The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-07
WEARY OF COLLYER
HOT FIGHT ~ TACOMA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
President Hamilton Resigns Because
He II Opposed to coifyer rs Sec
resnry and the Chamber IL Torn

Special Dispatch 20 tire Post-rnteilfgencer.
s TACOMA. Oct e--Dssserstons n the Ia
ccuaa Chamber OF Commerce growing cut
OF the widespread opposition 70 the reten-
ton cf Samuel Gcliysr as secretary.
eliminated Il the resignation OF Edward
s. Hamilton as president. al the meeting
OF the trustees on Monday. The matter
was referred 20 a special committee eoEn-
posed OF c. p. Naxterson. a u. Ingersol
and F. p. Cole, which is en3eavoring 20
induce Mr.. Hamilton 20 reconsider his de-
cision and Is aided as peacsTnaksr By Mai.
o. p. Hayden. the postmaster. Mean
while every effort IS being made TO prevent
the facts from leaking out.
Mr.. Hamilton refuses % say anything in
regard 70 his resignation az present. but
well posted members OF the chamber say
Il Is the elimination OF scrap" that has
been going or fer nearly four years over
the tncumbency OF Samuel Collyer as sec
rstaTy OF the chamber. AZ every election
the same scrap" has taken place. but
somehow things have always quieted down
and Mr.. collyer has continued as secre-
tary.
At the yearly election. held on Septem-
Der last, a president and board Of
trustees were elected with the seeming ap-
prevail OF the citizens generally. For
secretary, Mr.. Coliyer George Z. Cleve-
land and William Hacker were the most
prominent aspirants. the general sentiment
being in favor OF Mr.. Cleveland, but at the
election held about ten days ago. MFR. Coli
yer was again successful. that gentleman
himself giving out the Information that he
had been elected unanimously.
limitations have been given that the
election was not as unanimous as some
people supposed and last Monday night,
az the regular meeting Of the chamber.
there was an unusually large attendance,
drawn by the expectation that sensation
would be sprung In this. though, they
xere doomed to disappointment, as the
trustees decided on a more cautious pan
with the hope Of patching up the difficulty
without an eruption.
Early this afternoon, learning that some
thing was wrong, the Post-Intelligencer
correspondent lost no time in finding MIR.
Hamilton. That gentleman refused 10
talk on the matter at all. although he did
not deny that he had rendered his reSig-
nation. visit was then made TO Secre-
tary Collyer, who had nothing to say, ex-
cept that Mr.. Hamilton has placed his
resignation In the hands of the trustees,
who. in turn, referred the resignation 10
a special committee. Finally person
was found who knew many Of the facts
regarding the rupture, and who, after a
little persuasion, told the following story
as be had learned Il:
1.-THE whole trouble hinges on the cleo
ton OF Collyer as secretary For four
years he has been chosen for this most
important position. IN the face Of eonsid-
cradle opposition, growing out OF mis- con-
nection with the defunct Merchants Ma
tional bank, which he and others were
accused of wrecking. II viii be remen-
bsred that he was indicted and afterward
acquitted by the Federal court. Not
withstandng this acquittai, there are n
large number OF people in the city who
harbor grievances against him. and who
never miss an opportunity Of making, them
doubts Mr. ColIyer's ability. but they are
opposed to his holding d public position.
From the time OF his first election UP to
the present hour these same people have
opposed him but somehow he has always
secured a .stand-in' with the trustees and
retained his place.
Now. i have watched things pretty
! closely and have heard much that has
been said IN regard to the management or
the Chamber of Commerce. and I know
OF number Of well-known business and
professional men who absolutely refuse to
Join the Chamber OF Commerce because
OF the existence OF what they term
clique II is this clique. they contend,
that keeps Collyer where he is. and al
though thu president for the past three
years has been elected on an anti-Collyer
ticket. he has always swung In line and
done nothing TO secure a successor. IT Is
my belief that Mr.. Hamilton has refused
| 10 sccede 10 the demands Of this so-cailed
clique I'm keeping Coilyer where he Is. and
has asked that another secretary be elect
ca. ! believe further, that Mr. Hamilton
dld so simply because he desired 20 please
| the people generally in his administration
Of the affairs of the chamber. know
that Mr.. Hamilton Is too broad-minded 70
oppose Mr.. Collyer for personal reasons;
| IN fact. l am satisfied from what ! have
| seen that the two gentlemen are on friend
wants is a secretary with whom he can
| work IN harmony. and ss the trustees do
| not seem inclined 70 let Coilyer go, Mr..
| Hamilton does the next best thing, resigns
q "a
| bind the throne. Well. as TO that can
| hardly say. ! understand. though, that Il
! Is Col. C ". Griggs. He is very prominent
| IN all matters that come before the cham
| Der. and IS known 20 have fondness for
| Secretary Collysr. TIE fact OF the mo tier
| y. the class OF people who desire 10 keep
| the secretary where he Is are not those
| oninior BY All classes ~ business men. They
| hear only what is being said among their
| own sat. consequently they cannot take
| the same bros d-niuded view az others. 1
/ an an admirer Of Col GriEEs as citizen
| and business man. bat am under the I'M
/ preston that he sees through only ore
| glass. | EN- positive that he knows OF the
| feeling against Nr. Collyer Only in q gen
| sral way. and being an extremely strong
| minded man. he VIII not hear OF q change"
| Many OF the sentiments expressed above
1 were reiterated BY other citizens and men,
1 hers OF tho chamber. One well-knewn rner-
/ chant claims that the membership OF the
1 chamber would De nearer Go than 30 were
I
/ fee ne does.
Mr CoIlyer's friends claim that ne has
! made the best secretary the chamber has
| ever had. and that the feeling against him
| Is held only BY few chronic kickerA Mr..
/ Collyer himself. ia speaking o. the affair
| today. said:
| II the members are dissatisfied with me
/ Why did not they attend the election ana
/ choose their oS0 nominating committee
/ wao1e duty Sc IS 20 select trgstees2 I know
- IS ga - tf-f
| utons resignation. ] am sure We have al
| ways been friendly. 1 Was unfortunate
/ enough 20 be connected with the Mpr-
| chants National bank. but other banks
| have failed, haven't they? / have made 10
| hEht 20 De retained ard. should she trustees
| desire me 20 reflTe. ali they have 70 SO Is
| "a say M and ! vii step 0uc. / feel have
| Work az the present time Whsther there
! Vas contest rs tAe board Tor the secreta-
| ryS1iN l cont know. All / know e thar
| was informed tbat / was elected uuani-
! mogsly.'
! y report that ne president resigned BE-
| cause The board 81 trustees refused 20 cleo.
/ George 2 Cleveland secretary. Is ernpaat-
| ically aeuied by Mr. Hamllton's friends
| They say he sBeI because the trustees
| refused 70 respect ais wishes IL the matter
/ o. change q secretary.
IL Vas stated 3ate tals evening that sew
! crAI antt--cjlyer members e the chamber
/ had signed call for a special meeting az
/ ,hs Chamber for tomorrow nIeht 20 ase,sr-
I -a-1 the reason Hhy the trustees are 81
/ siow u considering THE resignation. Pos
I sseF THIS can Esl Hat ~ aala AZ an Il.
He