The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-10
AN HONOR WORTH HAVING
The Presidency of the Commercial
Club the Object Of Spirited
Contest.

Judging from the interest exhibited at
the Commercial Club In to-night's cleo
ton, heavy vote may be expected. Both
sides were confident with the chances APP
parently somewhat in President A. c.
Paul's favor His candidacy is strength
ened by the fact that the past year has
been an unusually prosperous one in the
history of the club, and that his friends
foresee in his reelection a continuation
Of the policies which appear to make for
the general good Of the club and the city.
The only objection urged by G. w.
Gardeners friends to the reelection Of Mr..
Paul is that the position of president is
merely an honorary one that should be
held by any member only one year, and
that 1t should then be passed along to
some other member They point to the
fact that the last three presidents prior
to Mr.. Paul have each served one term.
To this Mr.. PauFs supporters reply that
the interests of the club should first be
considered rather than the desire Of any
member to hold the position of president;
that the position is not merely an honorary
one, but that it requires large amount
Of time and hard work upon the part of
any man to give the club successful adj
ministration. 1t us urged that there is
neither a rule nor precedent limiting the
tenure Of the presidency to a single term.
They point to the fact that John c. Cald-
erwood held the office for five terms; that
T. ]. Phelps, S. H. Hall and E. c. Best
could each have been re-elected, but that
they all declined reelection. Mr.. Phelps
on the ground of i'll health and the others
because of the pressure of private bust
ness.
Mr.. Gardeners adherents are out with
signed statement in which they urge his
election largely upon the one-term theory.
H. S. Gregg, S. H. Hall and E. G.. Best
thus outline their reasons for supporting
Mr.. Gardner:
THE advocates of Mr. Gardner believe
the club should adhere closely to the pol
Icy of limiting the term Of the best man
obtainable to one year, and that he be
given every opportunity to- do his level
best in that time. They assert that rhe
failure of the club to accomplish in II les
past the purposes for which 1t was Or
ganized was due largely to the policy OF
keeping the same men in office through
more than one term. They insist that a
deviation fl ON the one-t term rule is a. mis-
take, and that the best interests Of the
club will always be served by an annual
election Of new men, with a new broom
and new enthusiasm for the work. They
believe the trouble with all clubs is the
tendency to fall into a 'dry-rot' condi-
ton caused by the fact that the club man
agement not only gets into a .rut. but is
placed in the hands of a clique, made
possible by the continuation in office OF
the same men, who come gradually tc
lose sight Of the larger interests of the
club AS result of this, individual in
terest lags. We point to the fact that
the best work OF the club in the past has
been done under single term presidents.
Charles w. Gardner was the founder OF
the Commercial club. 1t was under his
constant and careful supervision during
the first year or two after it's inception
when it. was being prosperousy conduct
ed. In the reconstruction period, which
put the club squarely On its feet again
Mr.. Gardner was again at the helm anc
to him was given the management of its
finaces. We know him to be thorough
| conscientious and capable. He will make
the club splendid president" -.
The candidates for directors on the
| Gardner ticket are F. r. Salisbury, e. c
Best S. G.. Palmer, w. c. Marshall, M F
Lennox, J. i. Harper. A. j. Dean, w. P
Devereaux, w: F. Betchel and S. M. Yale
| Those on the Paul ticket are Henry
Deutsch, c. r. Fowler. A. H. Hopkins
W. M, Homer, II. l.. Jenkins, w. A
Kerr. J. H. Riheldaffer, E. F. Smith ant
T. W. Stevenson. ~