Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-14
Opposing Factions Enter Into
Struggle to Control
Committees.
SESSIONS BEING HELD
AT CONTINENTAL HALL
President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan Welcome Delegates to
Their National Capital.

The twenty-second annual congress OF
the National Society of the Daughters OF
the American Revolution opened in
oiaze or glory today at Memorial Cont-
mental Hall. Gathered at the opening
were more than 1900 prominent women
from every state and territory in the
United States, resplendent in beautiful
gowns and graceful spring flowers
Patriotism ruled supreme. Fractional
dinerences between the Daughters We're
apparently forgotten while all joined in
a general celebration 1t was a great
body of patriotic women united I'm a COM
mon purpose to instill in all minds love of
country.
Opened with the blowing of a bugle
ana marked by the playing of THE Star
Spangled Banner the formal beginning.
of the first session this morning was ac-
companied by incidents and thrills which
called up all the latent patriotism in
the Daughters.
Other stirring scenes were enacted
| this afternoon when President Wilson
and Secretary OF State Bryan stood be-
lore the cheering throngs of women
and officially welcomed them to their
National Capital Both praised the
| objects and the work of the d. A. r..
| and added to the enthusiasm OF the
occasion.
Hall Filled With Delegates.
Long before the time for the OPEN
ing this morning at IL o'clock, Con-
| tinental Hall was packed and jammed
| with delegates and alternates A
| strict guard was kept up, and none but
| the women officially accredited to the
congress were allowed to enter
| long line of carriages and automobiles
| extending for several blocks moved
slowly past the hall all the morning
The official opening was marked with
! the sudden blowing Of a bugl,. Then a
| long line Of beautiful young girls acting
as pages. swept down the center aisle of
the auditorium toward the stage All of
the pages We're dressed in white Most
OF them carried flowers. They presented
magnificent picture as they walked
slowly between packed lines OF Daugh-
| ters.
The pages acted as an escort for Mrs.
Matthew T. Scott. president general.
When she appeared at last she was
| greeted by an outburst of applause Bow
ing to the left and right, Mrs. Scott
walk slowly behind the pages. Many
OF the delegates stood to cheer their pres
No sooner had Mrs. Scott reached the
platform and the applause subsided for
moment than the stirring strains of
The Star Spangled Banner were heard
| and a large American flag was slowly
| drawn up into the center of the audi
torium. All of the women stood, while
they sang the great song Of patriotism.
Struggle Among Factions.
The patriotic feeling of the first few
| minutes gave way to struggles for place
| by the different factions later in the
morning session. During great confusion
| the supporters Of Mrs. William Cummings
Story, candidate for president general, Sc
cured the passage of motion to have
| appointed credentials committee made
up of each faction to pass on the creden-
| tials of contested delegates.
The appearance in the hall of Mrs Stor,-
and Mrs. John Miller Horton and Mrs.
William B. Bryan. the three candidates
! for president general, was greeted b.
great applause. Mrs. Horton and Mrs
Story occupied seats just across an aisl..
| from each other in the east balcony. Mrs
Horton took no part in the meeting ex-
cept to applaud, but Mrs. Story spoke
once.
| Gathered on the stage were all of the
| national ID. A. r. leaders, all beautifully
gowned. Mrs. John w. Foster was the
only former president general in attend
| ance. although Mrs. Charles W. Fair
banks, another past president general. is
expected to arrive later Mrs. Mary 5.
|
| trict Daughters, was warmly welcomed
on every side.
Among the delegates were many
! women who have been active and
| prominent in %. A. r. circles and work
| for a number of years. Many or
them have seen almost all the con
crosses which have been held. 4 few
were new delegates. strange TO every
thing that happened.
Stringent Rule Enforced.
Every available seat in the hall was
occupied for the opening. A rule was
put in effect that any delegate
alternate who gave her badge TO any
one else would be barred herself, and
her badge taken away.
Following the singing, Miss Elizabeth
F. Pierce chaplain general, read from
the Bible and offered prayer. She prayed
for peace and for the Ohio Hood suf
ferers Mrs. Barnard. daughter-in-iaw
of Judge Barnard then sang IF l Were
a Voice.
There was great confusion during the
morning session because of a discussion
over the report of Mrs. Henry l.. Mann.
vice president general in charge of or
ganization and chairman Of the creden-
tials committee. Mrs. Mann reported that
,S92 women were entitled 10 votes J.,
the congress.
The moment Mrs. Mann sat down Mrs.
j. Morgan Smith of Alabama was on her
feet Offering resolution to the effec
that on the question of all disputed dele.
gates the report of the credentials COM
mittee be rejected. She moved that Il
new committee be named. composed o.
women selected by each of the three can
didates for president general
Mrs Scott ignored the motion and the
report of the credentials committee wa
adopted. Later Mrs. Smith offered he.
resolution again and IL was considered
Mrs. Draper OF this city said she han
seen one woman with two badges. Mrs
Scott declared IL this was true the woman
should be barred from the congress.
During this discussion Mrs Scott had
great trouble to maintain order. She
threatened several times to adjourn the
meeting.
Explains Naming Committee.
To refute claims that the credentials
committee was not correct, Mrs. Scott
made a statement showing she had sp-
pointed the committee before the present
campaign began. Mrs. Scott told OF how
two attorneys came to me yesterday 20
tell me how to run this organization"
Il want TO know If this farce is 10 go