Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-10
ACTIVES' NEW RULES
SWEEPING BYLAWS ADOPTED BY
THE CLUB LAST NIGHT.
BOILERS ARE 10 Be EXCLUDED.
Ward Ticket May BE Nominated
by a Majority of the Members-At-
Quo Non of Membership.

Clay-Ward Actives met in Belvidere Hail
last night and adopted bylaws for the
future government Of the club The
meeting was largely attended despite the
oppressive heat of the evening and the
debate on some of the articles was quite
spirited.
The now laws are quite sweeping in
character. They have been amended to
exclude members Of the Good Govern
ment League, they impose the penalty Of
expulsion for non-attendance, and they
empower the club to nominate ticket
for the ward if it should be deemed ad-
visable at any time.
After the transaction of routine bust
ness. which included the reception OF a
report from the Hall Committee that the
club might vacate its present quarters
October 18th and move to Monroe Hail.
the new constitution and bylaws were
taken UP section by section.
The preliminary sections, dealing with
the organization. objects, officers, duties
and election Of officers Of the club, passed
with a single protest. urged by Alderman
Carter, against the objects, on the ground
that the last General Assembly, ayowedly
Democratic as il was, passed law re-
garding delinquent taxes, and he thought
that when laws were made by Demo
Gratis discriminating in favor of the rich
and against the poor 1t behooved the
exercise of unusual caution.
EXCLUDE BOILERS.
Again. when Article g. dealing with ac-
xi.ra AlnpYfuQ n
Carter moved TO amend the first section,
which reads, ANY white Democratic
voter residing in Clay Ward may be elisi-
BILE 10 active membership" by inserting
the words, who endorses the platform
and candidates of the national Demo-
cratic party"
The intention OF this amendment. said
Mr.. Carter. was to exclude members os
the Good Government League and others.
The amendment was carried by a vote
of is 10 g.
From the same source came an amend
ment 10 section 4. requiring eacn person
TO subscribe an obligation pledging him
self to vote at all Democratic primaries
and Democratic ward meetings and the
straight Democratic ticket, in accord
with the national platform OF the Demo
cratic party" at all regular elections.
The section providing for the collection
OF arrears was eliminated. and the arti-
clio on the election OF honorary members
was amended In the same way as section
/ Of the active membership article.
TO DO PRECINCT WORK.
Articles In regard TO explosions, obh-
eating the club 10 do precinct work. and
regulatiag the holding OF meetings. We're
adopted without any discussion. Article
u, defining the duties Of the Advisory
Board and committee, was only amended
In the letter, but not In the spirit. Arti-
Gle IS. which deals with the nomination
Of ward ticket by the club. II at any
time II Is deemed expedient, Mr. Carter
moved TO amend in such a manner that
the selection OF candidates should be made
from the best-qualihcd members OF the
party in the several precincts OF the
ward. He moved TO strike out the provl-
sion that the selection should be made
regardless OF membership In the club.
Alderman Snead vigorously opposed the
amendment. He said II was dangerous 10
make a ward ticket a club matter and
not party matter. lie had heard much
& OF late OF a citizens Ticket, which Il Is
proposed 10 put IN the field al the next
-.nininai election. and which would re-