Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-04
CONGRESS OF DAUGHTERS
MEETS IN WASHINGTON
Growing Interest In Contest for
Presidency OF Daughters Amer
tcan Revolution.
MRS. GUERNSEY IS CANDIDATE
Opposes Mrs. William Cumming
Story-WiH Vote on Change In by
laws as to Duties Of Historian
General

nat tho congress OF D2OEntcrS OF
the American Revolution. which con-
eenes In Washington April 49,, will lack
none of !ts traditional thrills ia APP
parent from the growing intcres, in the
contest between Mrs. William Cum
ming Story. OF New York. the in
cumbent. and Mrs. Geroge T. Guernsey,
of Kansas, for president general of the
society
Mrs. Story is making her campaign
on the courtesy second term plea while
this is being vigorously combated by
Mrs. Guernsey's friends on the ground
that four years ago Mrs. story herself
entered the contest for president gen
cral against t,rst term incumbent
They point to the famous First shot
declaration OF that time through which
Daughters OF the American RevoM-
ton were startled by the entrance OF
Mrs. Story Into the campaign for pres-
ident-Reneral. That historic struggle
promises to be repeated this year. with
the Storyttes making claims OF victory
already In sight. In the First Shot"
announcement of four years ago Miss
Florence @. Finch. then and now cam
paiEn manager for Mrs story, declared
that the candidacy Of Nh Matthew
n. Scott Cor a second term rs president
general was against all precedent.
CITES PRECEDENT IN
CASE OF MRS. FAIRBANKS
Mrs Fairbanks" said Miss Finch
was the only prcsident-rencral who
was ever reelected Shall this pre-
cedent be set aside? The conservative
party OF the National Society does not
think 1t should. This is one OF our
policies"
This declaration has bobbed up TO
plague the Story advocates this year.
and is of the lively topics in the
Daughters OF the American Revolu
ton gatherings. A number OF other
matters that will cause stirring discus
sion will come before the congress
Arizona has n grievance, In which il
is declared that the Daughters in that
State have been disfranchised by "a
ruling of tho national officers holding
that Mrs. w. G. Barnes. for eight years
state regent of Arizona Is not eligible
10 that office because of nonrcsidcEce
This question will be one OF the storm
centcrs OF the congress, with the prob
able result that nonpartisnn commit
tee Of appeals will bo created to hear
cases of this kind. and whose decision
Will be final. Mrs. Gucrnsey's plat
form conta ins a declaration for the
formation OF such n committee.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
AS TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Another stormy topic will be that OF
proposed amendment to the bylaws
which will remove from the custody
of the historian general OF the society
nll the historical and biographical
sketches which have come into tho
possession of this office. Mrs. Charles
w. Bassett the present historiang gen
eral. Is out with written statement
TO the society charging that 4 report
prepared by her on this subject In her
capacity as n national officer was re-
fused acceptance by the national hoard.
This Mrs. Bassett denounccs as "a
hitherto unheard-of action against a
national officer" Her statement is
eigned also by Mrs. Frances |. Mann,
organizing secretary general, and Mrs.
Catherine e. Brumbangh, registrar
general. Speaking of the historian
generals Office. the statement SAYS:
For all who have the welfare OF the
Daughters of the American Revolution
truly at heart, the time has come To
uphold this national office. whose work
is essential and foundational The
question OF pcrmancnce and progress
in our national work should be beyond
the caprice of party and admin!stra-
ton"
MRS. GUERNSEY ISSUES
STATEMENT OF PLATFORM
Tho fractional discussions which have
stirred the national meetings OF the
society deprecated by Mrs. Guern-
sey IN her PLATFORM, which calls for
the elimination. Of all party lines.
This she declares In a statement ac-
companyinG her PLATFORM, means the
removal OF discord and rancor from
the councils of Il great organization
over objects OF 10 moment and qucS-
lions Of no vital Importance. This will
not BIO accomplished By attempting to
repress free speech. suppressng
open courageous argument and in
dependent action. but by directing the
affairs OF the organization along tho
wholesome lines OF what is good for tho
society rather than what is eXpedient
for some particular party
AS another reform TO eliminate fac
tonal strife. Mrs. Guernsey advocates
one term OF three years with no re-
election for all national officers.
Questions OF mileage relating to the
travels OF national officers and the
financial tangles OF the socicty's maya
zine VIII be aired nj the coming Con-
8ress. With these ard other questions
and the election OF national officers
looming ahead, the Congress will be
full OF interest TO the 1000 or more