New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-30
WOMEN YEARN
FOR AUDITORIUM
Call Armory Acoustics AL
most a Tragedy for
Federation.
SAY 1T OUGHT TEACH
NEW YORK A LESSON
New President To Be Elected To-
morrOw-Leading Candidates
Evenly Matched.

New York needs great auditorium.
If you doubt it. ask Mrs. Percy V. Pen
nybacker, president Of the General Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs, who has
stretched her pretty Southern voice all
out Of shape trying to fill the greedy
depths of the 7th Regiment Armory;
ask Mrs. William Grant Brown. who is
in tears daily over the disappointment
of Western delegates who cannot hear
the speeches of the convention; ask
the thousands of visiting clubwomen,
who have come two and three thousand
miles to a convention they cannot hear;
ask all these, and then you will under
stand the great popular sympathy for
the movement to build an auditorium
for New York
II is even limited that maybe the
clubwomen will use the surplus funds
left over from their entertainment
treasure CneSI 10 SldIt n SuDSNi P''"ii
fund for such a hall The men could
use il when the women didn't want it,
they say.
The impossible acoustic properties OF
the 7th Regiment Armory are the chief
topic of conversation in clubdom to-
day. At first the hearts of the New
York women were just about broken,
but yesterday they began to see a
bright side.
Let II Be Lesson to New York.
of this tragedy teaches New YORK
men a lesson" said Mrs. Brown last
night, perhaps we shall not have suf-
fered in vain. Maybe we shall be the
means of bringing TO the greatest city
n the country a hall BETTING its dig
nifty.
I'VE want a hall with sloping floor,
with perfect acoustics, and all the
necessary small rooms for committee
meetings and lunchrooms. Maybe, if
the women secure this for New York,
we might be able to have real politi-
cal convention now and then instead
Of letting Chicago and st. Louis have
them ALL
The women tried to get Madison
Square Garden for their meetings, but
it was already engaged by the Fashion
Show. Then the 3lst Regiment Armory,
Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan
Opera House were all tried and found
wanting. They had to so 10 the 18th
Regiment Armory, because it was the
only place in the city which would seat
the 5000 delegates and alternates, and
leave any room at all for guests.
New York has had lesson for the
women, too. II is that the convention
must reduce its size. If the hall won't
expt nd to house Mahomet, then Ma
homet must reduce to fl the hall, &C
cording to Mrs. Pennybacker.
Only Delegates at Business Sessions.
by the time Of the next conven-
tion we shall probably arrange to have
only delegates at the business ses-
sions," said the Federation president
yesterday afternoon. That will en-
able US to have our morning business
sessions in a small hall, and then we
can adjourn 10 some larger place for
the mass meetings"
The proposition is to limit the dele
gates from each club 10 one for every
hundred members, instead of one for
every fifty. 1t is also proposed TO eX-
clude alternates from the business ses-
sions.
The delegates began yesterday to
take a real interest in electioneering
for a president. The report OF the
nominating committee is due to-day,
and the election will take place to-
morrow.
The woods are full Of dark horses,
and it is freely predicted that a good
steed of that color could stampede the
convention. Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles,
O. California, and Mrs. Samuel b.
Sheath, Of Ohio, the two candidates on
the regular ballot, are so evenly
matched in ability and popularity that
the delegates are still undecided be-
tween them.
Californians Aggressive.
Mrs. Cowles is supported by the
solid California delegation, who are
doing the more, aggressive campaign
ing. On the other hand, Mrs. Sheath
IS supported By the machine officials"
Just where Mrs. Pennybacker herself
stands is a matter Of doubt. Accord
lug 10 gossip, she used to be favorable
&c Mrs Cowles, but since working with .
Mrs. Sheath as her first vice-president
she naturally wants 10 help her csndi-
dacy. Fortunately, as president, II
would not be :actful of her to declare
herself.
The California women feel they are
being strongly opposed By the New
York odd guard
New York never forgets and New
York cannot forget" as one woman put
u They think California defeated
Mrs. Carpenter for the presidency four
years ago, and they are paying Us back
now"
In a blaze of wrath started by this
belief some one sent a telegram 70
all the New York papers yesterday
which read
Candidacy Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles
for president general Federation of
Women's Clubs handicapped by atti-
tude local biennial board. Reported
dominated Dy ooaIu "hlch Is cohtroIIed
by political suffragist. In justice 70
New York women and in fair play
TO California will you please send US
Il man big enough to grasp the political
significance of present situation"
Telegram Sender Sorry.
That lively little blaze evidently re-
ceiver a bucket Of ice water from Mrs.
Cowles when she heard about il, for
when the reporters arrived, the SEN
der of the telegram retired damply into
A corner and said that she did not
wish 10 sneak about IT,