The San Francisco call., 1896-05-02
OLD GLORY HAS
BEEN SL|GHTED.
Cause Of the Trouble in the
French Benevolent
Society. !.
DIR. G.. BRIGHAM rs CALM.
Has Nothing to Say Excepting
He Was Stabbed in
the Back.
CALL FOR A GENERAL MEETING
Six of the Directors Who Resigned
Are Willing to Take Up Their
Portfolios Again.

the troubles of the Societe Francaise de
Bienfaisance Mutuelle can be abridged.
Quite the contrary the chasms between
the different factions appear to be growing
wider and likewise deeper.
AS ma tier OF fact there are new features
OF an international nature that are coming
to the front with threatening aspect.
The latter phase dates back to the 22d
OF February, Washington's birthday.
when Superintendent Wolff of the French
Hospital flew the French flag from the
center pole, leaving the poles on either
side unadorned. There was absolutely
no representation of the United States
colors, and from that time the signifi-
canoe of the lack of display has been an
object of controversy between the
American and French members of the
Societe Francalse de Bienfaisance Mu-
tuelle.
1t is now claimed that the tidal-wave
that swept over the societys meeting
three nights ago is the outcome of this
controversy and that DR.. Charles Brigham,
an American from Boston, was defeated
by DIR. Bourgougnon de Marville of France
principally because the victor was French
and the defeated was American.
In the case of DR.. Boyd, who was de-
feated by DR.. Mayer, the same conditi ons
exist to a very great exten t, only DR.
Mayer, while not exactly Frenchman, is
native of some province so near the
frontier that he was regarded as preferable
to any American.
This is the situation as it is represented
by the masses of Frenchmen, but which is
denied by the main members of the So
! ciety = those who know the inEide
| workings.
When DR.. de Maryille was elected instead
OF Charles Brigham the other night Presi-
dent Well resigned the presidency as well
as his position on the directory. Ten
other directors did the same thing, leaving
but four to conduct the society's affairs.
Since then six directors have reconsidered
their action, taken on the impulse of the
moment, and they are now back in the
directory, making ten in all. Their names
are: j. Deschamps, o. Bozio, Z. A. Lee
moln, +. Fagothey, L. Carraine, p. Games,
+. 2ueyrel, j. Berges, l.. Bocqueraz and j.
A. Bergerot.
1t is to be presumed that, from the show
ing the hot-headed directors have made
IN Withdrawing their designations the
society will not be left without govern
ment even if President WE'LL still persists
in being obdurate against the hundreds OF
French societaires who have called upon
him within the past seventy-two hours
begging him to withdraw his resignation.
Speaking on the subject yesterday, Mr..
Well said: II will absolutely not go back
to the presidency. l am pleased that the
other directors who resigned are going
back, because the society needs them.
They resigned out of mpliment to Drs.
Brigham and Boyd, who have been faith
full servants, and who never have received
cent OF pay from the society for their
services. l will call a general meeting of
the society, and we will have new elections
one week from tomorrow"
John Bergez: one of the only four d.
rectors out of fifteen who did not resign in
the wake of President WE'LL. stated that
he felt pleased at the eruption.
There seems TO be Misrepresentation
as to our action" he said. "There never
was an intent on our part to cast any as
| persion on DIR. Brigham or on DR.. Boyd.
we realize they have, without pay, worked
hard Tor the society, but at the same time
we also realize that in the case of DR.. de
Marvllle, he is younger man, without
the extensive practice of DR.. Brigham and
with more time to devote to the hospital
1t would really be too bad if we could
not use our right of suffrage when we be.
Ileye the betternent OF the society is at
stake. l do not think Mr.. WE'LL and the
other mem bers OF the directory gave the
subject thought or else they would not
have resigned.
II do not know anything that could be
SO disastrous to the organization as Mr..
WellPs resignation, and there is little that
L individually would not do to have him
recall his hasty decision. He is needed
IN the society and l hope ne will come
back"
A peculiar thing comes out now that
DR.. Mayer has been elected to take the
place OF DIR. Boyd as physician for nervous
| diseases.
1t seems that about two wears ago DR..
Mayer was q practitioner at the French
Hospital. he was not regularly employed,
| but he sent many pay patients there, and
| as It was his right he treated them.
| HE actually benefited the hospital to
the extent of $500 from patients fees
alone" member stated yesterday. "Then
| he got into some trouble or other, and the
| board OF directors of the society decided
| he would no longer be. accepted as a prac-
titioner IN the hospital. The doctor made
| numerous appeals, verbal and by letter.
| to the committee asking to be granted a
hearing, but to this very day his appeals
| have been unheeded.
''1t is my belief that the new committee
elected three weeks ago realized that the
| old committee had done an Injustice to
the doctor and, with desire to right a
wrong, elected him instead of Dr. BOYD.
thereby removing the stain or cloud rest
ing upon him."
weight over his defeat by DR.. de MarvilIe.
When seen in his Office in the Mills build
ing yesterday, he smiled and said, in his
own gentle way:
They have a perfect right to elect
whom they want. All that l know is that
both Dr. Boyd and l have done everything
consistent with our duty for the French
society and We also feel that, although we
were defeated at the recent elections. we
have the support to-day of the better ele-
ment in the French colony.
"Thereanever has been any emoluments
in the offices we held. but the honor of the.
positions was compensation enough. If
there have been some stabs in the back. /
am sorry for it, and I regret that the fric-
ton assumes an International phase