The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-19
Petition for Special Meeting of JEFF
ferson Club on January "a
Is Granted.
EIGHTEEN MEMBERS ASK 1T.
Object Believed to Be in Opposition
10 Rolla Wells-COnstitutiO
Prohibits Endorsement of
Any Candidate.

Notices OF a special meeting of the Jeffer-
son Club 10 be held at the clubhouse on the
evening of January Il will be issued by
President Hawes OF that organization mex,
Monday Yesterday he was served with a
petition signed by eighteen members re-
/ qresting that he call the meeting for the
| purpose OF considering the spring election
| from Democratic standpoint. The MEM
| bers VINO signed the petition are r. IA.
| Kern. A. G. f3eruavs. ". H. Rogers : g
Jolly, William r. Scott, NJ. G. Wetmore. G.
| =. Sterns; Charles q. Bange. Given Camp-
| Dell. Hugh ODonnell. Kim Stone. John L.
\ Duffy. William j. Stone c. A STACY = y.
Boha; Nicholas Bell Seldom W. Orcutt. 81.
Accompanying the formal call for the
meeting was a letter to President Halves
| from X. n. Kern explaining the object OF
the meeting. Among other things Mr.. Kern
II take it for granted that under the pro-
visions Of the by laws this cail for a meet
Ing Is proper, and hope you will do me the
Kindness 10 Insert TINS notice In q Demo-
cratic newspaper of the city at least three
days before the time appointed. as provided
by the bylaws The signers of this paper
are avaiiing themselves OF what they are
sdvised they have a perfect right 10 90 un-
ger the constitution and bylaws OF the
club; l could send YOU this petition signed
by so members OF the jefferson Club but
only nfteen are necessary. We are in an
honest and open fight and hope for these
reasons that you wIll comply with our re-
IF you decline TO call this meeting shall
regret II, and the meeting will be held with
out botherfnS you furtner. and not only
Will II be held in the Jefferson Club rooms
but meetings will be held all over the city''
II was generally understood that the pur-
pose OF the meeting was 10 put the cluD on
record as opposed to. the nomination OF
Rolla Wells. as the Democratic candidate
for Mayor. Exactly how this is TO be done
IL matter OF speculation. The constitu-
ton and bylaws Of the club prohibit IL
from declaring for or against any man be-
fore the nominating convention shall have
selected q nominee for the party.
President Hawes said yesterday:
There Will be a special meeting Of the
Jefferson Club on January "a in response to
a cali issued by eighteen members The club
has been in existence eight years. and never
before IN its history has any man or set
OF In5L ATTEMPTED 10 destroy ats time hon.
ored policy o. non-incorsement of candi-
dates --iore election. My attitude has
been purposely misrepresented by gentle
men who seek TO attain an objct which
they know is expressly provided against
by The laws governing our association. As
individuals. each OF the 400 members OF
the Jenerson CIuo VIII nave his personal
preference for some man as a candidate for
Mayor. As an organization, the Jefferson
Club cannot and Will not express itself
upon Lnls matter.
81 have observed that most OF the men
engaged In this movement are rare visitors
at the club and are prominent only upon
occasions when they will be made con-
spicuous. The small purposes and petty
schemes OF little Clique will not disturb
our organization. IL will not be COM
mitted to Nick Bsl. RoIla Wells, Lee Meri-
wether. Zacks Tinker. or any other candi-
date. nor VIII our club members tolerate
meeting Intended as a little mutual ld-
miration society. '-.r
II believe that 90 per cent of the mem
bers OF the Jefferson Club want TO nomi- |
nate man who can win. They want this |
done because of their love for the city,
their local pride In its welfare. and be- |
cause II Is to the best interests OF their |
party. As president OF the Jefferson Club.
i have no candidate for Mayor. and none |
OF its officers have a right TO have a can
didate as such. When the convention
speaks our organization will ratify its pro- |
ceedings. but until that tine 1t must re- |
main silent"
Members of the club said that while they |
were not favorably inclined to the n0mina- /
tion Of Mr.. Wells as the Democratic candi- /
date for Mayor. they were unalterably op-
posed to any declaration by the club an i
organiza ton, on THE matter. They said that 4
the minute the laws of the organization /
were broken in that regard. II would open /
the way for factions in the club and the 1
disruption OF the organization would be the /
inevitable consequence. For that reason /
they would oppose the effort made by GER
tain members to have the club violate its 1
organic law and either directly or indirect
ly put Itself on record as opposed TO Wells |
OR other man.