Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15
SECRETARY HAYDEN RESIGNS
Sewers His Official Relations With the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
Statement of Reasons Which Induced
Him to Take the Step-Dif.
III
ferences With Members,

AT meeting of the board of managers
yesterday of the National Geographic So
ciety Mr.. Everett Hayden resigned as Sec
rotary of the society, a position he has held
for three years.
At the meeting yesterday, as a mark of
respect to the memory of Mr. Gardiner G.
Hubbard. 1t was decided to postpone the
election of president for two weeks Gen.
A. w. Greedy, who is senior vice president
will act president. He was offered the
presidency, but declined it. Mrs Hubbard
was yesterday made a life member of the
society.
In speaking this morning in regard to his
resignation, Mr.. Hayden said to Star re-
porter:
The whole fact Of the matter was l
would not serve as secretary of the society
under the circumstances The last WORDS
l ever heard Mr.. Hubbard say at largely
attended meeting of the board at his res
idence, Twin Oaks, were that he had every
confidence in me; knew me better and more
intimately than any other member. l
think it was a poor lime the day after his
notice The information regarding the out
come of the meeting was not obtained from
me. All the n embers of the beard agreed
after the meeting to avoid the mention of
all matters discussed.
Acted in Self-Defenxe.
HS ietleT hTote Inc star last Satur-
day was only in self-defense against cir
cular issued by committee on commune
cations OF the board, signed by Gen. A. w.
Greedy, Henry Gannett and W. ]. Nc
Gee. Such circular was issued by no au-
thority of the board of managers of the
society. and it sent out without my
knowledge and without me having been
consulted as to the matter which it harshly
criticised. l did not myself give copy of
that circular to any paper or any person.
i only saw one copy, which Was sent TO me
as member of the society.
LAS to the amendments to the bylaws,
Of which so much has been said, they were
offered by me in regular form, and the
copy sent by mail to Mir. Hubbard and In
time to come up in regular form a. the
regular meeting last May, provided printed
notices were given to members before said
meeting. Having been called away sudden
ly by the death OF relative, l turned over
a copy of the amendments to Mr. Henry
Gannett, corresponding secretary; with the
request that he issue such printed notices
to members in accordance with the re-
quirements of the bylaws. This he did not
do for reasons best known to himself. Ac-
cordingly, when | brought the amendments
up at the annual meeting l stated that they
could not come up then for final action and
not until such printed notice had been
given. This notice l gave in the June
magazine. l then regarded them as post
poned business. to come up at the next fall
them up November at the regular meet
ing, but the chairman, MIR: G. X. Gilbert
asked me as a favorito postpone them.
which was done. Mr.. Gilbert stated these
facts at the meeting at Twin Oaks, No
vember 13.
The Legality IQuestiOned.
November IL, whsp the amendments
were read. amended and adopted Mr.. Hub
bard being present far theolast time, GER
oip Of Hpard brought the
legality of the amendments, on the ground
that they could not be regarded as post
poned business, but had failed at the adj
journed annual meeting and that such a
statement should be made by the chair
at the next regular meeting of the
society, and that the board regarded them
as null and VOID. THIS declaration 1 ac-
cepted in good faith, but subsequently
learned, from a leading lawyer of the city
that this opinion of the board was not
Sufficient in itself to nnssegate the action OF
the society. At the meeting December 3,
Mr.. MCGEE presiding. l attempted TO make
a motion. The motion l attempted to make
was that the society reconsider its vote
on the amendments in order TO straishten
out the matter in good form. This mo-
lion was ruled out of order by the chair,
as was my appeal from his ruling. Not
wishing to cause any comment which
might injure the society l did not protest
against this ruling.
My resignation from the, board was
offered. because of intolerable and ire
concilable differences with a few mem
bers of the board l am unwilling to Ie-
main secretary of the board of managers
of this or any other society under such
circumstances.
LAS to my connection with the lecture
to be delivered here tomorrow. that mat
ter was fully covered by my statement in
The Star Saturday. l have other informa-
ton to furnish, if necessary, including the
letter from General Greedy to me, referred
to- and my reply
Mr. Hayden stated that he had not de-
c.ded what legal steps, if any, he Will take,
or what other course he will pursue.