The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-06
Three Candidates in First Skirnlish
For President General of the d. 4. r..
More Than 5000 Delegates
to Gather Here for Opening
Of the Continental Congress
Next Week.

Next Week.
Continental Hall win be the scene on
the afternoon OF April IA Of gathering
that In the estimation Of many In the
United States is second only to the in
auguration Of a President in interest.
This is the Continental Congress Of the
Daughters OF the Revolution. a conven-
ton of women that represents every
State In the Union. The society 10 en-
gaked in a number of patriotic and edu-
cational projects Of wide scope and the
gathering Of the delegates In Washing
ton will serve as the focus Of the in
terest of millions Of women throughout
the country.
but this year il will bear an added In
terest. because during the weeks sessions
the biennial election Of a president gen.
eral will be held. Not only will this fact
draw to washington an unusual number
OF delegates. but the interest In the cleo
ton of a national head of the society
lie more intense than usual this year.
There are three candidates in the field
for the ONCE, three women whose indi-
vidusl influence is felt strongly in every
corner of the United States. Each has
been carrying on strenuous campaign
for months, and they come to the Capital
each claiming a strong backing and each
declaring her intention to stay in the
fight till the last fertilization has fallen.
These women are Mrs. William Cum
ming Story, OF New York; Mrs. John
Miller Horton, of Buffalo. and Mrs.
Charles B. Bryan, of Nashville. Tenn.
Mrs. Matthew T. Scott. for the last
four years president general OF the D.
A. R.. retired this year. Her retirement
is automatic. being in accordance with
a clause in the constitution of the so
ciety that makes a president general
ineligible for election for a third term.
For two terms Mrs. Story has con-
tended against Mrs. Scott for the national
Office. For the last two elections she
has been at the National Congress with
a large contingent back Of her, and the
battles waged on the floor OF Conti-
mental Hall have been almost as strenu-
Gus and intricate as the tits that are
engaged in by the politicians OF the
sterner sex every four years.
Illus 100000 Members.
The roster of the D. A. r. now num-
bers more than 10000 and from the point
of social prestige and political power
it is probably the most remarkable body
of women ever affiliated for political pur-
poses. From every State in the nation
there come reports OF great activities
and widespread campaigns in the in
terest of the three women now enrolled
in the fight for leadership.
The claims of Mrs. Story for the
position of president general are based
Oh a long line Of ancestors that dates
back beyond the time OF the Revolution
and on a number of activities that have
placed her prominently in the limelight
On her mothers side. Mrs. Story traces
her ancestry back to Johann de la Mon
tague, who settled in New York in 1913.
He was chief counsel during the admin
istration of Cows. Keif and Stuyvesant
and filled a number Of other important
Offices. He was Governor of Fort Orange.
The Van Wagners, Schaats, Porters and
Van Vredenburgs are some OF the names
in her lineage. William j. Van
Vredenburg, her great grandfather. wss
a colonel in the Revolution. Seven
members of her family had the honor OF
Gen. George Washington and
OF her ancestors were in the
Colonial war.
Through her fathers ancestry there
descended Samuel Taylor Coleridge. the
poet. and Lord Chief Justice Coleridge,
Mrs. Story Is member Of large
number of women's clubs that are IN
in matters educational and
patriotic The list is long one. She
was the first president of the Children
of the American Revolution that was
founded in New York. During her term
as State regent in New York she brought
about number of reforms. The emer-
cency fund for the real daughters was
brought about through her agency and
she was instrumental in having tho
Washington memorial tablet placed on
beard the steamer George washington.
The friends of Mrs. Story point to her
as president of the New
York City Federation of Womens Clubs
as an argument in favor of placing her
in the Office of the president general.
When she was installed into the presi-
dency of the New York organization that
body was torn with strife and dissen-
sion, and through the tact and executive
a bility of Mrs Story harmony was again
brought into the organization. 1t is also
pointed out that she raised the member
ship of the New York federation from
%. 900 to $4,000. Mrs. Story Is vice presi-
dent OF the National Society of Patriotic
Women, a member of the Daughters of
1872. of the Colonial Danes Of America,
and vice president of the WomenS Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Society, and
of the national committee on prison
labor.
Mrs. Bryan's Qualifications.
Mrs. Bryan also comes to Washington
with an interesting record Of public ac-
tivities. She has for a number of years
been vice president of the Daughters OF
the American Revolution from her State,
Tennessee. and in this capacity has come
before the women OF the society as pre-
siding officer at conventions OF the body.
She has shown herself q woman OF re-
sources and ability at these times, and
besides her connection with the d. A. r.
the candidate from the South holds an
influence with a host Of women from the
North as well as the South because Of
her position in clubs and organizations
that are taking up matters Of national
Importance.
Mrs. Horton, the administration candi-
date, can show a record equaling those
OF her two opponents. In the first place,
Mrs. Horton has been for eleven years
the head Of the Buffalo Chapter of the
ID. A. r., the second branch Of the So
ciety in point of numbers. Its roll shows
over 700 names.
During the presidency OF Mrs. Horton
the chapter has done an important work
in the education of the large foreign
element. consisting OF Slavs. Slovak, Ger
man, Hungarian. Pole, Greek, and Rus
s-%A fAA in,