The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-30
MRS. SELLERS IS
OF
SUFFRACIST WAR
Desire to Depose Her Leads to
Lively Squabble in Big
Rally
TWO WAYNE COUNTY
ORGANIZATIONS LIKELY
New Association Named for
Campaign, But Old One Re-
fuses to Surrender

A Misunderstanding developed in the
meeting OF the suffragists OF Wayne
county In the Hotel PontchartraiE,
Wednesday afternoon, which has not
yet been ironed out.
The meeting was called for the pur-
lose or preparing for the spring cam
paign. as Il is understood that the
legislature will re-submit the woman
suffrage constitutional amendment In
the April election. II started with
Mrs. Susan NJ. Sellers In the chair.
Dr. Mary Thompson Stevens, presi-
dent OF the College Equal Suffrage
league, moved that Mrs. Clara B. Ar
thur, president OF the state suffrage
organization. be named chairman,
Mrs. Sellers held that the meeting
had been called by the Wayne County
Equal Suffrage organization, OF which
she is president, and was a meeting
OF that society. DR.. Stevens under
stood that 1t was a meeting Of all the
suffrage societies. for the purpose of
electing officers OF the county organ
iZation for the spring campaign.
On the one side, ii was argued that
when the Wayne county society called
Wednesdays meeting. II had adjourn
ed until that date, and had invited In
diyidual members OF the suffrage so
cieties to be present, In order that as
many people as possible might have
voice In the naming OF the county
officers. 1t was stated that the coun-
ty organization had never gone out OF
existence. and that II had been direct
ed, by a resolution adopted by the
state suffrage convention, 10 go on
with the work, and TO strengthen and
build itself up.
On the other hand. the argument
wac made that the term OF once Of
the executives OF the Wayne county
organization terminated with the close
OF the campaign, and that the gather
Ing ought TO proceed with the election
OF Officers. This opinion finally pre-
vailed; Mrs. Arthur was chosen tenn
porary chairman, and the representa-
tiyes OF the nine suffrage societies of
the county undertook to form a new
organization, which is to be known az
the Equal Suffrage Spring Campaign
association. Headquarters are TO be
opened in the Offices recently vacated
by DR.. Max BALM. In the Grand Cir
Gus building. Woodward-ave. and
Park-st
A committee was appointed, consist
ing OF the heads OF the nine suffrage
societies. whose duties are apparently
vague. II will probably elect officers
of the new MISUNDERSTANDING from
It's own members. or from members
other than the executives OF the vari-
Gus societies, Is a question still TO be
determined. The committee consists
of Mrs Florence Belle Brotherton. De
troit Equal Suffrage club; Mrs.
Charles Staff, Highland Park Civic
league; Mrs. Susan NJ. Sellers. Wayne
County Equal Suffrage association:
Mrs. Ruby NJ. Zahn. Political and Civic
league; Mrs. Annie A. Everson. West
Side Suffrage club: Mrs. Blanche l.. B.
Latham, North western Civic club; DR..
Mary Thompson Stevens, College
Equal Suffrage league: Mrs. Harriet
M Trix, Woman's Independent Voters
association, and Mrs. Georgia T..
White, East Side Suffrage club.
The committee is without an organ
ization, and has made no arrange
ments for Its next meeting
Opposition to Mrs. Sellers as head
of the county organization seems 70
be the real reason for insurgency on
the part OF several OF the suffrage
leaders. They claim that their clubs
have been too far subordinated 10, the
county organization. Mrs. Sellers be-
lieves that the opposing suffragists
are under misapprehensicn regarding
a report. printed shortly after the
November election, that she would
make good commissioner OF the De-
partment OF Public Works.
II was accused Of writing that story
myself" said Mrs. Sellers, Thursday.
CT had nothing wins tever to do with
It. | did not know Of It's existence
until II was pointed out ID me. It was
an unfortunate publication, for Rep.
Ashley used IL few days ago as an
argument against woman suffrage,
claiming that as soon as Il Is granted,
women will be demanding public
Office. That is not true We are no.
seeking public Offices. and do not want
them. want>1t understood that was
In no manner responsible for the pub
lication OF that report"
Whether "Wednesday meeting VIII
result In the existence OF two COUNT
suffrage organizations Is still 70 be
determined. The Wayne County
Equal Suffrage organization insists
that II is still In existence-that when
the suffragists formed the Equal Sur
frage Spring Campaign association,
they ended the "wednesday meeting
OF the older body but did not and
could not abolish II.
Both sides insist that there is no
split in the suffrage ranks, and that
the argument which led to the present
situation was due to a MISUNDERSTANDING
ing which will soon be cleared up.