The Washington times., 1914-02-02
MERRY ROW AMONG
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN
Mrs. Sabina Morton Refuses
to Be ExpeIIed-Suffrage
Cause Brings DiScord.

\ District section of the Women's Ma
tional Democratic League.
| Officers of the section today refused
to comment on the Expulsion of Mrs
Sabina Morton, wife of Brig. Gen
| Charles Morton for lack of harmony
| with the plans of the local administra-
tion. Mrs. Morton refuses to recognize
her expulsion" and will attend the
next meeting of the section to prove it.
There were hints of a meeting of the
executive board Of the local branch OF
the league today. to consider Mrs. Nor
toms sensational reply to the letter
which notified her that her name had
| been dropped from the rolls. Mrs. c.
Albert White, proSident, said she knew
nothing of such a meeting.
Suffrage Causes Row.
The trouble started during the nation
al convention, January rs, at the Will
lard Hotel. Mrs. Norton had been elect
ed a delegate from the District, she
says, although Mrs. William a. Cullop,
national president, declared that she
was not property authorized.
At any rate. Mrs. Morton gained ad-
mission to the convention chamber and
voted on all issues.
Mrs. Morton led the fight for the
recognition of suffrage by the league
and is thereby credited with arousing
the OI lHe ndIlOlal ana To-
cal orthodox elements in the league.
The first intimation that Mrs. Morton
had of being dropped, came in the form
Of registered letter last Friday, which
read:
Mrs. Charles Morton:
I'm accordance with resolution,
passed by the executive board of the
District of Columbia section, W. n.
d. L., January 20. 1914, the cores
iFnEf ta1 N
send to you this communication:
Resolved, That whereas Mrs. Charles
Morton does not work in harmonw
and for the advancement of the Dis
trict of Columbia section, the execu-
tive board, acting with the power
given them in section 8, article, /,
orders her name removed from mem
bership list and initiation fee of 81
returned to her.
MRS. DIEFFENDERFER,
Corresponding Secretary.
"No Such Section"
Mrs. Morton declared she was accord
ed no chance to defend herself. knew of
no meeting of the executive board on
January 20, and that she had not paid
an initiation fee of 81, because it was
not required.
Furthermore, there is no section .,
article /, of the sections constitution,
she says. There is but one section
of article /, and that pertains to the
name of the District branch. There is
no article or section of an article, says
Mrs. Morton, which authorizes expul-
sion of a member by the executive
board.
The personnel of the section is so
changed. she declares, that she is at a
loss To account for their knowledge Of
her alleged lack of harmony in the
SECTORS work and interests.
Mrs. Diffenderfer declares she had Tor
warded the letter to Mrs. Morton, pure
~ as a matter of routine, and that any
statement would have to come from
Mrs. w. z. Hancock, the vice president.
Mrs. Hancock, in turn, declared the
District section would ''enter into no
newspaper controversy with Mrs. Nor
ton. She has been dropped from the
organization, and that ends the mat
ter"
Power Behind Throne.
Mrs. Hancock was unable to give the
wording of section 9, article l, under
which Mrs. Morton was dropped.
Mrs. Morton declared there was no
provision for dropping of a member
from the rolls withoua a trial, and that
up to the time of the last national con-
vention, January Z, the District branch
had no bylaws.
Mrs Hancock is the real power be-
hind the throne in this matter" said
Mrs. Morton.
Mrs. Hancock intinated that there
would be a meeting of the board of
directors today, although she refused to
give any of the particulars of this
meeting. 81 will acquaint you with the
result Of the meeting" was all she
would say.
Mrs. White declared that if Mrs Nor
ton had received any such commun!ca-
ton, naturally she held no status as
a member.
I'VE do not care to answer the charge
of Mrs. Morton" declared Mrs White.
IF the newspapers care to print her
statements, they have that privilege. I
know nothing of the case"