Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-06
OUSTED BY PROXIES.
A Big Change Made in the
Blind Asylum Directors.
IT PROMISES A SENSATION.
The Organizers of the Institute Dis
placed by Other Men.
ANNUAL MEETING SURPRISES

ANNUAL MEETING SURPRISES
Fad the original incorporators of the
Western Pennsylvania Institute for the
Blind taken hold of an electric street rail
way trolley wire they could not have beer
more shocked than they were yesterday,
when Rev. E. R. Donehoo, Morris H. Dan
ziger, Prof. C. b. Wood and John A. Wood
were thrown overheard, and four other gen.
tlemen, who have been less prominent in the
affairs of the asylum, were elected In thell
stead. To say that the gentlemen displaced
were surprised is sarcasm. They were
stunned. The new board will meet Monday
next, when, it is said, a sensation in public
institution circles may be expected.
II was the annual meeting of the incorpo-
rators of the institution, and, as usual,
there was only small handful of gentle
men present. The meeting was held in the
parlors of the Y. NJ. C. A. building, and
those who attended were the few men who
have been working the thing up for the past
three years. The usual routine proceedings
passed off quietly enough, and there was
not a ripple to indicate the undercurrent of
the tide about to sweep over the heads of
the directors.
WHEN THE STORM BROKE.
The first intimation the directors had of
the movement to displace them was when
Major A. NJ Brown arose and said he had
a ticket to place in the field. He then
nominated as directors A. NJ. Marshall, w.
A. Heron, George W. Dilworth,
Benjamin Thaw, james Schoon-
maker, Harold Pierce, Dr. J. 6.
Brown, Percy f. Smith, and H. K. Porter.
Major Brown further stated that he was in
structed to vote by proxy for IL of the In
corporators. and then read the names of
those for whom he intended to vote. The
IL votes, including his own, which made
II, be said would be voted for the ticket he
nominated.
There were only IL votes cast altogether
at the meeting, and as Major Brown had u,
there was no necessity for further nomina-
nations. When it was seen that no other
ticket could be elected, five other gentlemen
voted in favor of Major Browns ticket.
The gentlemen present when the voting
took place were A NJ. Marshall, Major A.
NJ. Brown, Charles f. Dean, E. r. Done
hoo, George Dilworth, J. T. McCrory, Nor
ris h. Danziger, DR.. ]. G. Brown and W.
a. Heron. Among those who refused to
vote were Messrs. Donehoo and McCrory.
Protests were made against the ticket, and
it was stated that several of the gentlemen
elected had not given the subject one min
ute's thought. and had not subscribed
cent to the fund for the erection of the
building.
Major Brown was asked what was meant
by the election of the new members, and
why the others were displaced. He replied
that he did not know He was the attorney
of the IL gentlemen whose votes he cast. and
he could not say why they wanted the ticket
he presented elected.
AS TO THE MEMBERS.
When the corporation was organized there
was list of 25 incorporators. Since the
organization was effected two of the original
incorporators died, namely, William Thaw
and J. r. McCune. This left 23 gentlemen
still on the list, but only eight or ten ofthem
ever took any interest in the institution. 1t
is said the others time and again refused to
recognize the notices of meetings sent them,
and some of them went so far as to ask to
be taken off the list of incorporators.
Among the latter was Charles ]. Clarke,
who was put on as recognition of his
said. asked to be dropped from the list,
saying at the time that he would not give one
cent to the institutIea, on the grounds that
his time was so occupied with other mat
tiers that be could not give any thought to
the blind asylum.
Others were put on the list in the hope that
they would become interested in the move
ment, and were mere fgureheads in the Or
ganization. Several were placed among the
on account of their standing
and the effect their names would have when
the subscription books were opened for con-
tributions. They asked to be taken of, but
as the matter was not pressed, and there were
no others to take their places, the names
were left on the list, and they were voted at
the meeting yesterday. One of the directors
elected has not given dollar, it is said, to
the institution, although his name is on the
list.
1t was stated after the meeting that a
bitter feeling has been working against the
directors displaced for some time. and not a
person except those in the deal had any
that it was going on. The
trouble, it is claimed, was instigated by
DR.. Campbell, of the London Blind Asylum,
who was in the city last August, and is a
for the superintendency of the
Pittsburg institution.
SOME REASONS ALLEGED.
One of the gentlemen who is given the |
.redit for working the deal against Mr.. |
Donehoo is Harold Peirce, of Vauuxem,
Peirce & Co., Pittsburg agents of The New |
York Life Insurance Company. 1t is said |
Mr. Donehoo and Mr.. Peirce had dis |
lgreement sometime ago, and vengeance
vas threatened on Mr.. Donehoo. Be that |
IS it may, the vengeance came swiftly, and
truck bark Mr.. Danziger was opposed on
Is peculiar grounds. Prof. Wood, who is
principal of the High School, and John A.
Wood, the well-known coal operator, were
opposed on other grounds. Another whose
lead, it was sfterward stated, was to have
,een chopped of, was Percy f. Smith. The
after pulled through, however.
With the exception of John A. Wood, the
Gentlemen dropped were the most active
workers on the board. Mr.. Donehoo origi-
Isted the scheme of founding the asylum
bout four years ago, and worked night and
av to interest others. He took a trip to
Europe about year and half ago to see
drs. Schenley. He interested her to such
u extent that she decided the institution ten
cres of ground in Bellefeld for the asylum.
Ir. Danziger was also an active worker, and
legged money from people all over the
ountry for the asylum. Prof. Wood has
lso been active at the meetings of the Board
f Directors, and contributed literally to the
rganiEation.
DR.. Brown, who was one of the directors
leoted yesterday, is the manager OF the
eaf and dumb institute at Williamsburg.
After the meeting one of the proxy voters
-as met on the street, and when told of the
esult said he had been asked for his vote
nd gave it, not knowing what would be
one with it Major Brown was not blamed |
S he was merely acting as the attorney ior
|