The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-04
DiGests What You Eat
For sale by c. r. RODrra
ASK Tor the 1906 kodoI Almanac and
200 Year Calendar"
DIRECTORS WHO DON'T piREcT.
chsrnssl. Associations Affected BY su

Charitable Associations Affeetsd by 10
Insurance Company Revelations.
The system of unpaid, selt-perpesu-
ating boards OF directors is on trial In
charitable societies and institutions
no leSs than in business corporations
and semifiduclary institutions such as
savings banks and insurance coci-
panies. In many instances II works
we'll. In some instances 1t breaks
down. Whether it succeeds or falls
depends in part, of course, on the
personal character Of those who serve
as directors and en- the character of
the executive officers whom they
choose, but the time is opportune fer
scrutinizing the system itself and the
methods by which 1t operates. AS
has been shown before the legislatiS -
committee the actual workings Of tas
system cannot always be learned from
an examination Of the printed by.
laws.
For example, the description of ths
boards OF managers of charitable
societies as self-perpetuating would
appear inaccurate II one judged sole
ly by the methods usually prescrib-
ed for the election of members. Nom
inally they are usually elected by
the members, that is to say, as a r'ilo
by the contributors to the institution.
In fact however, so small a number
OF members participate In the annual
election that there is generally no
opposition to the continuance Of
those whose terms expire If they wish
to rema'p. or the executive officcrs
desire that they should. This Is not
necessarily Objectionable of itself. for
If the existing administration is a good
one it should as rule be continued.
The difficulty is that the process is
without discrimination. An antique
ated, unprogressive, and inefficient
administration is continued as read
lily as one Of the opposite description.
No one wants the trouble involved
in forcing a charge. 1t is easier 10
let things go as they are in the hope
that nothing positively scandalous
will occur.
Again, there is seldom such a real
audit of finances or critical scrutiny
OF actual work done as would guide
the directors to an independent and
thorough going judgment as to wheth-
er the expenditures have been Judicl.
Gus and the work faithfully and efi-
GENTLY Done.
There Is widespread misconcep-
tlon OF what membership in a board
OF directors means or should mean.
Men aud women Of prominence or5
solicited 10 allow their names TO be
used with the distinct understanding
that absence from meetings, irregular
attendance, or even a complete neglsGI
of all the duties will be overlooked
for the sake Of the financial or Other
Incidental advantage WhlCh the lnstl-
tuition will gain from the mere fact
that the names are allowed to ab-
pear sociel consideration some
times lead TO the selection of directors
who are hagraEtly UNIT for the par
hcular positiCl to be filled. One Of
the most distinguished OF American
citizens, appearing a few years ago a:
a public hearing in opposition TO the
views Of the president OF a well
known phiianthropic agency, descnb-
ed himself to the great amusement
Of his audience. as part Of that pure
" ornamental fringe with which tho
KentIenan IN the OthsS side had
surrounded himself-in other words
he was a director OF the sociery.-
Charities.
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