The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-24
LIVELY POLITICS.
The Newly Organized
Union=Square Club.
Ct. II. WILLIAMS ENDORSED.
Members Dispute Over PrinCi-
pies of independence.
q. H. WILLIAMS ENDORSED.
PARLIAMENTARY LAW LESSONS
A Meeting in Which Several Honor
able Members Vie for Posses.
sion of the Floor.

There was a lively meeting of the
Union-square Social and Political Club
held last evening in California Hall.
This is a newly developed organization.
composed of politicians who intend. so far
as their club is concerned. to renounce
party feeling and become known as an in
dependent body. The Union-square Club
now comprises the National Club, the
Africo-American League and the Barnes
Volunteers.
A few weeks ago a resolution was drawn
up by which every member, seeing that
diSsension had spread in the ranks of the
Union-square Club, and that the present
organization was neither Democratic nor
Republican. and that it was undesirable to
affiliate with any political Bosses" pledged
himself as a good and true citizen to in
dorse the nomination of George ii. Will
liams as Senator of the Twenty-fourth
District.
A host of people assembled. among them
many cOlOTed members of the Africo-
American League. John Peters, president
OF the club, was in the chair. with William
Gaffney as secretary. TIE last named was
called upon to read the minutes of the
March meeting, containing the all
important resolution.
But Attorney James II. Long happened
that way, and the meeting, political or
otherwise, was never held whereat Jim
Long did not hold forth in rhetoric. He
acted up to his reputation last evening.
No sooner had Secretary Gaffney read the
resolution than some one shouted Jim
Long" anG the worthy attorney arose.
Long said taat he understood this was
an independent organization. Were the
members aware that under parliamentary
laws they had no right 10 iIdorse anybody?
NJ. j. FLYNN was prominent i'll the assem-
OF order. What he desired was that
recess of ten minutes should be taken 10
which every member could sign the roll.
A yell upTose. Let's do our business
first. and then go on with your motion"
said several politicians.
One or two Africans rose to address the
meeting but we're shouted down, and in
the chaos that reighed the chairman was
noneutiiy. In vain he called for order.
II claim the floor" yelled Long.
81 rose TO point of order" insisted
Flynn. Let my motion be put"
Mr.. Bernard said he was financial secre-
tary of the club. Somebody said: Put
him out" Whereupon Bernard was heard
to say that the task was beyond man 'ss
execution.
MIR. Calender of the African League
tried to say something, but the bowls that
greeted his uprising drowned the words of
elOQuence.
1t was more than chaos for moment OF
two. Flynn did most of the talking, how
ever, and, although the chairman called
order and waved his stick fraDtically,
there was no chance for him. A sugges-
ton from an honorable member that a
new chairman and secretary be elected re-
celved uproarious applause.
Then a new departure was taken. Mr..
Bernard Informed the meeting that be de-
sired To tender his resignation.
Write it out" yelled the multitude.
Il tender ii here publicly" was the
sc0rnful reply. why should l write it ?"
81 move its acceptance" rOared Flynn,
and the motion was unanimously carried.
A vote of thanks tor his efficiency in office
provoked another row, the noes" almost
drowning the "ayes."
Secretary Gaffney then made another
effort 10 read the resolution. But no
sooner had he got started than Jim Long
was on his feet again with desire TO know
whether he was 10 be considered an hon.
OTary member of the organization or not.
Certainly" was the cordial shout.
Long then said that under parliamentary
rules the resolution was all wrong. He
admired the secretary's reading powers
very much, but it was quite out of order.
The speaker was interrupted by NJ. j.
Flynn, who wanted the secretary to read
the constitution and bylaws for the benefit
of the new members present, so that they
might know what they were doing when
they signed the roll.
AfricO-American Calender rose TO an
other point OF order, his object being TO
express his enthusiastic admiration of
Mr.. Long. He was soon shouted down,
however, and FlYnn's motion being put to
the meeting was almost unanimously lost.
The only dissentient was Long. VINO thought
the point of order we'll taken.
Secretary Gatfney tried 10 make speech,
but the numerous points OF order risen TO
by the indOmitable Flynn rather stood in
the way of his brilliancy. Several honor
able members simultaneously expressed
various views at this moment. and as no
single one could be heard above the rest,
Chairman Peters was allowed some brief
authority. He decided thai Secretary
Gaffney held the floor.
The secretary said that the club was
formed for the sole purpose of supporting
George H. Williams. This is a Williams
club and none other" was his CRY. 1t be-
hooved all present TO stick together and re-
member that no party considerations
should divert them from their purpose.
Honorable Member O'Neil said that
there were some "backsliders" in the club
and that they were trying ''to burst itup."
Gus applause, amid which Long and Flynn
in vain endeayored TO get the floor.
Eventually it was decided that members
sh 0uld sign the roll at once, indorsing The
cand datuTe of Senator George II. Viii.
liams, and in a few minutes honorable
members, who had been menacing each
other by threatening looks aud gestures
for some two hours past, met together in
social converse.