The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-08
Attempts to Gust the Manufac.
turers' Association Sec
retarieS.
SMITH WANTS THE PLACE.
The First Outbreak in the Home Indus.
try Organization Quietly
Suppressed.

ings of the Manufacturers and Producers
Association was broken yesterday by an
attempt ON the part of James Sproule, the
seedman, to Gust the secretaries and clerks
and place one of his friends in the office
as general manager. This matter had been
brewing for week or two, but only a
few of the directors knew what was in the
wind, and even when X first came up in
yesterdays meeting several did not re-
alize what was coming.
When the directors met yesterday there
was a remarkably large gathering, nine
out of the eleven directors being present.
Those in attendance were H. T. Scott,
chairman and president of the association,
James Sproule, w. F. Bowers, L. R. Mead
(the secretary, NJ. McGlynn, NJ. J. Keller,
]. P. Currier, Julian Sonntag and r. S.
Moore. The meeting had hardly been
called to order when Mr. Sproule made
motion to 90 at once into secret ses-
sion, which was promptly voted down
until after the regular business was trans
acted, Mr.. Keller and MIR. Sonntag ex-
pressed themselves as opposed to secret
sessions in such organizations. They
advocated acting wisely in open session.
Alter the routine business was transacted
the reporters, Assistant Secretary Dingle
and Promoter lacey retired.
Then 1t was that Mr.. Sproule sprung
his plan He made speech, but what he
SAID was not reported by the directors
when they adjourned fifteen minutes
later. Some idea, however, may be
gathered of what he said from the tenor
of a letter he wrote to Secretary Mead sew
eral weeks ago, which had been perused
by number of the mem bers previous to
the meeting. In that letter he wrote:
Without any prejudice whatever to
your good self, for whom / have the greatest
respect-both personally ard in business
way must say, with all possible emphasis,
that am in favor of a radical change in the
detail management of our associations affairs
We are languishing, and with the limited time
al your disposal to keep hold OF matters it is
more necessary now than ever before 10 resolve
our affairs into state OF permanent efficiency.
Looking around for a man in whose ability,
energy and foresighJedness, in whom !, for
one, could have confidence, l have not been
unable to locate any more suitable man than
Emery L. Smith, who, l believe has been TO
see you and quite number of the directors OF
the association. We need manager to take
the board-a man who win be every hour of
the day on deck with the interests OF the asso-
citation solely in mind and in hand.
l shall give the gentleman named such earn
est advocacy as believe the needs of the asso-
citation and his eligibility warrant.
Mr.. Sproule followed his speech by Of
fering a resolution TO the effect that a
manager be appointed, who should take
charge of the entire management of the
Office and be subject to the direction of the
board of managers, at a salary within the
means of the association.
The combination did not work, for
substitute offered by MIR. Keller was
adopted providing that the chairman
should appoint a committee of three,
whose duty it should be to review the
work of the association in the past and
look into the efficiency of the present
| managers and to recommend plans look
ing 10 a renewal of the work OF the asso-
citation and the carrying out OF the aims
and objects for which it was organized.
On this committee were appointed
Keller, Sproule and Bowers.
So far as could be learned, Mr.. Sproule
| RETAINED from using the name of the
gentleman he advocated in his letter.
Emery E. Smith is said to be personal
| friend of Mr.. Sproule. He was recently
professor of agriculture at the Leland
Stanford Jr. University, and upon leaving
his position decided that he would like to
steer the associations ship through the
troubled sea OF commercial uncertainty.
Mr.. Sproule's efforts so far to put the pro-
| lessor in command have failed
Back of all this there is said to be another
motive for discomfort which extends far
back of Mr.. Sproule. The association was
organized for the purpose of encouraging
home manufactures and home industries
The very interests of the association are
said to be in conflict with the personal in
terests of some of the members who, it is
broadly limited, handle Eastern made
goods. Secretary Mead is not at the asso-
citation office much of the time, and the
duties and responsibilities of the position
fall upon the assistant secretary, f. II.
Dingle. The latter has hewed to the line
upon the subject of patronizing home in
dustries, and the chips have evidently
dropped upon some ones toes where
they hurt. Letters have been sent to
many public and private institutions in
the name of the secretary demanding that
home products be used, which rumor
states conficted with the individual inter
ests of members of the association.
In several instances the writer of the
writing too freely and without proper
understanding of the subjects contained
therein. In nearly every instance his ac-
tions were sustained by q majority of the
board of directors.
The thought has been expressed that by
removing Mead, Dingle and Tacey and
putting Professor Smith in as general
manager the latter could steer clear of
some of the rocks that are hidden from
public view below the surface.
Whatever may be the true inwardness of
the whole affair, there is one thing that is
regarded as certain. That is that the ap-
pointment of the committee will have the
effect OF putting every member on his
mettle to throw more vigor into the asso-
citation. 1t is believed that general over
hauling of the work done will suggest new
lines upon which the association can
and fostering home industries.