The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-15
THE INDEPENDENTS WON
COMMERCIAL CLUB REGULARS, EN-
CEPT COL. ELI LILLY, DEFEATED.
Election Under the AustraIian system
REPORTS Showing Financial
Condition of the Club.

the Austfdldn ballot system. from the
time taken by the voters 1t was evident
that good deal of scratching was being
done on the two tickets. ELI Lilly headed
the regular ticket, which included the names
Of William Fortune, A. M. Glossbrenner, G.
Il. Hiolenbeck, John S. Lazarus George
Merritt, Nathan Morris and Samuel l..
Morss. Mr.. Morss headed the Independent
ticket. which included the names of S. o.
Pickens, Charles Mayer, William c. Bobbs,
Fred M. Ayers, H.. r. Hearsey, Henry j.
Huber and /. N. Richie. The Independent
ticket, with the exception of II. Il. Hearsey.
was elected. Eli Lilly was the only man
elected on the regular ticket. Following is
the vote received by the candidates: Mayer
246. Richie 233 Pickens 22S, Bobbs 227. Morss
2zl. Ayres 21S, Lilly 215, Huder 100, Hearsey
l91, Lazarus 154, Morris 149, Fortune 1H.
Hollenbeck, 13S, Merritt 135, Glossbrenncr
III. d. b. Shideler, chairman of the cleo
tion committee, reported that the eight re-
ceiving the highest number of votes were
elected There will be a meeting of the di-
rctors this afternoon at o'clock to elect
the officers of the club. William Fortune is
now president and Evans Woollen secretary.
Neither has ever been director. 1t is GUS
tomary for the directors to go outside their
own number to elect officers.
AT the annual meeting Of the stockholders
last night, after the election, annual reports
were read by President Fortune Secretary
Woollen and Treasurer c. u. IIollenbeck
In part Mr. Fortune said:
-, II has been the aim and the effort of
the cluD, since its organization, to aid in
making indianapolis a model city In the
elght years that this work has been in
progress enough has been accomplished to
anord us much pride citizens. Indian
apois Is to-day unsurpassed in the at
tributes of a modern city, and beside the
material evidences of il a spirit has been
aroused which will hasten still more rapidly
us future growth and improvement-wiil
s s.ise 70 II more OF broadening and elevating
influences. During the last year attention
mas been directed to stimulating pride in the
CITY IN various ways. We have proceeded
upon the idea that at this stage of the city's
development, II our people can be given ade-
quate realization of it's superiority on al
most every point Of comparison their pride
are wrought. We have reached that
condition of development i'm INDIANAPOLIS
which makes II possible for us to accomplish
vastly more through broad influences than
by exhausting the energies of our organized
FORCES on rev material enterprises The
broad influences make easy the material
enterprises. A study of possibilities in this
direction viii open the way to the greatest
future usefulness of this organization"
Cintinuing, Mr.. Fortune spoke of what
the club has done in regard to a park sys-
TEN, saying that there Is now a gratifying
prospect that Mayor Taggart and the pres
der way the work of carrying out the park
plans, which will add much to the beauty
and peasurable facilities of the city. He
SAID that another matter of growing impor-
lance which has received much attention
from the club is the problem of relieving
railway gT b wo street ISL OF
tofore been done has been mainly educa-
tional in its aims.
THE ELEVATED TRACKS.
1T was hoped he said, that the rail-
road companies would be willing to aid in
the effort to solve the problem on some
equitable basis of mutual interest but CO.
operation OF this kind seems hopeless, and
as public sentiment appears to be fully in
accord with the plans proposed there is suf-
iicient reason for now proceeding on a line
of action. The accomplishment Of this prof.
ect will require here, as it has in other
cities, much time, and the preliminary
steps will likely involve prolonged litiga-
ton there should be no further delay in
beginning. This is the conclusion of the
directors of the club"
Mr.. Fortune spoke of the successful eff
forts of the club to bring conventions and
meetings TO indianapolis the last year as
gratifying.
One of the things the club did for trade
interests, he continued was to secure for
indianapolis last fall the same arrangement
granted by the traffic associations to New
York and Chicago, allowing merchants to
visit the city during certain days of the
buying season on a rate OF one and a third
fare for the round trip. The club not only
assured the guarantee to the traffic associa-
tlon as we'll as the expense of the arrange
ment but also furnished the printed mat
ter for advertising the rate, and yet many
OF our merchants failed to take advantage
or 1t as was expected. AS there may be
opportunity for renewing the ARRANGEMENT
in the near future, it is suggested that the
organized effort of the club in their behalf
should be properly supported by the mer-
oh ants oh,
it the greatest possible success. 1t is well
enough for the club TO do its utmost, but
there is some reason why those for whose
direct benefit the work is done should also
do something"
In discussing the internal affairs of the
club Mr.. Fortune spoke of a possible in
crease in the stock and membership, say
ing:
THE floating indebtedness on the building
has been reduced from $1,000 to $3.50, and If
necessary, this could be entirely eXtin-
guished at this time. The bonded indebted
ness of the club will next need attention,
though it does not become due for about
three years. When the time is favorable
for taking it up it may be we'll to consider
increasing the subscribed capital of the
club sufficiently TO liquidate the loan. This
could be done on basis that would be adj
vantageous to the present stockholders, as
the investment will earn 5 per cent, and
with new issue of $125,000 the present
stock may be lifted TO value of about par
If all of 1t should be put on a dividend basis
Involved in plan of this kind it would be
adjustment of membership obligations and
stock interest. At present the latter is sub
ordinated to and is encroached upon by the
former"
CONVENTIONS COMING.
Secretary Woollen gave a detailed report
Of the active work done by various com
mittees. including the assemblage commit
tee. which makes special efforts to secure
meetings and conventions. AS of first inn
portance in this line, he mentioned the eff
forts made with other associations to Sc
cure the National l.. A. w. meet next
August, which were successful. The COM
mittee has secured for this year, he said,
annual meetings of the National Municipal
League the Railway Claim Agents Asso-
citation, the Bimetallic League of the Ohio
valley and the National Prison Assoc
the local Epworth League, the 1899 BIZ
ennial convention of that organization
was secured. He mentioned a long list
of other associations that are now con-
sidering invitations TO come here this
year aIaong them the National Carriage
Manufacturers Association, the Order of ST.
John, the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men. the Independent Orde; of the Brother
hood of Eslks, the National Electric Light
Association, the Winter Wheat Mllers'
League, the Supreme Lodge. A o. L.. w,
the Baptist societies, the Grand Lodge, l. o.
Il. B.. the National Association of Life I'm
ISOLATION, the National Hay Association, the
National Association of Car Service Man
ayers. the Amalgamated Association of Iron
and Steel Workers, the American Foundry