The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-03
A Portion of the Members Of
the Athletic Club
W ANT HARDER SPORT
Sparring Matches One Feature
Proposed.
The Membership Shows a Fall
ing Off.
But Financially the Club Makes
a Good Showing.

The fifth annual business meeting Of
the Topeka Athletic association takes
| place tonight in the rooms of the asso-
| citation on Jackson street at 8 o'clock.
| The association is divided into two
| parties and there may be some politics
| in the election. One faction headed by
| J. NJ. Padgett desires a new board of
directors and several minor changes in
| the management of the association af-
fairs.
1--WE want new men on the board of
| directors said Mr.Padgett today. ''The
| association has run behind 5000 and it
ought not to make such a showing as
| that.
''It is time new men were on the
board. We have no slate fixed up, but
Z names will be proposed tonight"
The present board of directors con-
| sists of ]. W. Thurston, president; w.
G. F. Reichenbach, secretary; F. NJ.
BOnebrake, treasurer; D. J. GreenwaId; /;
F. s. Crane; w. A. Morton; c. J. Webb
and J. w. F. Hughes. The position of
vice president is vacant on account of
the resignation of William Hodson who
has removed to Chicago.
The association is chartered under
the laws of Kansas and the board of
directors elects its own officers. At to-
nights election the contest will be
WnGLnoG the OlQ DOaIu Will De reelected
or whether a new board is elected. The
members of the old board are popular,
and 1t doesn't now seem likely that
many, if any, will be retired unless
they do so voluntarily. No new names
have been proposed except J. NJ. Pad
gett as director. Mr.. Padgett made
the race last year, but was defeated.
There is nothing personal in the fight,
but the opposition say they want to
try a few changes. Among those op-
posed to the present board the plan has
been suggested to elect board that
will in turn make Mr.. Padgett presi-
dent of the association. Two years ago
Mr.. Padgett and several others were
nominated for directors with the under
standing that if elected they would
make the Athletic association more on
the order of the New York and Buffalo
athletic clubs where sparring matches
are encouraged. This plan was de-
feated.
The place of superintendent has been
made vacant by the death of Charles
N Nelson. and George Bradley, the
assistant superintendent has been tenn
pOrarily filing the position. The seIec-
tion of a man for this position lies with
the board of directors. Several persons
have been proposed for the position and
among them Assistant superintendent
Bradley, Albert Mauck the ball player,
George Eagle and J. H. Wetheren.
Those in favor of certain candidates for
the position of superintendent will en-
deavor to elect directors favorable to
their candidate. At previous meetings
the right to vote proxies has been Ques-
toned. The matter has been referred
to several lawyers and all agree that as
the association is chartered, the right
of proxy is according to law.
The statement has been made that
the membership has fallen off to such
degree that the ability of the associa-
ton to continue is doubtful. At the
business meeting held a year ago the
membership was 3O7 and today the
membership is 27s. a loss of %. Of this
%, six have been placed on the non-res-
ident list as they are in the army a
dozen or so have resigned on account of
leaving town and the rest have been
suspended for non-payment of dues.
The association has shown no growth,
which some consider bad sign.
The finances as shown by the report
of this year and last do not indicate a
serious state of affairs, however. At
last years meeting a balance of $499. IS
was reported and this year S343. .26 is on
hand which is up to October first and
does not include any October dues The
association has been to extra expense
this year in moving the billiard and
reading room from the second story on
the south side to the first floor on the
north of the gymnasium and in putting
in a new bowling alley and general i'm
provements
The amount of money handled annu-
ally by the association is something
over IS. 900.
Some members hope that If the mem
bership and attendance can be increased
that the association next spring can put
in a natatorium which can be. made
source of income as well as helping to
bring in new members.
The present board of directors have
been studying several methods of max
ing improvements.