The San Francisco call., 1896-01-22
Changed the Bylaws and Will
Hold an Election in
February.
SEVERAL DIRECTORS OBJECTED.
A Proposition to Hold Home Product
Exposition in the Pavilion Next
April.

II was the most important meeting nelu
since its Incorporation last September.
Two propositions were under considera-
tion, the holding of a grand home indus
try exposition IN the Mechanics Pavilion
and he holding of an election of directors
next month. The second was the most
important, for according to several of the
directors it involves points that are not
fully understood. In other words, they are
satisfied that there is a dusky complex
ioned gentleman in the associations fuel
aggregation.
At a special meeting last week the presi-
dent, H. T. Scott, sprung a surprise upon
the majority of the board by advocating
that the second convention of manufac.
ture1s be held in the Iatter..part of next
month; that the board of directors resign
and that an election of a new board be
held. He explained that the associations
first board of directors was elected a year
ago and that when the association was in
corporated last September another board
OF eleven directors was elected by the
stockholders TO continue in office for one
year. However, he added there are many
members who have the idea in their minds
that the annual election should be held in
March, instead of September. He for one
did not desire 20 have the appearance of
hanging on 10 the position. He desired
the members, although they are not stock
holders, to have something to say as to who
should be the directors.
This proposition was sprung upon the
meeting Immediately after another rumpus
had been patched up. a week before Di-
rector Sproule had made an effort to re-
move Secretary Mead Assistant Secretary
Dingle and Promoter (recently named
manager) Tacy from office. A private
letter showed that he wanted fn pIapa his
friend Professor Emory E. Smith, late of
Stanford University, IN as general mana
ger. The plan failed TO carry, for an in
vestigating committee reported that the
affairs of the association had been we'll
conducted and that there was no reason
foT making a change. Shortly after came
President Scott's proposition for another
election, five or six months after the last
election. But little was said of the propo-
Sltion at the time, as nearly all seemed to
be taken by surprise. Directors Sproule,
Sonntag and Keller were appointed as a
committee to look into the question, and
the committee met before the regular
meeting. Sproule and Sonntag favored
holding the election, but Keller opposed it
upon the ground that the present board
had been legally elected in September by
tGe members of the association when this
body was incorporated. Furthermore, the
suggestion that all the members should
tender their designations IN order that a
new board might be legally elected would
inspire the members with distrusu, particu-
iarly after an investigation, and more par
tlcularly Just preceding a movement to
hold a home industry exposition. At
anv rate, he maintained that the effect
would be confusing and demoralizing
upon the members of the association.
However, he would not file a minority re-
port, and the ideas of Mr.. Sproule and
MI Sonptag prevailed, and with the re-
port favoring the holding of an election
was a recommendation that the incorpora-
tion's bylaws be changed so as to permit
of holding an election.
The regular meeting was called, with
VicePresidenJ Sonntag in the chair and
Directors Moore, Mclaughlin, McGlynn,
Sbarboro, Keller, Currier, Saroni, Bowers
and Secretary Mead present. The first
matter taken up was the following report
OF Manager Tacy upon the proposed ex-
position:
The Office force of the association has been
engaged since the 1st of January in the com
pilatiOn of the annual report submitted at the
meeting OF the board of directors on the 10th
inst, gathering Information for the commit
tee on japanese question, preparing reports
for committees and preparing matter for the
contemplated exposition OF home products.
We have secured temporary option on the
Mechanics Pavilion Tor the last two weeks of
March and the month OF April, but find that it
will be necessary to make application to the
board of directors of the Mechanics Institute
10 secure a lease OF the building for exposition
purposes. That board meets tonight January
ID and we would suggest that some one be
autnorlZed 10 appear before them and apply
for lease OF the building for the above-stated
time, or secure an option for that period. The
board OF directors viii not meet again for
two weeks.
If il is intended to hold the exposition in the
month OF April it is necessary that action on
TINS matter be not delayed, as considerable
time will be required TO prepare for it. In
order TO save time we have prepared pros
pectus, forms for application for space, rules
and regulations and drawings OF the building
10 submit TO the proper committees, when each
are appointed.
We are also preparing blank forms to get the
desired Information for the new directory of
home products.
We think that it would be of considerable
benefit to the association 10 print and dis
tribute the report of the special investigation
committee and the secretary's annual report at
once, and would request authority to do So
Respectfully submitted.
S. H. TAcY, Manager.
Director McGlynn went 10 the support
of the proposed exhibit with enthusiasm,
and urged that Manager Tacy be author
lied 10 secure the Mechanics Pavilion and
60 ahead with the arrangements. He said
that space enough could be sold to exhibit
tors to more than pay for the rental, and
thus the association would be making
money.
The Others hung back, for the February
election specter was evidently before their
vision. Director Keller said he was sure
that 1t would be a success if taken hold of
properly, but if there was lack OF inter
est, too much self-interest or discord man
iiested it would not be success. Mr..
Mead suggested that committee of three
investigate and decide upon the feasibility
OF the proposition. In the course of the
remarks made by others the February
election was mentioned. This brought
Director Bowers TO his feet with an in
Quiry as to what was meant The annual
election does not take place until Septem-
Der, he said. An explanation was given.
Mr.. Bowers looked greatly surprised, but
maze no remarks. At last it was decided
to send Directors McGlynn and Currier
and Manager Tacy to see the Mechanics
Institute people about the leasing of the
Pavilion.
1t was also decided to print and dis
tribute 5000 copies of the secretary's re-
port before the election.
The next business to be discussed was
the report of the special committee on the
annual meeting and the election and
amendment proposition, and the first OBJ
stacle encountered was the discovery that
Directors Moore, Saroni and Bowers had
quietly left the meeting and a tvo-thirds
majority of the eleven directors was lack