The San Francisco call., 1896-04-22
TO BUILD OR
HIRE A HOME 2.
That Is the Question Now
Vexing Pacidc-Un
Clubmen.
THEIR ANNUAL MEETING
Peculiar Election Tactics Adopted
by the Advocates of
Progress.
THE RAILROAD INFLUENCE.
Regime of the Placid May Be Retired
in Favor of Up.to.Date Man.
agement.
THE RAILROAD INFLUENCE

The Pacific Union Club had an interest
ing, if not wildly exciting, election yes
terday. An annual election for directors
OF that placid and wealthy Institution is
not heralded by display of posters, the
engagement of carriages to bring in voters
and active button-holing in the rooms to
promote the success of any candidate or
ticket.
There was only one ticket in the field yes
terday, but the opposition to the senti-
ment which that ticket is supposed 70
represent made its influence known in
positive but somewhat extraordinary
manner. In order for one to comprehend
the peculiar features of the contest it
should be explained that in the club elec-
ton May 80, 1893, seven directors were
chosen which, with the eight then in Of
fee, created board of fifteen. Three
classes of five each were then created-the
first class to retire April, 1894; the second
April, 1895, and the third April 1896.
Aside from the five to go out of office this
year by expiration of term there were four
other vacancies, making nine. The follow
ing was presented as the regular ticket:
Winfield s. Keyes, John w. C. Maxwell,
Charles A. Grow, Evan ]. Coleman, Bernard
Faymonville, George T. Marye, Clark W. Nc
The constitution of the club provides
that the election to membership in the
board of directors shall be held by ballot
at each annual meeting of the club or at
the first special meeting following the an
nual meeting Immediately after its organ
isation, and tnat the polls shall remain
open two hours.
In case the certificate of the inspectors
shows that all the vacancies have not
been filled at the election, the meeting
shall be adjourned for two weeks, at which
adjourned meeting the election to ill
| those vacancies shall proceed as before re-
quired.
The constitution also provides that fifty
members shall constitute quorum at any
meeting of the club. Another provision,
and one very significant now, is that a
majority of all the votes cast shall be nec-
essary to the election of a mem Der of the
board of directors, either to place in the
incoming class or to fill vacancy in either
of the other classes.
In the Pacific Union Club there exists,
according to tradition, progressive ele-
ment and the members representing that
element recently resolved to make their
influence perceptible. Accordingly it was
decided to vote for one, or perhaps two or
three of the candidates on the regular
ticket but to refrain from voting for the
others.
By common consent of the progressive
opposition it was decided to cast a strong
vote for George A. Newhall, elect him,
and by refusing to vote for the others
force special election under the opera
ton of that section of the constitution
which prescribes that majority OF all the
votes cast shall be necessary to the eiec-
ton of q member of the board of directors.
The progressive element in the first
place wants a new clubhouse-a home for
all time. The leaders of the up-to-date
element hold that the club is too rich and
respectable to live in hired house. They
hold that the Pacific Union, as one of the
leading clubs of the world, should emerge
from old fogyism and join the column of
modern high-class social organizations.
A club home on land owned by the club
and house for club use, with no part of
it rented for stores, should be provided.
1t is time, they hold, that the manage
ment of the institution should be taken
from the few who use the club for after
noon siesta, and who seem to have no
higher ideal of club existence than the
mere pleasures of the dinner-table and the
easy lounging chairs.
Other members of the club who do not
exactly belong to the progressive element
fancy that there is too much Southern Pa
cific influence in club management In
dividuals connected highly with that cor
poration have been placed on club
pedestals in a fgurative sense, and it is
time now they should come off the perch.
AS one member expressed it ave
might as well go down to the yellow
building at once as to consult the railroad
in everything that is proposed"
A reduction of annual dues from $120 to
$75 year has been discussed, but the
proposition has not been submitted in ue
form to the members. This reducti on
would mean the loss of $20.0O0 year to
the income of the institution.
Considerable feeling, which may be de-
scr1bed as suppressed excitement, was
manifested at the annual meeting yester-
day. The managers of the club are not
disposed to discuss the question publicly,
but among themselves the members talk
with great deal of earnestness
The new board of directors of the Pa.
clfic-Union as soon as organized will elect
president for the ensuing year to sue
ceed Joseph B. Crockett. So much inter-
est has centered in the election of direct
OFFS that not much atte ention has been given
to the presidency.
In the club the president does not have
great deal of power. The house COM
mlttee is the responsible body and the
chairman of that committee really holds
the reins of management.
inquiry at the club last night failed to
eilclt the information whether the progress
slve element had succeeded in the design
TO com pei another election. From outside
sources it was learned that the election
was incomplete and that more voting
would follow.