New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-22
TROUBLE IN PEOPLES CLUB.
SOME CT THE MEMBERS CALL CHARLES
sPRAGUE SMITH A CAR


sPRAGUE SMITH A CAR
Trouble has been brewing since December IN the
Peoples Club. OF which Charles Sprague smith. the
director OF the Peoples Institute lectures IN Cooper
Union is the president and founder. II IS work
ingmen's club and since II was started, IN Feb
ruary last irs membership has been high i've
hundred A controversy has recently arisen in
which the allegation Is made that Mr. smith IS TOO
dictatorial in his relations with the club Esster
day afternoon there was special meeting held IN
the clubrooms No. Third-ave TO consider the
trouble between Mr.. Smith and the Membership
Committee Mr. Smith had been invited 20 preside.
but he sent word that in the circumstances he
thought he would better not DO 50.
J. H QUeriiug. secretary OF the Membership Gem
mittse, opened the discussion by saving that the
back OF the list OF lectures published By the insti
tute is statement the effect that INSTITUTES
has supervising authority the Peoples
Club. nevertheless. conflict OF opinion had arisen
Certain charges had been made against a member.
and the Membership Committee had rendered a de-
cisiOn in his favor, which was sustained tn De-
ccuber by the club Dissatisfied members sought
70 reverse THIS decision. and shortly afJerward the
treasurer. Frank R COrdley. called the speaker
and said the institute had decided 10 Withdraw
financial support from the club M QUe-lfng
piled that the club received only go year from
the institute In return for certain privileges
Then M COrdley said that The Institute would
not longer give support TO the club unless the
T W r
This communicated 20 M ScaulOn, who de-
cIared his willingness 20 resign. provided major
ity OF the members wished him 70 do So AT the
next meeting. early n January. President smith
made direct issue 20 whether the club would
vote II y 10 IS 10 sustain him in MS position
Then four DAYS were given Mr. smith 70 consider
whether ne would accept an apology from Ar
scaniOn- and his answer a. thai there would be
no compromise.
Mr. CTueriing urged that when one nan tried 70
drive another out OF a sub he aid not display
which the tareat Of rhs institute 10 W1rEci-sv ai
made showed that an uuwarranted atteu1or
When Mr. QuerIing had finished there was a rsro-
bling discussion between members OF the two fac-
Der maintained that M smith wanted 10 DlaT r1e
role OF car and that the club hsd 5risrs5 : ~
gerher and 10 study social problems OF the day
He also thought that some OF the silk stocBtnEss
OF The club evidently did not consider rha r01ra-
members worth associattng with Another mem
oer declaFed Il vas RIDICULOUS 20 call Mr. Smith
car II vas true. however he declared. nat
remarked that he seldom could be right In order
fnreres-s a. hearr h. vTI+1i5 -aziz lao Is 'eSl
After confusion OF motions and irrelevant
acknowledged that he was THE parTicular S-s-
brand who had charged with ambition 10 hold o.
fee. but he believed the club 100 broad 20 say
that any man was infalIible- The fight between The
Institute and the Peoples Club. ne remarked was
the same as the fight that England had with the
with an iron hand they revOlJe6
presented. and after several members had tried %
talk at the time widely differing topics
motion 10 adjourn carried
Charles Sprague Smith was seen BY a I-fnt1ns re-
porter evening his home. No IS West sixty
first-st and Informed OF what said a the
meeting his alleged cZariike and dicra-
rOrial He said.
This club started as model BY which other
clubs for the working class could be formed and
our experience SO far "a such 70 give eucour-
agement- Nv Judgment Is that this dieaculry IS
entirely ira usieut This club f. only experiment..
and We hone in time have similar clubs an
the civ. II has been a home for a lot o. men and
-nTfr0 rzraw fs a AZ
not care discuss IT, As 20 what was said today
about my being a a Dictator / do not care
q tinker's commission 7 willing submit the
question the membership OF the whole club. bur
not 70 any faction As whether or not TIRE IN
stituts will withdraw its support OF the club
cannot say. I do not think made any such threat.
although 7 can understand how such an impression
could have been formed