The San Francisco call., 1904-04-04
Annual Election of the
French Mutual Benefit So
ciety Results in the ROut
9f Canac-Marquis Forces
BEARNAIS' SECURE
DECISIVE VICTORY
0. Bozio and His Supporters
Are Selected to Manage At
fairs of the Big Associa-
tion for the Coming Year

Two tickets and a bitter fight brought
out the largest vote ever polled in the
annual election of the French Mutual
Benefit Society, which conducts the
French Hospital. The election of di-
fectors was held yesterday afternoon in
the main hall of the Native Sons
building, and out of membership of
more than 5000 throughout the State
1l1S members were present to vote. So
great was the interest in the election
that several members journeyed from
as far south as Riverside and Los An
geles to cast their ballots.
The victorious side was known as the
Bearnais ticket. The opposing faction
represented the forces of DR.. Canac-
Marquis, until last September chief sur
geon at the French Hospital.
Balloting commenced at l o'clock,
and from then until o'clock, when the
polls closed, steady stream of voters
poured into the hall and marked their
ballots for the candidates they chose
to direct the affairs of the society for
the ensuing year. There was an alb
sence of the usual bitterness between
the two factions, and, aside from an
occasional wordy argument between
was no disorder Two policemen were
on duty during the afternoon and aided
in accelerating the balloting by keep
ing the members in line.
BERNAIS TICKET WINS.
1t was eleven o'clock at night be-
fore the ballots were counted and the
result definitely announced. although
an hour before that it was apparent
that the Bearnais ticket had won by
heavy majority. All fifteen of the di-
rectors proposed by the Bearnais fac
ton were chosen. The ticket was
headed by O. Bozio, well known in
financial circles in this city and con-
nected, as a director, with the French
American and Swiss-American banks.
During the last year he has acted as
first vice president of the society and
1t is understood that when the direct
ors meet next Wednesday to choose
officers he will be selected president
for the ensuing year.
He was president from 1896 to 1898
and afterward member of the
building committee during the four
years the present French Hospital
was being erected. Since 1883 he has
been a member of the society and at
times Of stress has aided, it literally
with his private means.
The other directors chosen to act
with Mr.. Bozio are A. Gless, Thomas
Lacoste, V. Gardet, J. A. Bergerot, j.
Bergez, j. S. Godeau. c. A. Antiques,
+. Games, A. Roncovieri, j. B. Lacaze,
j.. B. Pom, B. p. Lapachet, Redmond
Aguirre and G.. Pouchan. Roncovieri,
who was on both tickets, received the
highest number of votes, polling 963.
DIR. j. +. Antiques was chosen resident
physician at the French Hospital over
T0,. 40 ho, hxy nf
to 400. Dr. F.. r. Orella and DR..
George NJ. Converse were selected as
to visit homes of mem
bers, the only other candidate being
DR.. Ed. r. Berges.
DIVISION OF SOCIETY.
The division among the members OF
the society dates from last September,
when the directors asked DIR. Canac-
for his resignation as chief
surgeon at the hospital. He acquiesced
in the demand, but large number of
his friends demanded that a special
meeting be called to consider
the reasons for his removal. The meet
ing was held in October, last, and the
directors gave their reasons for de-
DR.. Canac- Marquis resigna-
ton.
His adherents raised a storm of op-
position, which ended by the directors
walking out of the meeting, leaving
their opponents no other alternative
but to adjourn. Since then steady
effort has been conducted by them to
capture the board of directors at the
annual election, which failed yesterday.
In place of DR.. Canac- Marquis, DR..
Alden was installed chief surgeon last
The annual report of the directors
showed a prosperous condition of the
society's finances at the present time.