The San Francisco call., 1896-05-01
President Sylvan WELLS Res
ignation Was Given
Forever.
FRENCH SOCIETY TROUBLES.
A General Meeting Will Have to Be
Called Soon to Nominate New
Candidates.

The resignation of Sylvan WE'LL. as
president of the Societe Francaise de
BienfaIsance Mutuelle, followed by those
of ten out of fifteen directors Of that insti-
tuition at its meeting Wednesday night, has
thrown the French colony into fever OF
excitement.
President Well has held that Office
seven times, and thrice he has been vice.
president. These honorary offices and the
fact that he was member OF the board OF
directors of the society Is far back as
1867, have educated the 1000 member OF
the society in the State to believe that
without him at the helm, the whole thing
would go to pieces.
The CALL in yesterdays issue gave an
exclusive account of how Mr.. WE'LL and
the ten directors came to resign their port
folios.
Yesterday two of the only four directors
IN fifteen who did not resign were closeted
with Mr.. WE'LL pleading with him, in be-
half of the Frenckmen OF this State, to
withdraw his resignation.
These gentlemen were full of assurances
that the other directors would follow Mr..
Wells example in going back into the
society as they had in quitting it.
These gentlemen were Messrs. Lemon
and BocqueraZ, and they were joined by
Z. A. Bergerot, one of the men who re-
signed but who declared that he had done
1T in moment of excitement, believing 1T
the best policy, but who would withdraw
his resignation.
1t is well understood that, in addition
to Mr.. Bergerot's resignation, those of
Messrs. Fogothey and Carraine are to be
Withdrawn. g:
1t is not unlikely that Secretary ].
Deschamps will also go back into the fold,
for the simple reason that without him
the remaining directors, who are new in
their office, can hardly get along without
his AID. He reserves his right, however,
to retire as soon as the interests OF the
society will be sure of protection.
Sylvan WE'LL was seen at his place of
business yesterday afternoon. He was
flushed with the excitement of standing
oil his friends and advisers, who wished
him to again assume the reins OF the
society.
t1attering as they are" he said 81 re-
signed out OF principle, not from a spirit
of anger.
"The cause of it is plain: Drs. Brigham
and Boyd have served gratis and with the
most satisfactory results for the society
during many years. To not re-elect them
was an affront the committee never should
have inflicted upon men to whom they are
morally indebted-capable men, who have
been OF lnestimable benefit to our organ
lzatlon. l as president of the society re-
signed because l did not want to lend my
backing to this faux pas. 1 regret that
my resignation was followed by those of
ten other directors, especially that some OF
those who resigned were voters in favor of
Drs. De Marville and Mayer, as against
Drs Brigham and Boyd.
These directors, as [ told them at the
time, should have had the courage of their
actions. and, having secured the election
OF DE MarvilIe and Mayer, they should
have stood by their guns and not sur
rendered.
The only thing to do now with the
society Is TO call a general meeting, which
L Will do in day or So that candidates
may be presented for election to take the
places Of the directors who have resigned,
Will not allow my name to be placed be-
fore the meeting.
81 have got enough of the whole thing,
and will not again have anything to do
with the executive end of the society until
those fractious elements in it can see that
they cannot conduct the institution as
well as did the old board
1t Is likely that the general assembly
will be called for two weeks from next Sun
day.
DIR. Bourgognon de MaryiIle, the newly
elected surgeon, stated last evening that
he would make no changes in the person.
mel OF the hospital, and that it was not
likely that any but very minor positions
would be shaken up bit The cursorv
observation he has had of the French
Hospital has impressed him with the onin-
ion that it would be hard to better its SER.
vice.