The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-14
OPPOSED ON E0TH SIDES
FEELING AGAINST BOARD or TRADE
AND COMMERCIAL CLUB UNION.
Latter Organization Elects Directors
"A smoker Last Night-Some
Vigorous Expressions.


Henry Jameson, John NJ. spann and Major
Taylor. The voting by Australian ballot was
most active, and the candidates did large
amount of hustling all day The vote was
unusually large. No less than PIG votes were
cast for d. NJ. Parry, president of the club,
who was on two of the three tickets. To-
day at noon the directors of the club will
meet to elect the officers. 1t was generally
believed last night that Evans Woollen
would again be chosen secretary in view of
his long experience and successful work for
the club. Several of the directors were I'M
willing to predict who would be elected pres
ident.
Last night there was a smoker, attended
by a large number Of the members of the
club Reports were submitted by Secretary
WoolIen and Treasurer c. r. Hollenbeck,
following which there was a general dis
cussion of things in which the club is in
terested. One topic of discussion was the
proposed consolidation with the Board of
Trade. William Fortune, formerly president
Of the club, was vigorously applauded when
he spoke in opposition to the movement.
Several others that were called upon for an
expression of views spoke in favor of the
plan. President Parry gave an opportunity
for adverse views on the proposition, but
Mr. Fortune was the only one that openly
expressed opposition, although from the
manner in which his words were received
there seems to be a good deal of opposi-
ton to the plan. Mr. Fortune, While adj
hitting that those in favor of the move
doubtless had only the good of the two or
CARNATIONS and the city as well at heart,
nevertheless expressed doubt as to its wis
dom. The move, he believed, was not OF the
membership, but was put forward by the
governing bodies. He said that he was one
of those men who believe that two strong
working organizations can accomplish more
for the benefit of the city than one; that
three could do more than two and four such
bodies could do more than three. He men
toned a number of places where there is
more than one commercial organization and
spoke of the great good they accomplished.
MIR. Fortune feared the two organizations
contain elements that are incompatible. He
recalled that the Commercial Club grew out
of the fact that a resolution introduced in
the Board of Trade providing that it should
carry on the line Of work now conducted
by the Commercial Club was squelched,
with the result that the Commercial Club
was formed. Since that time the two organ
izations have worked side by side and with
out unpleasant rivalry, he said, but things
have been accomplished that might not have
been accomplished if there had been no
Commercial Club; things have been done
that might not have been done if they had
been left to one set OF men, He emphasized
his belief that it IS "A mistake to suppose
that more will be done by one strong work
ing organization than by two. lie re-
GREETED that already the opinion seemed to
have obtained that the Commercial Club
was. seeking consolidation out OF selhsh
motives and declared that 1t was not true
that weakness in the club was responsible
for the movement, appeared to have been
the idea at a meeting OF the Board of Trade
yesterday. MIR. Fortune seemed to be Voic-
ing quite an element in the club
During the election of directors yesterday
strong opposition to consolidation developed
A communication appearing IN the journal
Sunday suggesting various reasons why the
proposed movement would be mistake was
commended by many as a correct view Of
the matter. 1t is said that when the ques-
ton shall be submitted to the membership
there will be sufficient opposition to defeat
il on the ground that it is not best either
for the public or the organization.
MR.. PARRY'S EXPLANATION
In bringing up the subject of consolida-
ton last night Mr.. Parry said that the plan
was proposed in order to decide one way or
the other question that had been dis
cussed for a long time Whatever might be
the outcome, in his estimation no harm will
have been done if the bodies are not brought
together. Samuel Sweet, member of the
Board of Trade governors, was called on for
an expression. He likened himself to the
man in a story saving that as a member
of the Board of Trade he was 'fornjnst'
consolidation, but member Of the Com
mercial Club, he favored 1t. Evans Woollen
secretary of the club, expressed the hope
that the members would come to the club
meetings with something IN their minds to
suggest that would be for the benefit of the
a matter.
directors and officers to keep everything in
view that ought to be attended to. IhlS
idea was also advanced by President Parry,
VINO was of the opinion that 1t would be
a good thing to substitute a suggestion
box for the kick box" in which members
now drop complaints.
Charles 7. Whitsett spoke of one thing
that had occurred to him several timeS-the
character of ne dispatches sent out from
this city by the correspondents of some of
the newspapers in other cities. Some OF
them had caused him to blush He did not
know whether it was subject for the club
to con slider or not, but the DfllldnI ldea
occurred to aim mat 4 censorship over
some Of the dispatches would be a good
thing. Rev. G.. A. Christensen took up Mr..
WhitsettS idea, appearing to believe that
it lay with the newspaper men themselves
to remedy anything wrong In the direction
indicated by Mr.. Whitsett. Albert MetZger
spoke briefly in favor OF CONSOLIDATION, eN-
pressing the idea .lat more good could be
accomplished by one large. strong organlZa-
ton than by the two. j. c. Adams was
asked bv President Parry to tell why the
two clubs should not be brought together.
Mr. Adams seemed to think that the clubs
ought to consolidate, but said that whether
they consolidate or not, the city Will not
suffer. John w. Kern. J. M. Spann, c. Il.
Coffin and Winfield Miller talked briefly.
Following the speechmaking bufIet lunch
was served in the baIqret room OF the
club.
THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.
In his annual report Secretary Woollen
reviewed the work the club accomplished
last year. referring to the work of the com
mittee on membership, through whose eff
forts Jos members had been added, making
the membership TIC Jan. 81. Some ninety
members were dropped for nonpayment of
dues. Especial mention was made of the
success of the house committee in turning
the restaurant from failure under various
managers into a success 50 complete that
the capacity of the clubs quarters is now
taxed to the utmost The refurnishing of
the dining room and assembly room cost
considerable money, but not more, the re-
port said, than the increasing use OF them
Justified The death of Col. Eli Lilly, the
founder and. for many years. one OF the
most active workers in the club, was SpOk-
en- OF as having been the most lH 4P2 anu
though regrettabe, event IN the clup MS
tory the last year. Reference was made TO
the bills that the club has had introduced
in the General Assembly, including the
park law, public school law, etc. There was
a review of the many conventions that the
assemblage committee had succeeded IN
having come to this city last year, includ-
ing the X Of P. encampment L. A. ".
meet, etc. Among other undertakings or the
pluh Mr. W00lIep smoke of the revival OF