Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
PROMISED AMENDMENT
MEMBERS OF CITIZENS ASSoCIA.
TON GIVEN SCORING.
Secretary Strove to Have Monthly
Meetings Abandoned-Lively Ses-
sion-Ofdcers Elected.

A proposition to amend the constitution
by abandoning the stated monthly meetings
brought out the largest attendance of the
year at the Columbia Heights Citizens AS
ISOLATION last night. The annual election of
officers and collation. served by the retir-
ing president. Alphonso Hart, were addi-
tional attractions. More than thirty MEM
bers were present. Aside from being the
largest meeting of the year the gathering
was the hveiiest by far. and on many of the
questions brought up for discussion there
was decided diversion of opinion. The
greatest interest was of course manifested
in the proposed constitutional amendment
which provided for only one regular meet
ing each year, other meetings to be called
by the president upon the request Of ma
jority Of the executive committee or of
nine other members The amendment was
submitted by Mr.. W. B. Todd, the secretary
OF the association, who declared he thought
the energies of the citizens could best be ex-
pended by concentrating upon some special
object At present he declared the meetings
far exceeded the demand for them. This
was evidenced by the light attendance and
the absence of reports from committees
Members of the association who acknowl-
edged they were attending the only meeting
they had been to during the year spoke in
vigorous opposition to the amendment. The
matter was voted upon later and laid on the
table indefinitely. The proposition, 1t is be-
1eved. accomplished much that 1t was de-
signed for A lively interest was stirred up,
and pledges were made by the members to
attend more regularly in the future.
Secretary Scores the Membership.
Secretary Todd declared it was discourag-
Ing to the few officers who were giving
their time and attention to the affairs OF
the association to gather on meeting nights
q nd hn 60 H..
the members did not pay their dues prompt
~ ana the treasury was so depleted that it
was impossible to send out postal cards
announcing the April meeting When pos
tai cards were available more than 100
were mailed each month. only to bring out
nine or ten members to the meeting. Mr..
Todd said he felt justified in speaking
plainly because his devotion to the CO.
lumb1a Heights Association had been at
tested not only by serving four terms as
secretary, but by his efforts in other ways
for Its welfare. Many things had been &C
compllshed by the association and there
were many more yet to be accomplished, he
declared.
''Our section will best receive the pro-
lection and attention to which it is en-
titled not by merging the Columbia Heights
Cltizens Association with some other body
or bodies, but by preserving the individual
existence of the association. In my mind
there is no question that our organization
should be maintained"
Mr.. Todd next spoke of the poor attend
ance at the regular monthly meetings
Even the special program prepared and
announced for the January gathering failed
to attract-a fact commented on by one OF
! the guests Of the evening.
Members Fail to Attend.
Most of our members never come to
meeting. said the secretary "A few are
seen at one or two meetings in the course
of year, and the regular attendants may
be counted on the fingers of ones hands.
What is the reason for our meager meet
ings and decreasing dues? 1t is not that
the members are apathet1c or disgruntled.
Nothing has happened to offend them. 1t
cannot be charged that the few have mo-
nopolized the meetings, which have been
open to all corners.
THE fact is that these non-attendants
know how and when to apply their efforts
To quote the remark of our former presi-
dent, real grievance would cause our
meeting place to be packed to OVERCOMING
Thus the true reason is brought to light,
namely, that there Is no business to war
rant the holding Of frequent general meet
ings This is we'll testified to by the eight
chairmen of our standing committees,
whose duty 1t Is to report at each monthly
meeting. Only two or three Of the eight
are IN attendance at any meeting, and these
two or three seldom have reports in re-
Spouse to the call for their committees No
oHe "ouiu accuse lnem OF dereICtlOn In
duty; not at all. They are men who would
attend to any duty at hand, but have
neither the inclination nor time to come to
meetings simply to wait for something to
turn up AT the present stage Of the devel-
opment of our section of the city the supply
OF meetings is largely in excess Of the de-
mand for them"
Mr.. Todd then read his proposed amend
ment and it was discussed by nearly every
one present. His statement was applauded.
Even those who spoke in opposition ad-
mitted that what Mr.. Todd said as to at
tendance and finance was true They all
hoped for better things in the future how
ever, and the matter was laid on the table
The secretary fought valiantly for his
point, but was outvoted.
Maj. Sylvester's Suggestion.
Major Richard Sylvester ventured the
suggestion that a committee should be ap-
pointed to arrange a special program for
each meeting. He thought that scheme
would bring out larger attendance. For
his temerity Major Sylvester was appointed
. chairman of the proposed committee and
told to appoint it's other members
e. 1t was also decided to appoint commit.
tee or three to confer with the other asso
Citations in the northern sections of the city
and District relative to the proposed merger
OF the organizations. The committee Is to
report back to the association without bind
Ing 1t in any way.
w uel lHe election OF OIHCerS was called
for things went smoothly enough until the
secretary's position was reached. Mr.. c.
s. Bundy, formerly first vice president was
elected to the presidency to succeed Mr.
Alphonso Hart, who has just completed two
terms. W. H. Saunders was elected first
vice president; Eugene G. Jeffreys. second
vice president, and B. F. Brockett, third
vice president.
Mr.. Todd Protests,
Mr.. Todd was unanimously nominated to
succeed himself as secretary. It was with
some effort that he made himself heard be-
fore the ballot could be cast for him. He
declined absolutely to serve under the old
conditions. Mr.. Todd said he had labored
diligently and faithfully for the associa-
ton, but without support. very often, and
he felt 1t was time for some one else to
take up the work. Thereupon several other
nominations were made. but no one seemed
to think himself capable Of the work. Mr.
Todd was asked If he did not have an as
sistant. He said one was elected q year
ago. but he had never laid eyes on him. He
was asked If he would not serve provided
a real assistant were elected. Louis ii.
Stabler said he would serve as assistant
and would do all the work. provided Mr.