The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-23
Chauncey I. Filley Makes Caustic
Statement About Good Govern
ment Clubs Troubles.
OTHER SUITS ARE PROMISED.
Attempt to Make the Club Subserv.
lent to the Purposes of the Re.
publican "Reorganizers''
Is Exposed.

Recent attempts of Republican "reorgan'
izers' to change the name of the Good Gov
eminent League Republican Club; the ap'
pointment of a new Executive Committee in
a manner which Is claimed to be entirely H.
legal; the effort to make it appear that he
favored all these things, are the subjects OF
a caustic statement by Chauncey 1. Ffney.
He talks in characteristic fashion. of the
gangs dilemma and shows how the re-
organizers" made themselves look foolish
in the hungling manner in which they tried
to carry out their plans.
Through it all runs a note OF satisfaction
on the part Of the eliminated" Republican
leader. There is n very plain hint that. aft
er the present injunction suit of the Ffnan-
cial Secretary, whom the reorganizers at
tempted to depose. has been settled, other
legal proceedings will be taken which will
make matters exceedingly lively. II not
overly comfortable for the men now NOM
inally In power. And there are hints that
there may be even other rude surprises IN
store for these same officers. In the course
of his statement, MIR. Filley says:
Whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad Somebody is mad. 1t don't
40 to get mad SO quickly in the game. 1t
is demoralizing and indiscreet. 1t does not
betoken a cool, level-headed politician and
lacks the first element of political wisdom
caution. 1t does not give confidence in a
would-be leader of even a faction Of the
party, and discredits the faction.
Why Change of Name Ii Sought.
"The abidance by constitutional provis-
ions and bylaws and rules and law are es-
sential to a successful leader and adviser.
Truth is also essential in politics and should
not be discarded. Presidents are also
requisite. as well as parliamentary manuals.
Ancient history is not to be discarded; even
II some discontents and 'would-be's' cannot
stand 1t. There are others like myself who
cah. 1his Is the main reason why the
change of the name of the Good Govern
ment League Republican Club is sought. so
mat those who have stood up for bad gov
eminent, can get into the club under some
otnsr and, by them. less detested name.
iHe ciub mad become popular and the
nope OF those who seek good government.
It's motto Is disliked by the old gang. The
Sst,sss committee, which the gang denomin-
aIes, Is IN such disrepute that is-the ma
Jori.y-couid not be reelected under the
new primary law.
,nci Lne scheme Of so-called Consolidation
Sarry,ng over into the 1902 campaign. This
Mouid mean absolute defeat to the Re-
publican party; This is generally admitted.
It mas been. l am advised, reported that
4 favored the scheme. This is unqualifedly
raise. as is also the statement that I favored
me cnange OF name of the club. To per-
nit either of these outrages upon the party
WOULD be Its sure defeat. The Good Cow
srnment Club is the only one Of the Lead
ing Republican clubs that last spring re-
mittee In denying the party the right of a
oeiegate nominating convention.
Iicket Tor Next Year Agreed Cpon,
nuhe necessity Of surrender now to that
ment Club Is the reliance of the good gov |
eminent Republican element of the city, |
mhinnuenced by commercial bargains Of d. /
q appointments: Already. I am Informed,
the fail ticket Of 1902 has been agreed upon |
ana divided out with the aid and hunger
me GOOD Government Club. This may eat |
is1y the greed of the cormorants. but II |
rs ~ n no. cohducive to party success SO soon
jealousy. The Federal building is 10 to
ts. cleaned a out from top to bottom. and
III cannot allude to the chief part with |
which the consolidators' were to honor me
a aa an naa, without Without my authority. pledged me
'consolidators' oficiaiiy Informed Of It.
o q told by one OF the insiders that
!r Has i Traay on as soon as ! gave the tip;
We scneme was developing in the attempted
change Of the name OF the club, / mildly
Dro pSi'eIy ana firmly entered my public
fooled with the idea that 1 was seeking
leadership. and had authorized any one re
s sa . snae 1 would accept it, enjoying. as /
Under the constitution and bylaws of
me CLUB. the Board of Directors. after the
alst BOARD, which was to be and was an
is elective, and when a vacancy DC
ours It has to be reported to the club and
hIed by the club by the nomination Of a
MemDer rom the ward where 1t occurs.
or committee, has the authority to annoint
a single member of the board. Therefore
me presidents act of wiping out the whole
DU !, i, ana appointing a new one is indis-
SO. too, with the Executive COMMITTEES.
!. Vas originally appointed pursuant to the
bers. who drew lots for one, two and three
year terms. Then. after the first year.
three We're to be annually appointed. The
often notified. In not aiming the three for
1901. has undertaken to wipe out the whole
executive Committee. chairman and all.
less OF the allotted classification and unex.
pired terms of the majority Of the commit
zee; clearly in violation Of the constitution
and unauthorized power has
push. ~
Delinsuents Legally Expelled.
There has not been a meeting of the club
asst Thursday night. h legal quorum
then Is indisputable. The bylaws provide
q meeting every Thursday night: The
bylaws In that respect nave not been
changed. and cannot be except on notice
Of two weeks and the action Of the club.
1t lies in no mans power or that Of bogus
or other committees to arbitrarily disregard
or change the bylaws. So the financial
being an elective officer Of the
club. cannot be removed by any such whim
or act He Is only subject to removal on
charges and by a two-thirds vote of the
club.
Hence. the reorganizers are up against
IN the Injunction suit before Judge Ryan
the term of the court in October. This
Is not the only suit they are likely to be
up against before the end comes. 1t took ,
years to get a decision in the Twelfth :
District case and in support OF regularity.
Regularity will win again. There is room
FOR the Good Government Club and no room /
for the amalgamation with the bad gov
eminent Merchants League Club.
1.-The Executive Committee-that one
lone being legal which is presided over by
Chairman Brownell-reported to Thurs
lays meeting a long list of delinquents as
to 1t by the financial secretary,
10 which committee MI. Koeling. as in