The Washington times., 1905-08-06

According to a number of the mem
bers, there IS trouble brewing in the Po-
tomac Boat Club. and there will proba-
bly, be an exodus of many of the men
who have done much to bring the or
ganization to its present prominent posi-
ton in the world of rowing.
The kernel of the trouble seems to be
that the club is a private corporation
owned absolutely by several persons VINO
run II to suit themselves, and ignore
the complaints and requests Of those
who go out and hustle for funds and
athletes Whether OF not the dissatisfied
element will cut away and form an
entirely new club is not known, but the
prospects seem favorable 10 such a de-
velopment.
One ex-member who has recently quit
because of the internal dissentions has
issued an interesting statement, in which
he says IN part:
A Private Corporation.
in order to give lucid account Of
the status of affairs it is necessary to
go back a few years. at which time
things were in anything but a flourish
ing condition in the Potomac Boat Club,
its membership was depleted to the eX-
tent that but eight members remained
I
the count. for the house was slowly
but surely falling into the river. The
council Of eight called an executive
session. and hit upon n scheme to get
the club into their own hands for good
and all. and per adventure annex lit
tie long green.
They incorporated the organization
or what was left of it, issued stock Gov
erinE the entire ownership of everything
in sight, and handed the stock around
among themselves for a very small
amount. and then tried in every way to
build up the membership so that proper
dividends would be forthcoming
Clever Subterfuge.
"A constitution and bylaws then were
promulgated, and have been added 10
and taken away from as il was neces-
sary to keep matters well in hand, but
no authentic copy Of the same has been
printed in years. so no member. outside
the combination, knows what it consists
Of. Whenever a question or a decision
is asked by the members. not to the
liking of the owners a statement would
be made that the same was not permits
slble. under the rules Of the constitu-
tion.' and that IS final,
''One clause has been made public.
however to wit: Each share of stock
shall represent one vote, and the treas
urer is at all times authorized to vote
all or any treasury stock. thus, as that
gentleman is the largest stakeholder
anyhow. the owners are able to vote
down any and all measures not in ac-
cord with their ideas and TO defeat in
the farcicaI yearly elections of petty
officers anyone. who, in their opinion,
might be hard to handle or keep down.
Spurned His Offer.
AS time went on and interest in riv-
er, matters revived, the membership be
gan to increase and business got better
A prominent Georgetown business man
who was Interested in the club, realiz-
ing what a really close corporation II
was, offered to buy In all the stock at
the price paid for it. with interest, and
turn II back into the club treasury. so
the organization might become a mutual
and governing affair, conducted by
its members fairly. This very kind OF
fer was turned down fat. the owners
being well satisfied with their invest
ment. The gentleman who had among
other things, presented the club with
new cight-oared shell as a gift, became
disgusted and left the club.
Then the disgruntled member says that
John Hadley Doyle, president of the
club. angered a number of the old and
new members by ignoring the men who
had brought the organization out of its
difficulties and made 1t a success. es-
peciany the younger element. which
had entered because Of an interest In