Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-20
THE BUTCHERS CAUSE.
Treasurer Goodhue Makes n State
ment Concerning the Trouble.

treasurer GO0uhue Makes State
ment Concerning the Trouble
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Permit me an explanation in
your paper concerning the butchers
matter in court | desire to state tine
facts. For reasons not apparent to the
ordinary minds. some two or three ac-
counts of the butchers controversy
have appeared in the news journals of
the city. This makes it necessary to
publish the trouble, which | shall do
briefly.
some time since, at a meeting of the
Butchers Retail Protective Association.
there was passed a resolution directing
the payment of debt of 81 500 of the
wheeling Beef and Provision COMPANY.
This was done at the instance OF men
who belonged to that association. Other
members of the Retail Butchers Pro-
tective Association not connected with
the Beef and Provision Company OBJ
Jected to this as eminently unfair.
Whereupon notice was given that at
the next meeting of the Butchers Re-
tall Protective Association a motion
would be submitted reconsidering the
resolution by which the said payment
had been ordered. At said meeting a
reconsideration was denied and a sup
Elemental resolution passed ordering
the treasurer to collect said money by
which the said debt was discharged
and distribute the money in the treas
ury OF said association among members
in good standing, leaving a balance of
500 to defray incidental expenses.
This was done, first, because the or
iginal order to pay the said indebted
ness was passed by less even than a
quorum of members being present. Sec
ond, so that gentlemen who wished
might take their share of the funds of
the association, and then. without vot-
ing the money of other members of the
association, donate it, if they wished. to
the payment of the debt of the Beef
and Provision Company. and, third, be-
cause the large sum of money in the
treasury seemed to constitute a menace
to the peace and prosperity of the so
ciety, and was lying unusual and with
out benefit to any one. 1t was thought
policy to dispose thereof and remove
the subject of dispute. The under
signed, as commanded, had the money
returned to him as treasurer, and when
about to distribute it as desired by a
large majority of the members of the
association, was enjoined at the in
stance of members who proposed TO
use it to pay the said debt of the Beef
and Provision Company, and who, for
the purpose. filed bill in court. That
bill the undersigned answered, and no
one disputed the answer.
1t is true the affidavits of two mem
bers were filed. declaring that a like
number of members had announced
that when they got their share of the
money they would sever their connec-
ton with the association. But these
statements were made because the
members were dissatisfied with the
manner in which plaintiff had at
tempted to vote away the money
OF the association, had actually parted
Herewith without consulting with the
association or even reporting the facts
to the association.
All that | have done was done by
order of the association and its Off
GERS. The orders were directed to me
because | was treasurer of the associa-
ton, and my actions are sustained and
endorsed by II out Of "a members Of
the association.
This matter of the right to distribute
being before Judge Heryey. my assoc
ciates and myself desire it to remain
there until disposed of by His Honor
without word: and not one word
would we have written but for the fact
that we grew tire,~ of perversion of
the truth proclaimed TO the public BY
some r whose purpose must have
been sinister, to say the least
Respectfully.
A. J. GOODHUE.
Treasurer Butchers Retail Protective
Associd jon.
The VSteamer Baxter will leave the