The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-22
The Row Over MI. Ahrens'
\ Admission Did Not De-
J velop Last Night.
his FRIENDS SCORE A VICTORY.
And an Amendment to the Constitu-
tion Will Curtail the Member
ship Committees Powers.

Contrary to general expectation the
meeting of the Cartaret Club last evening
was q quiet affair, and resulted, rs far as
it went, in a victory for the supporters OF
MI. Ahrens. 1t was the regular monthly
meeting, and more members were present
than have attended any other meeting OF
the club since it's organization. In fact,
n gentleman who was present said that
many members were present whom he
had never seen before on q similar oc.
casion.
AT the meeting Of the Membership
Committee on Thursday evening there
were eleven members present, one of
whom, Mr.. John NJ. Jones, was prepared
to cast a black ball against Mr.. Ahrens.
The constitution Of the club provides that
n black ball out Of six votes shall be
sufficient to reject the gentleman pro-
posed. Mr.. Jones claimed that under this
provision one black ball out of eleven was
sufficient, and after an angry dispute
The Board refused to go on to a final de-
cision of b matter and an adjournment
was taken to last evening.
EVERYBODY AME
Since that time 1t had been declared
that each side would come prepared to
anihilate the other, and the prospect of
not only witnessing but also participating
in n Of the liyeliest club rows on rec
ord prompted many a member who
would otherwise have remained within
the bosom of his family to brave the
threatening storm and make his way
through the mud and to the clubhouse.
The members began to arrive, singly, in
pairs and In little groups, long before the
time fixed for the meeting.
UnuSuaI precautions were taken to
keep out all who were not connected with
the club. The massive front door which
Is almost always kept open was locked,
and one of the ervan was on guard,
and carefully scrutinized each member as
he entered. Every n who appeared at
the door who was not o member was po-
litely turned away.
When the meeting was called to order
it was about half-past eight O'Clock and
the large meeting room was well filled.
If any of the adherents Of the Jones side
of the great controversy were present they
did not make themselves conspicuous or
raise the slightest objection to the pro-
ceedings.
TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
After the usual routine and some unim-
portant business had been transacted, a
communication was read from the Board
of Governors which, In substance, stated
that it was evident that the Membership
Committee had abused its power and that
1t had too much power anyhow. The
governors therefore recommended that
Che constitution be amended so that the
action of the Membership COMMITTEE could
be revised by the club, and also that Mr..
George b Edwards be authorized to take
the necessary steps for bringing about the
proposed change.
The recommendations of the governors
were adopted without any show of oppo-
sitfon, and the friends of Mr.. Ahrens were
jubilant. As Mr.. Edwards was the gen
tleman who proposed Mr.. Ahrens for
membership his supporters looked upon
this action as a victory for their side.
Mr.. Livingston extended an invitation
to the club to attend q meeting to be held
this week at the Court House to consider
the new park question. The meeting adj
journed after being in session but little
over half an hour.
Mr.. EDWARDS GOES TO WORK.
The lights in the meeting room were
then put out, and the members went
down stairs to discuss the merits of the
proceedings after the name of the aver
age club man.
Mr.. Edwards lost no time in taking the
first steps toward carrying u his in
structions. He prepared the usual notice
required to be given when a change in the
constitution is proposed and proceeded to
obtain the necessary signatures. This he
he did without much trouble and there is
every prospect that at the next meeting of
the club the Membership Committee will
be shorn of much of its autocratic power.
1t WINS said by of the prominent
members of the club that no more direct
action was taken in the case of Mr.. Ahrens
because Of the absence of Mr.. c. b. Thurs
ton, who has SO ~zealously championed Mr..
Ahrens' cause.