Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-02
OFFICES MOVED FROM WILLARD'S
Mr.. A. N. CIapp Tells the Story Of
the Trouble.
NJ RE SIGN Alto S

man approached the hotel Office and inquired
where the Union Republican Club had it's
/ headquarters in the hotel.
1.-The Union Republican Clubs moved"
was the laconic response.
"Where to-"
Dunno" replied the clerk. 1T packed up
| and moved out bag and baggage this morn
! ing, but where it went l don't know. No
word was left here as to its destination"
| Star reporter was also in search of the
| club and located it in the third story of Nc
| !r23 F street. Mr.. George S. Emery, the
! secretary; MIR. H. c. Crafts, recently ap-
| pointed chairman of the auditing commit
| lee, and several others were at work ar
| ranging the furniture and papers. They
| were all glad to see the reporter and tell
| about the recent troubles in the organi-
| zatiOn.
| Story of the Trouble.
| ''Fhere have been fifteen designations re-
ported i'll the papers, said Mr. Crafts.
! but only two have been received in writ
ing and properly made out. There are $50
| members in the club SC fifteen going out
don't hurt it any. They were the men who
| wanted to run things their own way, any
| how. Why. ten out of the fifteen were de-
linquent in their dues, weren't they, Mr..
| Enery?'
| Yes, indeed" said Mr.. Emery. Then
| Mr.. Emery turned over the leaves of d
book containing what appeared to be the
| individual accounts of the club members.
| and pointed out where Col w. W. Dudley,
| Col. Charles T. Lincoln, Mr.. b. F. Craw-
shaw and other well-known members of
| the club owed ~ cents each on the quarter
| beginning January l. 1896.
My books are absolutely correct, said
Mr. Emery land every cent received by
me since the club organized has been fully
| accounted for to the full satisfaction of the
| auditing committee as shown by it's re-
ports.
| That's gospel truth" said Mr. Crafts,
| land there'd be more money in hand if this
| sik-stocking element that is kicking up
| all this fuss would pay their dues. They'll
have to pay their dues before they can re-
sign, or We'll eXpel them.
I'VE told Mr.. Lewis. at Wizards that
We were not running away. but would pay
| him what We owed him just as soon as We
| collected the money said Mr.. Emery.
The New Quarters.
"These quarters are more commnduus,
too said Mr. Crafts, land have our
own hall besides. This room costs only $40
per month. while the hall will cost us 30
meeting"
Mr.. Emery and Mr.. Crafts and the 9TH
ers present reiterated their declarat ons
about the ''silk-stocking element trying to
run the club. and being disgruntled at their
failure to do so. and said there was no
fear about the future of the club beirg af-
tive committee.
1.-The fact is" said Mr. Crafts. ''that The
element l speak of wanted to have Col. c.
p. Lincoln made president, Mr.. B. F. Craw-
shaw secretary and Mr.. Lewis Clepha ne
treasurer, and when 1t was found this
couldn't be accomplished, there was
kick"
What Mr.. \. VI. Clnpp Says.
! Mr.. y. NJ. Clapp, who is the first hon.
| orary vice president of the club was met
| by Star reporter this morning and asked
what caused the sudden disruption in the
| ranks of the organization. Mr.. Clapp said
| his position ir it was merely that of a
high private. He had joined because it
was represented to be in the interest of
| the success and predominance of republic
can principles and men in the administra-
ton of the United States government. Cor
tinuing, he said: u only know, from d
careful observation of the working of the
club under its official guidance. Every
thing went along smoothly enough until
the assembling of Congress with repub-
lican House Of Representatives, and the
distribution of it's patronage began"
What had that to do with the club.'
asked the reporter
Just this, as | understand it. The sec
Rotary of the club discovered or Thought he
| did. that the House of Representatives
had been guilty Of grave offense against
republican integrity by giving a clerkship
OF some Importance to an alleged demo-
| crat. and he introduced a series Of resor-
| tons bitterly arraigning and denouncing
a republican House for doing such a wick
ed thing. This was the first symptom of
inharmony that had discovered in the
club. Several of the older members an
tagonized these resolutions as inopportune
uncalled for and disastrous to the future
harmony and welfare of the club for the
reason that it was not wise policy for the
club to make war upon the popular branch
of Congress. which was largely republican.
The secretary had his trained forces on
md md
This was declaration of war against re-
publicans in Congress and upon members
| of the club, who regarded it's action IS
unwise and impolitic, and without proper
| jurisdiction. as the club had not ostensihlv
been organized for any such purpose
From that day harmony in the club has
| been in a disturbed condition.
We'll, is that episode the sole cause of
the present rupture in the club?" INQUIRED
the reporter.
Looking Into the Finances.
"Oh, no; that was only symptom that
| the body was diseased. but other things
brought the character and extent of the
real malady to the surface. Soon after this
ridiculous ffasco relating to the House of
Representatives, the executive committee
which, under the constitution had super
vision of the general interests of the club
ascertained that the club with a boasted
membership Of from GOO to 900 was in debt
with an exhausted treasury to fall back up
! on. Then the wonder grew-what. had be-
come of the money? If the club had 900
paying members those 800 members would
have brought to the treasury 500 for in
| itiations and the dues for the year would
| If paid, have added some 5000 more This
condition led the executive committee to
| take steps toward an Investigation into the
| financial condition of the club
at appointed a subcommittee to call for
| the secretary and his books to appear be-
fore the committee at given time fol that
purpose. The response was an imperti-
| nont personal letter to Mr.. Lewis Clephane,
with a refusal to comply with the request
| Then the executive committee attempted
| to make a report of their action to the
| club at its regular meeting on the even
| ing of the 9th Of March, when the presi-
dent of the club vacated the chair and
| filed it with one who held no official posi-
| ton in the club, when its first vice presi-
| dent was present, thus offering an insult
| to that officer because he was ex-officio a
| member of the executive committee as
| was the president himself. Then the pres
| ident declared that he had advised the
| secretary to resist the orders of the ex-
| ecutire committee, under the pretext that
| to do SO would violate resolution of the
| executive committee against making pub
| lie the name of the clubs membership.
This was a mere subterfuge on it's face
| for the reason that the books of the sec
/ rotary were not called for to exnose our