The San Francisco call., 1897-02-22
SEVEN TRUSTEES
To Be ELECTED
Members of the Mechanics
Institute Will Vote
Tomorrow.
Retiring President Denicke Dis.
cusses The Proportional
System.
He Denies the Assertion That the
Board Is Divided and That Secret
M-thoiS Obtain

The annual election OF seven trustees to
serve on the board of the Mechanics In
stitute will take place tomorrow, the
polls opening at IL o'clock and closing at
8. Helet etofore it has been a matter for
regret that the members of the institute
have taken so little personal interest in
the question of representation. This
apathy has resulted in the board OF direc-
tors being almost invariably elected by an
inconsiderable percentage of those en-
titled 10 vote, of whom there are nearly
5000, though, in the words of a leading
mem Der, it also serves to refute the asser-
ton of -rIain persons that the sentiment
of the mem bers is seriously divided and
that there is or has been any profound
dissa atisfaction with the management of
the affairs of the institute.
OF the fourteen directors constituting
the board seven will be elected tomorrow
to hold office for the next two years, and
there are fifteen aspirants for these va
cancies. Their names are: r. Z. Clement,
+. H. Cole, Ernst A. Denicke, +. T.
Doolan, Ferdinand Formulas, Thomas
Houseworth, Rodney Kendrick, c. A.
Kern, D. a. Macdonald, John McLaren,
r. w. Neal, l.. E. Phillips, Charles NJ.
Plum Jr., J. c. Sala and Horace Wilson.
OF this number NJ. Denicke is the retiring
president, Mr.. Kendrlck vice president
and Mr. Formulas ana Mr.. Cole retiring
directors.
The vote will be cast on the system
known as the proportional and preferen-
tih. which is designed 10 allow minoritIes
to secure some representation on the
board. Thus in the present instance,
should a total OF 700 votes Ue cast for the
seven candidates, one-se veuth OF that
number can elect one trustee. Prior 10
1898 the board was elected by the ordinary
method OF majority voting, but in that
year George Cumming introduced an
amendment to the constitution providing
for the adoption of the new system, and
his effort was successful.
The only attempt to draw up a ticket
for the present election was recently made
by caucus CON posed OF such well known
men and mem mbeIs as Irving NJ. Scott,
Hailidie, Cornwall, J. Spear, David Kerr,
and offers who called nominating eau
Gus and afterward issued a circular in
which the candidacy of President Den
icke, Honseworth, McLaren, Kendrick
Neal, Plum and Sala was earnestly advo-
Gated. In every other respect the candi-
dates are runniag independently and in
mutual opposition. But after all, as Mr..
Denicke pointed out yesterday, this very
circumstance guarante the purify of the
politI S of the institute, because no indi-
vidual candidate can com an indiscrs-
tion without exposure at the hands of mis-
opponents.
The element of discord periodically in
troduced by L. Z. Phillips. who, il is said,
has retired from the contest, is severely
deprecated by the majority of the present
ralI hx,t bs. dot fl
selves.
ITO refer TO the action of the caucus as
an attempt TO keep alive and perpetuate
the old spoils system is absurd" said Mr..
Denicke yesterday. "The nominating eau
Gus was composed OF mem bers of the very
highest standing, many OF whom have
served as president of the institute in the
past. They are absolutely above sus-
picion and would do nothing save in the
very best interests of the institute. As
far as the election itself is concerned, there
has been no disposition so far among the
candidates to indulge in recrmination.
Recent irresponsible charges against
the conduct OF the late board are abso-
IuIely without foundation. As a matter
of fact Barry, VINO, ii was alleged, re-
ceived so large proportion of the
Mechanics Fair printing. didn't get a
cents worth. Mr.. Presson, the head of
the printing com mittee, Is a scrupu ously
honora bic as well as a wild deawake gentle
man and every body who wishes to Sc cure
a contract from him at any other figure
than the lowest must rise very early in the
morning.
ut is equally absurd to say that the
Grand Army runs the institute. 1t is true
that the late librarian Mr.. Wilson, and
myself both belong to the Grand Army,
but the army itself is no more powerfully
represented than any other body of cti-
Zens. l think l may say with confidence
that the interests of the institute are as
well taken care of as are those of any in
stitute of the kind in the world.
The facts about the late secretary's re-
tirement also conclusively disprove the
assertion that the board compelled his
resignation to make room for Mr.. Cum
ming Jr. Mr.. Culver simply resigned to
accept a more remunerative position as
manager of the Cogswell School
THE preferential system of voting
which obtains at our elections is an excel
lent system when all or nearly all the
mem beTs vote, but in the same proportion
as the percentage OF votes cast decreases
the syst M loses its virtue. For this rea-
son if no other, it is to be regretted that
50 much apathy exists at elections,
though this shows that the membe gem
orally are satisfied with the management
of the institute, and is there ore the best
refutation of the accusations against u.s.
Joseph Leggett, one OF the trustees, said
he was authorized to state on behalf of
r. p. Clement, one OF the most popular
candidates for a vacant chair, that tits
gentleman does not wish it to be thought
that Mr.. Phillips is his friend or on his
side of the fence. "Mr. Clement clai ms"
remarked Mr.. Leggett, with grim sar-
casm, that MIR. Phillips is trying to in
sure his defeat by posing as his supporter
Personally, l don't propose to let Mr..
Phillips affect nv feelings to the extent of
inducing me to follow Mr.. Clements ex-
ample. As for the institute, there is none
better manared in the country, and
speak from five years experience"