The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-08
TO TAKElT BACK.
Chamfnade Music Club Members
Sorry They DisOrganized.
One of Them Accused Of Writing
Anonymous Letters.
GAVE HER NO HEARING
Now They Have Relented and
May Rescind Action.
Think That They Didn't Treat
Accused One Fairly.
GAVE HER NO HEARING

Because one of the members of the
Chaminade Music club was accused of
writing anonymous letters to prominent
musicians in this city which in some
instances were merely disparaging Of
the professional accomplishments of the
recipients, and in others sensationally |
written and vulgar, fifteen of the TWEEN
| ty-five members of the club met at the
residence of Mrs. George Overmyer, 1887
Fillmore street. on Monday afternoon.
reorganized the club after disbanding
1 the old one formally, and left the Of
| Tending member out.
But since that time a revuIsion of
feeling has set in. and some Of those
most active in the procedure deemed
/ themselves hasty, and of having acted
unadvisedly in that the accused mem |
| Der was not given an opportunity to
defend herself.
Open admission is made by those who
! joined the new organization that they
have no proof of the guilt against the
person charged with this serious offense
and since she had denied absolutely and
fatty having sent the letters, they
believe that it would only be fair that
/ she be given a trial, and unless abso-
lutte and convincing evidence is pro-
duced, that she be retained in the club
and share fully in its success, which
she has been principal in bringing
about.
Another meeting is to be called very
shortly. At that time the accused mem
| Der will be asked to be present. She
was not at Mondays meeting, but
majority of the members were, and
| their action was wholly proper and
within the confines of parliamentary
procedure. But the change of sentiment
calls for a wiping out of what was done
! Monday, and a fair and comprehensive
| investigation into the whole situation
before any definite and final action Is
| decided upon, relative to the personnel
| and operation of the Chaminade club
| next year. The time of the meeting has
/ not yet been set. Mrs. Morton Albaugh
is vice president of the club. She has
! been asked to call the meeting. Mrs. AL
baugh goes to southern Indiana. next
week for a summers visit SO the hear
] ing will likely be had either Saturday
I or Monday. She said this morning that
nothing had yet been settled upon. She
| with a number of others was not
/ at the meeting.
! When asked concerning the matter,
she said: Il do not wish to talk about
! it. The accused woman is q good friend
of mine and cannot believe that she
wrote the offensive letters. am very
sorry that this trouble has come. While
| invited to attend last Monday did not
! go. because felt that I wanted to wait
| a little while. Some of those who were
| instrumental in the reorganization have
come to me since and stated that they
| thought their action hasty and mention
/ ed something relative to another meet
ing. Further than that I know nothing
| about it
Mrs. Eli G. Foster, president of the
club was also seen. She said that she
! too had not gone to the meeting, and
! had not yet been informed as to what
| had been done. 81 do not know any
thing about the matter she replied,
"and do not want to say anything
about it. 1t is very unfortunate. I
have understood that it was relative to
anonymous letters which certain mu-
sicians received in the city. About
/ these know nothing either Two OF
the ladies who were at the meeting
came here yesterday and said that
| they had acted hastily and were anX-
ious to undo the reorganization I do
not know whether another meeting
will be called or not
Mrs. George Overmyer, secretary of
the club was one of the ladies present
at Mondays meeting at her home. She
would not give out the names of those
who attended. but admitted that a pc
tition had been signed by those who
! were present, for a reorganization
which left the offending member out.
But I am very sorry that we did it."
she said. ''I am sure that we acted
/ hastily. I am very willing that an
other meeting be held and I shall ask
j the head officers to call one. I have
spoken to a number of those who
were here Monday and all of them be-
L
II cused member should be given a
| chance to defend herself. None of us
has proof that she wrote the letters.
Some of the members feel morally
certain and say that they will not be
in the same club with her. But these
are now in the minority. The lady ac-
cused has worked hard for this club
and has built it up. She has been an
enthusiastic member during its four
j years of existence and has done every
thing possible to make it success. I
think that our action was very hasty
and done without weighing the condi-
tons properly. I am in favor of an
other meeting at once. We ought to
give her a chance"
No Trouble in Il. NJ. G.
An erroneous report has been cir
cuIated that several members of the
Ladies' Music club had been suspend
ed from the organization for non-pay-
ment of dues Mrs. Frank Foster, a
prominent member of the organiza-
ton, was asked this morning concern
ing the matter and replied: There is
not single particle of truth in it..
Several members were in arrears some
time ago and we notified them. They
paid up at once. There is no trouble
now I do not know who started the
story