New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-22
SPLIT IN THE S P. c. A
PROMINENT MEN RESIGN.
Many Directors SAID To Be Dis
satisfied seith MANAGEMENT.

It became known yesterday that Mayor Nc
CleIlan. John Claf1in. the merchant; Joseph H.
Choate, ex-Ambassador to the Court of ST
James's had resigned from the board of
directors of the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals John P. Haines. the presi-
dent of the society. confirmed these designations
last night but denied fatty that dissatisfaction
with the way the affairs of the society are
aged was responsible for the withdrawal of
Messrs Mcclellan Clafin and Choate vice.
presidents and directors.
Joseph II. Choate, when seen at his nome last
night said that he had sent in his resignation
several days ago" Mr.. Choate firmly but
courteously refused to discuss his action or TO
give his reasons for resigning. Neither Mayor
Mcclellan nor Mr. Clafin would discuss the
subject last night
For q long time there has been bad blood ana
charges and countercharges between President
Haines on the one side, and Colonel Joel b.
Erhardt a vice-president and director on Tle
other Colonel Erhardt has charged irreguiarity
in the management of the society S hndnces anu
has demanded an investigation He mas oeeli
the leader of the opposition to President HalheS'
When seen at the Union League Cluo last
night Colonel Erhardt said he kne" Oh lie
designations. and intimated that more with
drawaIs might follow. He said that ne hao
not attended a meeting of the society for some
time and did not know what going on.
Asked whether there would be bill intro
duced in the coming legislature at Albany TO
have the affairs of the society investigated, ne
said he did not know. but intimated that there
might be something doing in the near future.
One of the members of the society, who re-
fused to be quoted. but who belongs to the
anti-Haines party, said last night:
The charter of the society provides for a
president ten vice-presidents and executive
men L
an annual meeting of the society on the Secoho
Thursday of JANUARY. There has not however,
been annual meeting or the society loi 'ii0
last eighteen years.
Under the present management the vice-presi-
dents and the executive committee nave peen
pretty much consolidated. That is TO say ~, II!o
same people are serving on both ooarQs. Inns
is in violation of the charter. 1t mas peen the
custom for the officers of the society 10 lneet
in the annual meeting and transact business
This according to the bylaws or the socleIy,
ought to be confirmed by the members OF .ne
society Instead of that, the officers, as soon
as the board meetings have adjourned nave
been in the habit of forming themselves into a
quorum of members" and passing - that caPa-
city upon rulings which they nave themselves
made.
REGARDING the designations Mr.. Haines said:
Neither Mayor Mcclellan Mr.. Claf1in has
taken any part in the direction of the society
work for more than year, or attenoeo any
of the meetings. Mr.. Choate has not aItenoed
the meetings for several years. Mayor McClel-
Ian and Mr. Claf1in have resigned because ON
cial duties would not permit them 10 a i,sa5
the meetings of the society. The Mayor resigned
over a year ago and Mr.. Claim nearly wv
years ago. 1t is not true, as far as Know
that they were dissatisfied with the manage
ment of the society.
Nobody finds fault with the society but those
whom ii has occasion to get after FOR ABUSING
animals Mr.. C1aHin stated that, with MS own
personal work and his duties as rapid transit
commissioner, he could not find time TO De on
the board The Mayor gave the same reasons,
adding that he did not wish to be fgurehead.
I tell you there is no trouble in the society
except what its enemies make
The society has enemies l admit that. but
who are they? They people who are cruel
to animals; who don't treat dumb brutes prop
erly They hate the society because 1t makes
an effort to have them respect the dumb brute
l repeat that there is no trouble in the board
of directors nor in any other part of the society
except that made by Colonel Erhardt and our