Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-14
NJ. |. S. A. A. Communication.

BrNnsW lex. Nc. MIR. u. Z

Brunsw lex, Me, Mar II, 90.
To the Editors Of the kcnDcbec journal:
Will you kindly allow me space in your
columns in which 10 answer the article
appearing in Thursday Joutnal and
purporting to be an expression of the
opinion of the Wateryille high school
regarding the ii. !. S. A. A. meeting here
saturday:
! certainly fail 70 see how The legality
Of that meeting can at AL lie questioned
Ii is generally conceded that President
Goidthwai'c had no authority to postpone
the meeting rs the constitution distinctly
provides that the annual meeting shall be
held in Brunswick on the first Saturday
of March and Of coarse no individual can
alter the constitution.
When the hour for the delegates 10
assemble arrived as the president was
absent l. as vice president. called the
meeting TO order and we proceeded to
elect officers ana transact other business
The point which seems to be made
against the legality Of this meeting is
that there we're not enough schools repre-
sented to constitute quorum for the
transaction oe business. The corstitu
ton Of this association says nothing
ahont the number Of schools or the NUN
Der Of delegates necessary to constitute
quorum ami it is Il principle of paria
mentary law that in tho absence Of such
provision quorum IS presumed II Be
present unless the question of a quorum
being present is raised in which ease
majority OF members is held 10 constitute
a quorum. tSee Reeds rules.) After the
roll call | waited to give the members
present an opportunity to raise the qucs
ton of q quorum but rs no one did so the
meeting proceeded tn take mp matters
under the next head of the order Of busi
ness.
Regarding the presence of Mr.. Marston
and my self without credentials it is only
necessary to say that the constitution does
not req ure the presentation of credentials
and moreover neither Mr.. Marston nor
myself voted in the meeting. As to my
right to preside, Of course the president
and in his absence the vice president
presides whether he is duly accredited
delegate from any school or not.
With reference to the so-called pert
iuent question" asked by Waterville. IF
the president had 10 power under the
constitution to postpone meeting, who
could do it," l will say that meeting
can only be postponed by changing the
constitution.
The meeting must come together on
the first Saturday in March and then if
it wishes to postpone the consideration OF
its business to another day i5 may ad
journ to that day, but it must come to-
gether on the first Saturday in March and
it makes no difference whether it be held
in one building or another so long as it is
held in Brunswick. The second part Of
this so-ca!!td pertinent question" is
therefore irrelevant aud absurd.
Before acting upon some of the bust
ness brought up the meeting felt it neces
sary to get some information from ex-
Pres. Woodbridge regarding the past
action CT the association and the privileges
OF The floor were extended to him for that
purpose. a courtesy also extended TO Mr..
Pierce of Colby.
| do not see how either Watervile or
Bangor can find fault with what was
done at the meeting.
EDWARD W. WHEELER.