The times., 1899-06-17
4 LIVELY MEETING Of
BROOKLhND CITIZENS
The Town Hall the Scene of a
Forensic Battle.
A Minority Succeeds in Thwarting
the Desire of Majority.
Several Personal Encounters Mar
rowIy avcrted-PnrI,s the Bone
% Contention.
Brookland is divided against itself.

land Town Hall last night between con-
tending factions of the Brookland Citi-
zens' Association. The parliamentary
strife was continued for more than three
hours, when, owing to the lateness of the
time, and for no other reason. a truce was
declared until the next meeting The air
was heavy with motions. substitutes,
amendments. points of order, personal
charges explanations, and the cries of
Question" Question" The meeting was
not distinguished for dignified sentiments
or fair play
The minority of the association. repre-
senting the northern section of the set
tlement, and aided by the presiding officer
of the meeting, succeeded in thwarting the
desire of a majority of the members of
the association present and in excluding
temporarily from the membership of the
association about twenty residents of
Brookland. More than one personal en-
counter was averted by the cool heads and
wise counsel. The leader of the North
Brookland faction, which, by divers
methods, succeeded in defeating the II a.
jority and preventing their neighbors
from joining the association was the Rev.
r. r. West. The leader of the majority,
which outvoted the other side on very
| question on which issue was Joined, was
w. B. Armstrong.
| AT the next meeting of the association if
that organization persists in excluding 9TH
er citizens from membership a majority Of
| the present members will resign and new
association will be formed.
Two weeks ago the association at its reg
ular meeting took preliminary action on
letter addressed to E. Southall by Capt
Lansing H. Beach, Engineer Commissioner
OF the District of Columbia, in relation to
| the matter of the creation of suburban
parks. Captain Beach invited the citizens
OF Brookland to. express through their as
sociation their preference as to the loca-
/ tion Of the park which may be laid out at
/ Brookland
AT that meeting special committee on
! sites was appointed, which was instructed
to render its report at the meeting held
last night. Before the association con-
vened a list of names of citizens desiring
| to become members and who had paid
! the customary fees was submitted to the
membership committee
When the meeting was called to order
the Rev. r. R. West arose and moved the
| suspension of the reading of the minutes
and all other business except the consider
| alton of the report of the committee on
park site. This precipitated the struggle.
The object of the motion was to exclude
! the candidates for membership Mr. Arm
strong promptly moved to lay Mr. West S
motion on the table. He addressed the
meeting and asked that the little ciidue
from the northern part of the settlement
| be fair to their brethren who did not live
in that arstocratic section. Mr. West in
sisted that all he desired was justice and
| fair play These remarks were promptly
hooted by number of men. John j. Hor-
gan insisted on the motion to table and
the word Question was called in chorus.
a rising vote was being taken when the
| West faction objected, and insisted on the
yeas and nays. Mr.. Vests motion was
tabled by Is to Ii. Mr.. Lynch, Chairman
of the membership committee, made a mo-
ticn TO adjourn. The yeas and nays were
insisted on and the motion was voted
down by the Armstrong people
The President, Mr.. Southall. insinuated
that Secretary McPhaull had not recorded
the vote honestly. The secretary resented
the insinuation vehemently and accused
the president of ringing in heelers" Mr..
Armstrong, Vice President of the associa-
tion. called Mr.. Southall to account for
| impugning the integrity of Mr. McPhaull
and when a general row was threatened
the president meekly said that he did not
insnuate that Mr.. McPhaull was not hon
est, but that he merely intended TO state
his belief that all men might err
Mr.. Horgan moved to suspend the rules
and elect candidates for membership. Mr.
West raised a point of order and talked or
the constitution. Mr.. Armstrong called
for the report of the committee on men,
bership, and the chairman, Mr. Lynch
said that three of the four members had
concluded that they could not make
report at that time. One member had :
minority report and it required hard worl
on the part OF the Armstrong forces TO ge
this report admitted Its reading was
continually interrupted by the Rev. Mr.
| West He made motion to table the mi.
nority report, favoring the admission o.
the new candidates for membership bu
when the opposition passed around tn,
word to defeat the motion he withdrew it
| During the reading of the report by Mr.
Ohm, there were frequent motions to ad.
journ made by the West faction, but with.
out result.
There was a great deal OF agitation il
the hall and Mr. West pulled up tn,
sleeves of his alpaca coat, squared hi.
shoulders and took on belligerant as
pect many times as he said harsh thing.
TO the secretary and others. Among som,
of the remarks he made to Mr.. McPhaul
were, THE secretary's minutes don't show
anything" IF the secretary would spenC
more time in attending TO his duties anC
less 10 talking he'd do better" etc. Mr.
Sherwood, of the West crowd, made vio-
lent appeals for adjournment, while Mr.
Ohm read the minority report. The dis
cussion was becoming so irritating that
recess for ten minutes was taken.
After recess DIR. Hull arose TO make
twenty minute personal explanation. HI
said that he had heard that 1t had beer
said that he had said that all the "gooC
people of Brookland live in North Brook
land" He said, For my own persona
benefit / would like to know If l made sucl
a remark" Finally he became so con
WINGED that he had not made the remark
attributed to him, that he denounced it al
false, and challenged his accuser to com,
forth. He continued: Il have been her,
seven years and have always held mysel
up" Mr. McPhaull then arose and sal,
that he had heard of the remark attributed
to DR.. Hull. and as DIR. Hull had rendere,
his family good service and had beer
paid good money in return he was willint
TO accept his denial and let the inclden
be closed.
Mr.. Green made motion that the candi
dates be elected the report of the sit,
committee read, that no action BE- taken a
this meeting, and that the association ad
journ. Mr.. West offered a substitute, ant
several motions to adjourn came in clost