Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-09
SUFFRAGE FORCES
CLAIMING VICTORY
Equality in Federation Of
Women's Clubs Said to
Be Assured.
VOICE OF THE COUNCIL
IN SECRET CONFERENCE
Many Thousands of Delegates in
Chicago to Attend Twelfth
Biennial Convention.

CHICAGO. June a-The equal suffra ge
element of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs. which meets in biennial
| session here tomorrow night, today
| claimed victory in preliminary skirmish
The action took place In the secret
meeting Of the general council Of the fed
| Grafton yesterday. A majority of those
present expressed themselves, 1t is said.
in favor of allowing won,ans suffrage or
ganizations to have representation in the
convention on an equality with non-po-
litical clubs.
Women's clubs are allowed to send del
eeates and the state organizations with
which they are affiliated also send them.
but as the rule stands at present. while
| suffrage clubs individually may appoint
delegates. their state organizations may
not. The council is said to have indi-
Gated yesterday that it would favor the
admittance Of delegates from state equal
| suffrage organizations.
Delegations by Every Train.
Every train today brought delegations,
and the headquarters was busy with the
| innumerable details connected with their
| welfare. A bit of gossip was that real
practical politicians, with an eye on the
| woman vote, were working way below
| the surface to keep the prohibition ques-
ton from arising in the convention.
Delegates from Indiana have a candi-
date for the presidency of the federation
| in 1918 in Grace Julian Clarke Of Indian
apolis. It is assumed that custom will be
followed in the reelection Of Mrs. Per
cival v. Pennybacker of Texas as prest-
dent this year, but the Indiana women
MI atINto
| politics for their candidate two years
| hence
Mrs. George Bass of Chicago will not be
candidate, as 1t is traditional courtesy
that the city acting as hostess shall enace
itself in this respect.
Suffrage Issue Prominent.
With the arrival Of every train
load of delegates to the twelfth
biennial conference of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs the
question of the Endorsement of woman
suffrage by the federation apparently
assumes greater. prominence. 1t was
the leading topic in informal discus
sions today as leaders of clubwomen
| continued to pour into this city.
| Some excitement was caused in the
suffrage wing late last night by a
rumor that the official board Of the
| federation ha0 1n0OfSeQ SuHFdSe
resolution at an executive session. The
rumor was promptly denied. but that
did not stop its discussion by suffrage
leaders. who insisted that the as
semblage of women would be unable
to resist the pressure brought to bear
| by a large proportion of their number
who are ardent devotees of the suf-
frage cause.
Thousands on Scene.
More than 1000 women arrived yes
terday, according to federation trans
portation headquarters. and 5000 are
expected today. The delegates will be
guests tonight at a concert, and the
formal business Of the conference will
begin tomorrow.
The question of dress was the sub
| ject of some informal conferences
among the delegates who were busy
lunpacking their trunks today. 1t is un-
derstood that dark cloth suits or linen
| dresses of business-like cut will be
worn during the hard-working daily
session, but that a notable blossoming
| forth will take place at the reception
at the Art Institute Thursday night In
spite Of resolutions against French
STYLES, it is said that on that occasion
some of the most striking gowns ever
| imported from Paris will be exhibited
for the first time.