Evening star., 1897-03-10
A LIVELY MEETING
South Washington Citizens Discuss
the District Commissionership.
OBJECTION TO INDORSING AN UNKNOWN
A Much Mixed and Tangled Inter
change Of Views.
RESULTS AT ADJOU RNMENT
LECTION TO INDORSING AN UNKNOWN
RESULTS AT ADJOURNMENT

meeting of the South Washington Citizens |
Association that has ever been held since |
the body was organized took place last |
evening at ST. Dominics Hall. corner of |
9th and F streets southwest. One member |
allowed his feelings to become wrought up |
to such a high state as 10 inquire II his |
colleagues thought he was liar because
they took Issue with him on a matter con-
nected with the meeting in Gen. Birney's
office Monday, relative to the vacancies
in the Office of District Commissioner and
another said ne would bet one hundred dol
lars and put up the money at once that
the result of the action of the association
in deciding to send a delegate to cooper
ate with the committee selected by the
managers of the preliminary meeting in
helping to secure a man from East or
Northeast Washington for the coveted
prize would result in disrupting the South
Washington Association The bet was not
taken, however, and the member who
thought his reputation for veracity was
questioned was assured that no such im-
preston existed on the part of any one
present.
During the early part of the meeting
everything moved along smoothly. The
president Mr.. James F. Shea. lit
tie late in reaching the hall, and busi-
ness was begun in an informal way by
Secretary Story. who announced that he
members. To this appeal large number
responded. and the associations treasury
was considerably increased thereby.
The Resolution Is Read.
Vice President Hall was then called to
the chair and the members were congrat-
ulating themselves that they never got
excited, when, by request. Vice President
Hall read a copy of the resolution which
was adopted at the meeting at Gen. Bir-
ney's office. and which provided that
committee of fifteen be appointed by the
chair to wait upon the President of he
United States and urge the appointment
of ar East Washington man as a member
of the board of Commissioners of the Dis
| trict, and that the various citizens asso-
| ciaticns of East Washington be respectful
| ly invited to appoint a committee OF one
| to cooperate with this committee.
AT this time President Shea arrived and
occupied the chair for the rest of the even
ing.
| Mr.. NJ. ]. Brown explained the causes
| which brought about the meeting at Gen
| eral Birneys office. stating that the sole
| object was to attempt to secure the selec-
| ton by President Mckinley of a District
Commissioner from the eastern north
| eastern section of the city. as. with the ex-
| ception of three who lived in the suburbs
| every Commissioner that has been in office
| stree the organic act was passed had been
| taken from the northwestern part of Wash
| ington. What was wanted he continued
| was to get a man no would suit the peo-
pie of East, Northeast and South Wash
| ington. He would, he said. prefer a South
| Washington man, but ii was necessary. in
| order to be successful. that the various
| citizens associations other than those IN
| the northwes. should unite on particular
| candidate, and if they did not unite on
| representative he believed the appointment
would again go to the northwest. Mr.
Brown appealed to the members to discus:
| the resolutions calmly and not to break th'
| epViahle record h rrnoniOnS action the,
had SO long enjoyed
President Gnrfeld's Alleged Promise
Mr. James Martin. jr.. said that the pres
! ent movement of the committee i'm charg
of the matter was similar to one organize
| in 1881, when President Garfield, who ha
been requested to do so, promised ten day
before he shot to appoint a Soutl
Washington man Commissioner. but the &C
| OF Guiteau prevented the promise from be
ing carried into effect.
| Mr.. James Edwards said the meeting a
General Birney's Office was mass meetin
of citizens. Il gave those present. h
continued, distinctly to understand tina
the three members of the South Washing
ton Association who attended the meetin
were there in their individual capacity an
rot as representing any one but ourselve:
but that if we could do anything to hel
them We would do So.
81 Following Mr.. Edwards remarks thel
the mystery attending the proceedings
; Gen. Birney's office. and Mr.. Martin move
that committee of three be appointed
| Investigate the whole subject and repo
| at the next meeting of the ASSOCIATION
: The motion was seconded. but by son
: means not quite clear got sidetracked ar
| was not again heard from.
| Mr.. Martin secured the Endorsement OF II
F: | preamble and resolutions adopted at Il
i mass meeting and moved to proceed to ele
delegate to cooperate with the citizen
S | committee.
/. The Meeting Grows Interesting.
Mr. David Murphy opposed this veh
: | mently "A few Of u.s. said he. have
/. little scheme to get resident of Soul
t Washington appointed Commissioner v
have got as good material in our sectit
as anywhere, and we came mighty ne
:, | getting our man on previous occasi'
:. similar to this. The East Washington A
h sociation has always worked against
= and 1 won't work with them.
Mr. HALT am afraid if we send del
J. gate to the proposed conference we W
; injure our chances both of getting mi
>. from our part of the city and also IL
provements needed here in the future.
Mr. Story-.I think whoever We send
the conference ought to go instructed
~ to our wishes in the matter. and II we cai
get a man from South Washington uni
., with the other associations In trying
- get one from the east or northeast poruon
l. read the preamble and resolutions abo
,r referred to- and continuing sad: III,
.s Mr. Murphy has said, and 1 do not for o
q moment doubt his assertion. We have
u candidate we can depend upon. We oug
II to stand up for him. l know we have
D. good material in South Washington !
A. the office Of District Commissioner as the
a. Is to be found anywhere.
IL President Shea-'I am absolutely oppos
d to the resolutions. The South Washin
g. ton Association was organized to look a
D. ter the interests of South Washingto
r. Suppose we go and indorse some one FRO
= East or Northeast Washington. becau
the committee of citizens selects him al
J. he is opposed to us. We don't want to a
4 tagonize East Washington, but we wa
al to mind Dur own business. If our associ
n ton gets mixed up in politics We are G
Nv ing to ruin ii.
>. Mr. Brown urged that it was absolute
!. necessary a. times for the citizens ass
:. Citations of the District to take part
n politics.
- President Shea-"How do we know tn
al we will fare any better at the hands of
AZ Commissioner from East Washington tn
n one from the northwest section?
5; Mr.. HalPs Views.
ne Mr Hall-"I fndorse all that Preside