The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
COMMERCIAL
Travellers
SPLIT UP
So-Called Inner Circle"
Engenders Much Ill
Feeling.
TWElTY MEMBERS COMBINE.
California Commercial Travel
ers' Association the
Orders Name.
J. A. MERSH0N ELECTED PRESIDENT.
They Still. Declare Allegiance to the
Old sociation-Oauses of
the Trouble.
J. A. MERSHON ELECTED PRESIDENT.
They Still. Declare Allegiance to the
Old observation-disclosures of
the Trouble.

The San Francisco Commercial Trav.
elers' Association is suffering the throcs
of civil war. They deny it in public with
hands uplifed in deplecation at the very
thought of such thing. but that is Just
what it amounts TO, and there are several,
among them men that have engineered
the scheme. who are willing to admit that
such is virtually the case.
The result of the trouble is that an
other organization has been formed, to
be known as the California Commercial
Travellers Association. All those belong.
ing are mem bers of the older organiza-
ton, but the mem bership is limited TO
twenty, and that fac. is the cause of the
whole bitterness. The new association
claims that it will not antagonize the old,
and would seem to emphasize the fact by
all 1t membe retaining their allegi-
ance-ou paper-for the old. But there
are other things to be taken int consid er-
alton.
In the first place the mem bers of the
new association assert that the old was or
ganized with certain definite ideas in
view, among them being the conditions
that mem bers saould be KEEP: in employ
ment ard should receive sick benefits.
For long time, it is further declared,
these clauses have been dead letters on
account OF the fact that too many "cheap
men" or "peddiers" were taken into men,
bership, aggresating now about hundred
in good Standing, through the wire-pull-
ing of few emulators of certain shining
lights in the political world.
AT the last election OF officers two cam
didates were put forward. namely: En-
NETT Dunn, who is alleged to be in SYM
pathy with those who are not now men,
ber5 of the new association, and Alex
ander Mcdonald, who is "pelieved" not
to be. J. A. Mershon was placed forward
as an independent candidate at the last
moment, in hopes of breaking the slate,
but the time was too short for lobbying
Dunn was elected. That was the pro-
verbal last straw. The new association
sprang into existence and waved the war
club, albeit heavily swathed in the white
rag OF peace.
downtown offices, hang out its banner
and proceed to do business at a new
stand along new lines. Although the
me m bership at present can consist of only
twenty it may be found convenient to ex-
tend the limit to thirty-fve or forty!
Many are opposed any extension of the
me m bsrship, however, and it may be
found politic 10 let it remain as it is.
And now that new association begins
to show the real contempt it feels for the
old by asserting that it intends 10 ac-
qure lines OF valuable goods. ana when
ever a me ber loses his position be will
be put TO work selling them. No man
now in employment will be given the
privilege OF selling those lines, and if
none happen to be without a good posi-
ton some man whom the associat on
thinks compel tent will be kept employed
in disposing of the goods. IL is also the
intention TO keep the treasury from
being depleted by giving entertainments
as they may be deemed necessary.
The mem bers of the older association
stand by and eye proceedings askance.
They don't like.the aspect of things at oil,
but there is no feasible method in sight
by which they can do any hing to prevent
the movement. The members of the new
associa ton exp ain matters by sweetlv as
serting their allegiance to the San Fran
cisco Commercial Travellers Association.
when questioned II the matter, and
say tn at the new association is really only
an inner circle of that body-one of thoss
mystic, exclusive degrees-as any one can
see, that is meant for nothing in particu-
lar but 10 bar the doors to eighty-odd
me m bers or so. There is considerable
talk being INDUCED IN on the other 81 e,
and the end is not yet.
Last Monday evening the California
Com mmercial Travellers elected officers as
follows: President, James A. Mershon;
vice-preside Walter w. Hewitt; secre-
tary, A. E. Green; financial secretary.
Henry Lichtensteln; treasurer, Henry