The morning call., 1892-05-12
OPETSON'S RESIGNATION.
He Refused to Lead the Mer.
chants in Political Battle.
Barry Baldwin, Merchant and Democrat,
Thinks the Association Should Affiliate
With Strong Party.

The resignation of Mr.. ]. B. Stetson from
the presidency of the Traffic Association
was the subject of considerable comment IN
railroad and commercial circles yesterday,
and sentiment seems to be pretty evenly d.
vided as to whether the organization has
been strengthened or weakened by his with
drawal Many members of the association
contend that strength in body Of this char
acter is not always to BIO found in numbers.
but rather in the united efforts Of chosen
few who will bend every energy for the at
tainment of a stated purpose irrespective
of creed, party or personal interest and that
the falling out of weak members only adds
solidity and standing to the organization as
a whole. Others claim that from the seeds
Of dissension gathered in the political field
and sown in the association by certain men,
bers will spring great harvest OF deser-
tions
Those who look with approval upon Mr.
StetSon's action In refusing to lead the asso-
citation into a political fight say that it is In
a fair way to 60 to pieces, though the eX-
president himself has not intimated such a
thing. Those who have opposed him on the
proposition say, NAY, we are stranger TO-
day than before his resignation" So the
case stands, having a hearing meanwhile
before the tribunal OF public opinion.
MR.. sTETsoN's REASONS.
Mr. Stetson was asked yesterday to ri
his reasons for resigning, and was found
rather more communicative than on the
previous evening.
Il resigned" said he, because could
not consistently lead the association into a
political fight | do not believe it sound
policy. and l will not participate in such an
action. What the members may do lndl-
vidually-that is another proposition. The
objects for which the association was Or
gained can be attained without utilization
with any political party, ana the stand
taken by the executive committee in the
matter is entirely wrong / am still men,
Der of this committee, and shall always be
found in hearty accord with the objects as
stated in our constitution, but as TO taking
the association into politics as a body /
shall oppose such a measure with all my
strength"
BARRY BALDWIN TALKS.
Second Viee-President Barry Baldwin
said; people lock TO political parties for
reforms, ana under our system Of govern
ment the correction OF abuses must neces-
sarily emanate from the source. If we are
too weak to compel justice at the hands OF
our oppTessors chen | am in favor of gain
ing strength by political alliance. A man
who is not willing 10 subordinate his polltl-
cal prejudiceS 10 the good Of the assocla-
ton. and work for avowed objects, is not
wanted, and the sooner We lose our weak
fOgies' the better for the merchants Mr..
Stetsoa threatened to leave US If the execu-
tive committee published MIR. Leeds last
address, or rather if they refused TO strike
out that portion referring 10 politics. The
address was published, and NJ. StetsOn has
resigned, but we are stronger to-day than
ever before. | am a Democrat"
THE OBJECTIONABLE LANGUAGE.
That paragraph in Manager Leeds COM
munication to which Mr.. StetsOn took ex-
ceptiOn, as committing the association to
an embarkaton into the pool of politics Of
which he could not approve, reads as fol-
lows:
1 would recommend that every EFFORT OF this
association be put forth 10 wipe out every YES
tige OF railroad legislation I ON the constitution
and tie stJtute-bOoks which has any bearing
upon rates and fares. THIS, Of course. can only
be accomplished by making this a question OF
politics and by the election OF a Legislature
pledged 10 carry out such policy. Besides
this, an effort should be made 10 remove the
present BoaId Of Commissioners from 0 flee
with as little delay as possible. II II
becomes necessary TO MAKE a political fight, our
support individually aud collectively should be
thrown TO those who are pledged 10 our hight
regardless Of political party or any olher consid-
eTaliOn.