The age-herald., 1897-10-01
A BAD BEGINNING
 FOR THE MAYORS Struck a Threatening Snas in the SeleC- tiOn of a Secretary. SHARP AND BITTER FlGHT I Led by Josiah Quincy Against GilkinSOn,
 the Publisher.
A SUGGESTION OF sELF-INTEREsT
Which Might Injure the Effectiveness of the Organzaton-ts Objects and Adms- sion fees-Detroit the Next
 Place of Meeting.

Columbus, O., Sept. S0.-By its notion this afternoon in the election of a per manent executive secretary the confer ence of ma yors struck the rock which, in the opinion of many of it's most con- servstiye and fareseeing members, se- IFously threatens it's possibility for use fulress, and may wreck it absolutely at fhe start.
 B. F. Gilkison, publisher of the City Governn9ent, was the recipient of the honor, and in the presentation of h.s name by Mayor Green of B.nghampsc n, N. Y., it was declared that if h.s candi- dacy should provoke any considerable opposition he would not. permit .hims If to destroy the uniformity and harmony of the organization at the outset.
 Up to m.drfghIt, however, MT. Gi1kison had not resigned lhe office. There was no opposition to GillNison as ito chacac- ter or ability, but those opcpsed to him felt that with him as secretary and ex- ecrl ve officer the organization would be officially tied up to lis publication as 1s organ, aiad thus be charged w.th the responsibility for the policy of the mag azine and all it's utterances.
 The fight was a sharp one, and was exc ing at times. It was preGipitated eaily in the sesslon, when the conet-- tuition was under consideration. The fourth article provides that all the off, cers except the secretary shall be ofti- cers of municipality, holding member ship In the organization. Mayor Quncy of Boston moved to str4Ne out the ex- clption-and the fight was on. He made strong, earnest and eloquent protes. againS K king this league of munic pal it.es with amy mans busnass, or len1- ing influence to the furtherance of his personal interests. Mayor Quincy was ably supported by Mayor Jones of To- ledo, O., and Aldsrman Arey of Jolid, III.
 The constitution provides. that the name of the mayors organization shall be the League of American Mun1cipali- ties. It's objects are the general inn provement of every branch of municipal administration by the following means
 First-The perpetuation of the or ganization as an agency for the co-op- eration of American cities in the prac- tical study of all questions pertaining to municipal administrations.
 Second-The holding of annual con- ventions for the discussion of contem- poraneous municipal affairs.
 Third.-The establishment and main tenance of central bureau of informa- tion for the collection. compilation and animation of statistics, reports and all kinds of information relative to municipal government
 Any municipality in the United States or Canada may become member, the annual membership fees being as fol- lows:
 Cities under 25,0O0 population $2O
 Between 25,000 and 50,0O0, $50.
 Between 5O,0OO and 100000, s4.
 Between 100000 and 100000, $50.
 Over 100000, $6O.
 John McVicar, of Des Moines. Ia., was elected president; Mayor Collisr, of Att lanta, vbce-president; Mayor Black, of Columbus, treasurer, and the following trustees: Mayor Warner, Peoria, H.; Councilman Walker, Trenton, N. J.; Councilman Rand, Minneapolis.
 Detroit, Mieh., was chosen as the next place of meeting.
 At the night session, number of in- teresting papers were read. Municipal ownership will be discussed tomorrow.