The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-30
Campaign for Presidency OF
sa4 Federation Taking Form.
Coast Delegates Firm in Be-
lief of Success.
SAYS MRS. COWLES WILL WIN
Ohio Equally Sure of Elecung
Their Candidate.
Miss Hay and Mrs. Sherman
Mentioned as Possibilities.

VNeHIlOuGU dS
New York. May 3O.-The presi-
dency of the General Federation OF
Women's clubs is the all absorbing
question among the 20, 600 visiting
delegates today, although the talk of
sstampedes' and dark horses ana
other convention subjects has rlppled
over the club women since the open
ing day and long before that II was
not until the federation officers met
to select the nominating commlt-ee
that partisanship at last trotted out
its badges and arguments
Bv the time the nominating COM
mittee has made its report TODAY anu
the delegates have had their chance TO
Present any dark horse" candidates
they may have, the brisk campaign
preceding the election tomorrow Will
be well under way
conditions and committees in the fed
GRAFTON, has opened headquarters IN
the Hotel Aston and without the a1d
of lists of delegates began a campaign
for Mrs Josiah Evans Cowles of Los
Is To Beat Mrs. COwIes.
Ohio, offering Mrs. Samuel B.
sheath, now first vice president, as
a candidate for the presidency. has
adauarters campaign manager
and enthusiasm and badges enough
r. for three months campaign.
~ CaIfOrnla'S 0eieSdIlOn O1 on oOiS-
IL gates. solid in support of their candl-
Il date for the presidency, is also soild
IL in belief that there is an attempt by
II officers and New York committees to
IA defeat Mrs Cowles and to d1sappolnt
b the hopes or the western state that
has been twice hostess to the teder-
ated clubs.
Considering the cumulative evil
IA dences of what they consider New
II York's attitude, the Californians be
81 Iieve there is a coterie within the
II local biennial board to defeat their
" candidate. There is no issue that can
II be raised to defeat their candidate.
II thew think, not even that of suffrage
IS Both candidates, in fact, all candi-
H dates who appear, must be SutfraglStS,
Is for the federation is officially pledged
E TO suffrage Whether the degree of
II belief or faith in suffrage might be
Ss made a point of cleavage. none of the
IA delegates has said.
III Miss Hay a Dark Horse.
IS 1t is the opinion of many of the
II California delegates that Miss Mary
N Garrett Hay. director in the fedora
81 ton and chairman of the biennial con-
vention committee. has adopted what
81 they described as a Justice Hughes
attitude" and that a section of the New
IS York delegates. led by convention of
ficers and local board members. WILL
at the crucial moment, attempt to
III stampede the convention by pre-
senting Miss Hays name. California
3 thinks this moment will come today
IA when the report of the nominating
II committee is made and when the pres
II ident calls for nominations from the
4 floor.
n 1t was said that the biennial board
! had instructed Mrs. Thomas j. Vivian
. Z chairman of the press committee, and
herself a Californian, that she would
II have to be neutral. But the Cali
fornians complain. too, that even this
i < committee has not been entirely fair:
f q They say the do not think they will
+ 3 be able to attend the reception of Mrs.
. 2 Vivian, president of the California
+ club of New York, because it is to be
] given on Wednesday afternoon, the
+ day the ballots for officers are to be
{ cast.
ER The Sheath party have no complaints
to make against anybody and they are
confident that they are going to win.
III East for Mrs. Sheath.
Il think the solid east is for Mrs.
Sheath said Miss Anna johnson, who
is campaign manager for Ohio, land
+ Michigan and Kentucky are for her.
8 and part of the south Louisiana will
"a probably go for her."
While the two states which have
presented candidates whom they are
3 sure will win. the state presidents, who
y compose the nominating board, are
z not at all sure they care for either of
them. The state presidents had a
secret meeting on Sunday afternoon,
III but, as sometimes happens, things oc-
curing behind closed doors became
Z known.
Mrs. John Dickson Sherman of Illi-
noiS was spoken of as a possible dark
= horse, or perhaps the choice of the
state presidents for nominee. 1t is
4 said Mrs. Sherman has publicly stated
that she would not accept the presi-
dency.
HI Miss Hay Won't Accept.
Miss Hay spoken of as a candidate
for the presidency, said she would not,
under any circumstances, violate the
Il E unwritten law that federation women
of the hostess state should not take
office. Her friends exclaimed with
one voice that she would never think
& of such a thing ard one of them add
Z ed:
There is no doubt that some time
Miss Hay will be the choice of the
9 federation for its president
Some of the women who have been
mentioned as being on the ticket with
Mrs. Cowles are Miss Georgia Bacon
& of Massachusetts,; as first vice presi-
. dent; Miss E. Reilly, South Carolina
81 second vice president; Miss Dull OF
"a New Jersey. recording secretary; Mrs
s. VIM. B. Williams, of Michigan, now
national treasurer, for corresponding
g secretary and Mrs. VIM. B. Young OF
Florida, now director of the national
federation, for treasurer.