John Sherwin Crosby,
now holding that office, and Mrs. Steven
B. Ayers, the corresponding secretary.
were brought into sharp juxtaposition,
but when adjournment was taken after
O'Clock. that the delegates might at
tend a tea given for them by Mrs. Perry
Belmont, election had not been reached.
and the skirmishes, while they afforded
decided diversion, showed no really de-
cisive division along factional lines.
The vote on adjournment, expected at
first to be a test of strength, showed no
real measure of the respective parties of
Mrs. Crosby and Mrs. Ayers. but did
bring Mrs. Grace Porter Hopkins, a sup
porter of Mrs. Ayers into correction by
Mrs. Crosby from the chair.
Uses Word SqueIch.
Mrs. Hopkins. seeking to explain how
one of the motions to adjourn had been
made. said she had been ''squelched" by
the chair. and Mrs. Crosby Immediately
stated:
.T object to the term-T squelch no
one" whereupon Mrs. Hopkins withdrew
the word. stating that it had been used
in Jest. not in discourtesy.
Electioneering among delegates went on
all day. When adjournment was taken.
friends OF both the candidates seemed
10 feel confident Of success. but uncer-
tainty as TO the probable number of
voting delegates to be present to-day
made il impossible, il was said, for any
body to predict with sureness who would
be the victor. Mrs. Ayres is understood
to have the support of the Congress
sional coterie,' and of other delegates
who believe that her work for the
league, compared with that of Mrs.
Crosby, entities her to the presidency.
Those advancing Mrs Crosby's candi-
dacy declare that the success the league
has won under her presidency warrants
her reelection. Mrs. Crosby announced
her candidacy from the chair on the first
day of the convention.
Calls Mrs. Ayres Arbitrary.
Miss Katherine NJ Dabney. prominent
in the leagues work. said that because
of Mrs. Ayres' assuming the duties and
prerogatives of other members OF the
hoard, her arbitrary and improper con-
duct in setting aside the authority and
wishes of the president, her meddling in
the internal affairs of an affiliated men,
ber of the league, thereby causing a most
unpleasant and injurious complication.
and her antagonistic methods toward the
District of Columbia section since her
return to Washington, it would not be
possible for me or the delegates OF our
section to support her for any Office in
the league"
Monopoly and special privilege have
been the keynotes OF Mrs. Ayres' deal
ing with the league and a menace TO the
welfare of the organization" Miss Dab
ney said.
Delegates Get Restive.
The afternoon session held an intense
interest for the delegates, and there was
talk Of steam roller methods by sup
porters Of Mrs Crosby and Mrs. Ayres
too. With the wearing away of the after
noon, when the election OF officers was
expected, delegates became apparently
restive under the burden of business yet
unfinished
Reports OF officers had not been passed
upon by the executive board. and there
fore could not be submitted to the con-
vention, and it was found necessary to
recess while the executive board trans
acted this business. The reading of Mrs.
Ayres'. report, which from an extended
account of the organization and progress
OF the league was cut by the execu-
tive board to a brief relation of the cor
responding secretary's work. was accom-
plished amid suppressed excitement and
there were smiles whenever Mrs. Ayres,
the corresponding secretary. asked Mrs
Crosby, the president, If she might or
might not read this or that sentence or
paragraph.
Mrs. Ayres was cheered at the con-
ClusiOn of her reading, and her report
was accepted, as were those of the other
officers. and votes of thanks were ten
dered them. The report of Mrs. William
Graves Sharp, showed that the league
has more than 500 in the treasury after
paying all expenses. including those in
CURED in the recent campaign.
The acceptance of officers reports was
followed by adjournment, the report of
the credentials committee having been
previously accepted.
At yesterday mornings session, officers
and delegates made brief addresses on
the various phases of the leagues ac-
tivities.
Besides the election of officers, the con-
vention will consider proposed constitu-
tional amendments to-day.