The San Francisco call., 1896-01-10
MEAD FIRES HOT SHOT.
The Secretary of the Manufac-
turerS Replies to James
Sproule.
FIGHTING OVER PROF. SMITH
A Demand to Have a Director Re.
moved From the Investigating
Committee.


turers' and Producers Association. does
not propose to sit quietly by and permit
Director James Sproule to assert that the
affairs of the association have been mis-
managed and neglected; more than that
Mr.. Mead is radically opposed to having
Mr.. Sproule's friend, Professor Emory
Smith, late of Stanford University, being
put into the association as manager of the
organization.
The trouble started a week or two ago
when it became rumored among the di-
rectors that Mr.. Sproule was making an
effort to oust Mead and his assistants from
the office and put his friend Emory Smith
in to manage the affairs. The first public
indication that there was discord in the
ranks was on Tuesday, at the meeting of
the directors, when Sproule requested that
the directors go into secret session-"exec-
utive" session, as be termed it. Several of
the directors opposed secret sessions, but
his request was respected and the repre-
sentatives of the press left the room.
The secret session was short, but long
enough for Mr.. Sproule to make a speech,
in which, it is said, he advocated change
in the management of the association and
that q manager be employed to run the
business. He made q failure, for his mo-
tion was SO amended that the substitute
bore no resemblance to the original mo-
ton. By the amendment the chair was
directed to appoint committee of three
to investigate the work OF the association
in the past and the efficiency of the man
agemen On this committee were ap-
pointed James Sproule, NJ. J. Keller and
w. f. Bowers.
Even the substitute failed to remove the
sting OF Sproule's dart. Secretary Mead
had in his pocket a letter from Sproule
that caused him anything but pleasure.
The principal feature of that letter Mr..
Mead regarded as a reflection upon him,
and how far he was correct may be judged
from the letter itself, which reads:
Without any prejudice whatever to
your good self, for whom l have the greatest
respect-both personally and in a business
way-I must say, with all possible emphasis,
that am in favor of a radical change in
the detail management of our associations
affairs. We languishing, and with the
limited time at your disposal to keep hold of
matters 1t is more necessary now than ever be-
lore TO resolve our affairs into state of perma-
nent efficiency.
Looking around for q man in whose ability,
energy and foresighteduess, in whom l. for
one, could have confidence, | have not been
able TO locate any more suitable man than
Emory {. Smith, who, l believe, has been 10 see
you and quite number of the directors OF the
ASSOCIATION. We need manager to take full
charge OF matters under the direction OF the
board-a man who Will be every hour of the
day on deck with the interests of the asSocia-
uon solely in mind and in hand.
shall give the gentleman named such earn
est advocacy as l believe the needs of the asso
citation and his eligibility warrant.
Mr.. Mead took all this with as much
grace as the circumstances would permit,
but he rave vent TO his feelings Yesterday
upon reading published interview with
Mr. Sproule. In the interview the latter
says that he has no personal feeling
against the former, nor is he making a
canvass for Professor Smith in particular
for the position of manager. Mr.. Sproule
was reported as saying:
Ny resolution was an expression of my be-
lief that the association was in need of some
person who could devote all his time TO
the advancement of the interests of the as
sociat ton. The difficulty lay in the
fact that Mr.. Mead did not have time TO attend
TO the affairs of the association as 1 believe
they should be attended to. Mr. Mead has
often told me that he could not spare the time
to personally attend TO the association busi-
ness.
This aroused the secretary's ire. Mr..
Mead said yesterday:
do not know how Mr.. Sproule got his infor
nation that have not the time to attend to
the business of the association. Since | have
been the secretary of this organization, have
given all the time that required to the
affairs, as the association has been my hobby
1t is not necessary for me TO sit in the Office ten
hours day. Mr. Dingle, the assistant secre-
tary, attends to The routine and detail matters
but know OF everything of Importance that is
being done, and direct all the business One
time did tell Mr.. Sproule that did not have
the time TO attend to projected matter that
would have required the services of corps OF
clerks.
l am not at all pleased that he should accuse
me or neglecting my duties, for that is practi-
cally what his resolution and interview means.
l claim, with some pride, that the associations
affairs have been managed remarkably well,
considering the means we have had at our dis
posal. do not receive any compens alton for
my services as secretary, and the others in the
office are not overpaid.
There is another matter that I am going to
bring before the president, Mr. Scott. Mr..
Sproule practically made charges that the
affairs are mismanaged and neglected, yet Mr.
Scott put him on the investigating committee.
To this will protest, as object TO having Mr..
Sproule act as the complainant and then sit as
juror on my case. / have sent President
Scott the following letter:
SAN Francisco, January g. 1896
Henry T. Scott Esq, President Manufacturers
and Producers Associdtion-DEAR SIR: Alta meet
ing OF the BOARD Of directors of the Manufacturers
and Producers Association of California, held at
this Office January z, Mr.. James Sproule offered
the following resolution:
ResoJved, That a committee of three be appointed
by the chair to consider and report at early day
upon the advlsabiltty of employing manager who
sbau receive instructions from and be Responsible
the board of directors; and also, II possible, to
nominate a tor the position who be
secured at salary within the means of the associa-
ton and assume office at the pleasure OF the board.
To which, after being seconded, Mr.. NJ j. Keller
offered amendment as follows:
RESOLVED, That the chair appoint committee OF
three TO investigate the work of the association in
the past, the efficiency of the management, and
recommend plans looking to renewal of the work.
Which amendment was adopted by the board of
directors.
Under this resolution you appointed commit
tee, consisting of MesSrs NJ. J. Keller, James
Sproule and w T. Bowers. 10 make the investiga-
tion called for in the amended resolution.
As this investigation should be judicial in its
character and impartial / deem it important that
the members of this committee should be not only
active and thoroughly well informed, but abso-
lutely impartial 10 the end that the best interests
OF the association may be promoted. think
fully justified in asking you to reconsider your APP
po!ntment of James Sproule member OF that
committee. ] shall presume that the work of this
committee Is Intended to be and indeed IL ought to
be impartial and fair and am persuaded that Mr..
Sprouie Is TOO strongly biased to give this work i'm
partial consideration.
thlnk have a right to make this assertion from
the conduct of Mr.. Sproule, which has become a
matter or record with this association, and there
fore request that you c1nsider this appointment
and put in Mr.. Sproue's place on this committee
aD impartial and fairmnded man. Awaiting YOUR
reply am very truly yours, l.. X. MEAD.
So much for the charges and insinuations OF
Mr. Sproule and the matter of having him re-
moved from the committee. Now as to MI
1nt