The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-05-06
Rival Factions Make
Election at Wonen's
Club Red Hot Affair

Nenly elected Officers Oh thS
ems City club sat gingerly perched
on the edges OF their official chairs
this morning waiting till rumblings
of call for a recount and hushec
talk OF "ballot-stuffing" had died
away before settling themselves com
forlably into place for the discharge
OF the duties placed upon them.
In the Office OF Miss Mary OTooie,
lawyer and president OF the club, ana
around headquarters CONGRATULATIONS
were mixed with whispered accusa-
tons, Congratulations were much In
the ascendancy. however, and mem
bers OF the two factions which OPP
posed Miss O'Toole's election were
calling her on the phone to tell her
how very glad they were to hear OF
her election.
Wildly Exciting Time.
Getting on the band wagon" has
long been a ixed practice In mems
politics and judging from happenings
around Miss O'Toole's office this
morning. the women are quite Will
ing TO emulate the example set by
the male voter.
To say the least 1t was a hectic
election.
Miss O'Toole herself styled II as
"wild--heated-- dreadfully eXcit-
ing" You can't make il too EN-
phatic," she said. cit was wildly
exciting time"
In evidence OF which statement 1t
Is submitted that the result OF the
balloting was not made known until
$3.50 o'clock this morning. and that
when the result was announced on
the FIRST floor of the club quarters.
there were more than score OF
women waiting to hear the tidings.
And then "pandemonium reigned SUI
preme," as they say in the blood and
thunder melo-dramas.
1t might have been n perfectly
peaceable and lady-like election. II
MIGHT have been. In fact, that's
what had sort OF been expected. That's
the way women's clubs usually do.
the members thought. Usually
nominating committee is appointed in
awed and dignified session. The COM
mittec prepares slate. And on
election day the members who are
sufficiently interested drop in and
attach their official o. *. to the
slate prepared.
But the Women's City Club doesn't
do things that way.
Opposition Develops.
"nS
duly appointed. But that's where
things began popping. The bylaws OF
the club call for two namse for each
officer to be elected. This is consid-
cred merely a matter OF form. how
ever, and II was supposed that the
ma jority would line up more or less
docilely behind the slate headed by
Miss O'Toole, who had led the club
through the struggling years OF in
fancy.
But Miss O'Toole and ier followers
had overlooked the prime fact that
it's-at least unreasonable-to expect
5000 women or even a majority there
of to line up solidly behind anything.
First notice OF dissension in the
camp when word reached the ears
Of the conservatives" that an indie
pendent ticket was being prepared,
headed by Mrs. John ]. White.
To use Miss ORIOLES own express
sion. 1--WE discounted the efforts OF
the independent ticket. We knew
they couldn't poll many votes"
But even Miss O'TOole and her CO.
horts weren't quite prepared for the
second shock which came in the an-
nouncement that much lobbying was
being done among friends of the al
Tentative ticket of the nominating
committee, headed by Mrs. Robert
Nelson
Regulars Get Busy.
I'VE didn't know a thing about that