New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-31
No Dark Horses in Race
for the Federation
Presidency.
DELEGATES LOSE HOPE
OF LIVELY CONTEST
Adherents of Mrs. CoWleS and
Mrs. Sheath, However, Con-
sidered Evenly Matched.

II ever there was disappointed lot
Of women 1t was the delegates TO the
General Federation OF Women's Clubs
yesterday, who saw their hopes of
lively political fight flicker and then go
out. There were no nominations from
the floor, and there will be no dark
horses in the race for the presidency
of the federation. Mrs. Josiah Evans
Cowles and Mrs. Samuel B. Sheath are
the two candidates.
There was just one tense moment at
the end Of the session yesterday morn
ing, when Mrs. Pennybacker, the retir-
ing president, cried
Just a minute, ladies. Wait until
the report is finished, then we'll all
have a perfectly lovely time"
The delegates permitted themselves
one long breath, then edged forward
again in their chairs.
"Now," said Mrs. Pennybacker, TAX
ing firm hold of her gavel, "nomina-
tons from the floor are in order"
No Dark Horses Offer.
She looked to the right she looked to
the left. Hot and heavy silence hung
over the hall. A worried look crept
into her eyes.
There seem to be none" she said.
There are none" she said.
Then every woman looked daggers
at her neighbor Who was it that con-
spired to kill that gorgeous fight!
Dolefully they filed out 70 luncheon or
to seek in the Memorial Day matinees
the excitement of which they had been
cheated.
Only Miss Anna b. Johnson, cam
paign manager for Mrs. Sheath, was
jubilant. 81 told you there would be
no dsrk horse. Next time you'll be-
lieve Sister Anne" she laughed.
Delegates from Illinois went about
looking guilty. They had sat up until
o'clock yesterday morning caucusing'
oh. no, they didn't talk about STAN
peding the convention for Mrs. john
Dickinson Sherman or Mrs. George
Bass. They just talked about direc-
tor from Illinois, and decided on MIS-
George Plummer. Inasmuch as neither
oil the 1dNoIlle hdAbhNNAo "
would consent to accept a nomination.
their admirers finally had to give up
their schemes, but 1t was a bitter
blow 10 the lovers Of excitement.
Two Candidates Evenly Matched.
"On the eve of election" as tie po-
ltical managers phrase it, the two can
didates seemed still evenly matched.
There was much indignation IN the
Sheath headquarters over attempts TO
make age an issue in the election.
Good gracious!" cried Miss Johnson,
"Mrs. Sheath is only sixty-one, and
nobody is old at that age any more.
Why. Governor Whitman himself said
so the other night"
Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles. Of Cali
fornia. is some ten or twelve years
Younger than Mrs. Sneath-you can't
be sure which, since there is no way
of knowing a woman's age unless she
wants to tell II.
The color question having been COM
pletely eliminated BY the heated de-
malls of both candidates that they de-
sired 10 admit colored women's clubs
| 10 membership in the federation, the
/ thought turned to that most fruitful
| Of controversial subjects woman suf-
I frage. Here again the two candidates
/ bafled induirers. Both professed ar
/ dent belief in the cause, and the Cali
fornia woman displayed such vast
/ ignorance Of the Congressional Union
and its aims that there was no uss