The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-12
The Vote Will Be Taken To-
night and a Lively Time
Is Expected.
THE ART QUESTION UPPERMoST.
The Supporters Of Mr.. Evans and
Those of Mr.. Shepardson Are
Making a Hard Fight.

The annual election Of the Palma Club
VIII take place this evening, and the adj
herents Of the various candidates are con-
fldent of success.
All the good-natured little differences
which have existed for some time over
the affair have sunk into insignifcance
before the contest which has arisen over
the position of Chairman of the Art Conn
mittee.
Mr.. Ira A. Shepardson was selected By
the Nominating Committee, and Mr.. w.
i. Evans, who has held the position since
its organization, is running on what is
known in the political world as sssplit
ticket''
One of the most potent factors in this
controversy is the Art Association of the
club This association is composed Of
about one hundred and fifty of the art
loving members Of the club, and was
formed under these circumstances
ORGANIZING THE ART ASSOCIATION.
Aboxt eighteen months ago Mr.. Evans
commenced to solicit subscriptions at the
club house for the purpose of purchasing
pictures for the walls of the parlors. AS
this was against the bylaws of the organ
ization, Mr.. Evans was obliged to discon-
tinue his efforts in that direction.
Then, at the suggestion of the president,
the Art Association was organized, and
stock was issued.
Those who had already subscribed were
given shares, and many others purchased
~.
of the association.
The money thus acquired was used to
purchase the pictures which now hang on
the walls Of the club house.
Mr. Evans purchased these pictures, and
it is the course which he is said to have
pursued in making those purchases that
has aroused the opposition to him.
WAS MR.. EVANS wAsTEFUL?
I met prominent member of the Art
Association this morning, and in talking
of this matter he said:-"I wonder If it has
ever occurred to the members of the club
who are opposed to Mr.. Shepardson that
the money subscribed for the purchase Of
pictures for the club had been spent with
O lavish hand; that the prices paid in New
York studios for the benefit of New York
artists was at our expense; that pictures
of equal merit could have been purchased
at one-third of the price paid for them.
was ample to furnish the club house with
good and valuable pictures such as had
not been rejected by New York clubs.
MAKING A SPECIFIC CHARGE.
"The evidence of this fact has just been
furnished by pictures recently purchased
at auction and hung on our walls as
loan and bid for votes.
''One of these, marine by Arthur
Quartley, cost S135 in the auction room,
and is said by competent judges to be
superior to any picture in the club house
bought for our association in New York
studios at from $400 to $780,
"Our members all know that all our
pictures have been selected for us by one
man, who, at the time the purchases were
made, ignored every one else, even his
own Art Committee
'1t remains to be seen whether the club
will endorse this extravaganza and one
man power tonight, or will rebuke it by
electfng Mr.. Shepardson"
On the other hand, Mr. Evans friends
say that he has always been active in the
interests of the club; that he is undoubt-
edly the best judge of paintings in the
city, and that the loss of his services
would be deeply felt. They will make .
strong effort for him