Evening star., 1924-12-03
FORMER STRUGGLE
RESUMEDBY j. D. c.
Daughters of Confederacy
Again in Rift Over Pre-
siding Officer.

Storm currents swept the extraor-
dinary convention Of the District of
Columbia chapters of the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, which
gathered in the Confederate Home,
1922 Vermont avenue, today for the
purpose of once more attempting to
elect a District president, with such
velocity that the meeting narrowly
missed being completely wrecked by
having half of the delegates walk out.
The convention today is an out
growth Of its predecessor last Feb
ruary. when six of the ten chapters
represented quit the hall in anger.
Mrs. Walter +. Hutton and her ticket
were declared elected by those who
remained. but the question was ap-
pealed to the national orga gauizatian.
which ruled that Mrs. Albion Tuck
should te considered de facto presi-
dent general Of the District until
after the national convention.
With the closing of the national
convention Saturday, Mrs. Tuck au-
tomdtically ceased to preside. and the
District chapters We're ordered to
convene and again select president
general. Mrs. Hutton was permitted
10 assume the duties Of that office in
the meantime and she appeared in
the chair, with her entire cabinet
grouped around her, when the dele
gates arrived this morning
Even before the Lords Prayer had
been reCited the bombardment Of
cross currents met, led by Mrs. Frank
Odenheimcr of the Political STUDY
Club. 1T was fully 10 minutes before
the opening prayer could be whis-
pered, and the inaugural hymn, How
Firm a Foundation" sung with but
slight display of enthusiasm.
Near Personal Tilt.
After the convention had decided,
with but one dissenting voice, to per-
nit two male reporters to remain in
the room, Mrs. Hutton began read
ing the call for the convention, con-
stantIy heckled, questioned and in
terrupted by members of the opposi-
tion. Personal conflict between two
delegates seemed possible during this
passage when one declared the other
had addressed the national president
general with "a voice like cannon
shot" The delegate to whom the
reference was addressed retorted that
at least she did not talk like a
hyeua.''
When the call had finally been read
ana interpreted by Mrs. Hutton. the
report of the credentials committee e
was heard, followed by minority re-
port. Mrs. w. i. Newman, chairman
of the committee, read the majority
report, crediting 1876 delegates with
votes. Miss Frances Weeks read the
minority report asking that only 90
be seated.
The seat of the entire wrangle
within the ranks of the Confederate
Daughters lies in those reports, aris-
ing over the seating of % delegates
from the Robert f. Lee Chapter in the
face of charges that all of the mem
bers of that chapter had not paid
their dues.
The minority contended that the
chapter had no legal right to pay the
dues Of delinquent members and the
majority leaders read rulings from
the national organization citing that
1T did.
Charges and counter charges of un-
truthfulnesS, forged letters and eva
sion flew thick and fast around the
hall by innuendo and the meeting
was carried along under tremendous
difficulties. Objection was raised at
every turn and time after time Mrs.
Hutton made rulings on matters with
the frank statement that those who
disagreed might have the right of ap-
peal elsewhere.