The Washington herald., 1913-01-08
MRS. CROSBY'S
HAT IS in ring
New Yorker Settles Question
Of Her Candidacy to Lead
Democratic Women.
FIGHT ON THE OFFICERS
Suggests Advisory Council of Twenty
Men as Auxiliary of the
League.


ISSUES before the woman's Democratic
National League. more than 800 of whose
members from all parts of the United
States are holding the first annual con-
vention at the New Willard, was made
at the opening session OF the league yes
terday and at a subsequent meeting OF
the executive board.
The present president, Mrs. John Sher-
win Crosby, who occupied the chair, an
nounced, in answer TO naive parila-
mentary inquiry" sent up from the hoor'
that she was a candidate, and the name
of Mrs. Steven b. Ayres, wife OF the
Representative from New York, was set
forth by a strong party as a certain
nominee for the position. AS to the
issues, If the decisions so FAR made by
the executive board and credentials
committee are upheld, the main conten-
ton to-day will be upon the proposed
constitutional amendment providing for
an advisory council consisting OF
twenty prominent Democrats (men).
acting in conjunction with the leagues
executive board in formulating the per-
manent establishment of the league: in
educational and campaign work. and m
financial maintenance
Other Questions both as to personnel
OF OIlCeTS anu dS u buSlllNSS' " hi bc
subordinate, il is believed, to the cleo
ton of the president and the settlement
Of that constitutional matter.
Members Of the league were we'll sat
isfied with the sum total Of yesterdays
proceedings, they said. With very
frank recognition of certain mistakes
made during the first half year of eX-
istence they declared, and seemingly
with perfect warrant that. its newness
properly considered. the leagues first
day of annual convention proved it to
have been well founded.
The executive board is believed to have
prevented much trouble by its action on
the question of membership and votes
yesterday afternoon.
The executive boards session. though
il develOped some differences of opinion.
was said last night to have cleared sew
eraI matters Of doubt and added to the
spirit of harmony for which the Demo-
cratic women. like their Democratic
brethren. have sought to make assur-
ance The two main questions before the
board are understood-the boards ses-
sion was eXecUtive-tO have been
Limitation of the time Of admission Of
charter members and the settling OF
the pro rata of delegates.
This latter question was settled by the
board So that each member at large. who
had paid dues Of 81 before December S.
1872 and each member Of an affiliated
club. representing five club members, for
whom 81 had been paid before December
| would he entitled to vote. Members AT
large and members of affiliated clubs
who have paid their dues since Decem-
her are entitled to the courtesy of the
floor, but not to vote or take part in
the debates.
Proceedings OF the credentials commit
tee over which Mrs William Graves
Sharp, Of Elyria. Ohio. presided, were
not completed when the committee ad-
journed last night. and another session
will he held to-day. Whether the COM
mittee's report will contain anything on
which a contest will be made could not
we'll be anticipated last night.
Interested in Election.
The meeting to-day is. in fact. eN-
peCted TO mark the real developments of
the first annual convention of very
remarkable organization. Aside from
the constitutional questions to be set
tied, the election of officers will carry
an intense interest. OF the women in at
tendance here. some Of the most promi-
nent are wives of Congressman, but
there are many other well-known women
present as delegates, including the presi-
dent Mrs. Crosby, whose New York
woman's Democratic Club was organized
seven years ago, and was the first club
affiliated to the National League: Miss
Katherine NJ. Dabney, president of the
District branch of the league; Mrs.
George A Armes, chairman of the Dis
trict branch of the Wilson and Mar
shall Southern League: Mrs. Grace Por-
ter Hopkins, prominent in all branches
of woman's work in Washington; Mrs.
Leigh Chalmers, chairman press commit
tee. Mrs Beverley Buchanan, sergeant
alarms: Mrs Perry Belmont, chairman
of the reception committee; Mrs. Leon
ard Hoffman. chairman of the magazine
| and advertising committee; Mrs. Anna
B. Pitzer, chairman of the committee on
decorations. and Mrs. Benjamin Micou,
chairman of the committee on informa-
| ton.
With Mrs Ayres as the apparent CEN
ter of the Congressional coterie and the
holder of additional strength from other
delegates, she seemed last night to be
| the leading candidate. II she is elected
President probably Mrs. Hopkins, now
field secretary, will be elected corre-
spending secretary. an Office which Mrs.
Ayres now holds The other officers
probably will be reelected.
At yesterdays morning session, Right
Rev. Alfred Harding, Bishop of Wash
| ington, delivered the Invocation, after
which Speaker Clark delivered the ad-
dress of welcome, wishing the women
good luck in their venture into poll
tics. Mrs. Crosby, the president. made
the response, and a welcome was Of
fered by Mrs. Matthew T. Scott. sister
| in-law of former Vice President Adlai
z. Stevenson. and closely connected
| with the last Democratic administra-
ton. that of President Cleveland. Mrs.
Scott. speaking, she said, not as the
president general of the Daughters of
| the American Revolution, but as a DEM