Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-17
LEAGUE MEMBERS IN COUNCIL
Committee OF RE
PUBLICAN STATE CLUBA
Former Senator Butler Scores the Mol
lycoddles In Politics-Plans for
Increasing Membership.

Increasing Membership.
At meeting Of the executive committee OF
the League Of Republican State Clubs, which
was held at the Dewey Hotel, 14th ana
streets, last night 1t decided to branch out
and increase the membership of the league
and to have representation in 1t from
| every state In the Union. The feasibility
of q more active political movement on the
part Of the league was emphasized by the
various speakers, and a committee OF nve
was appointed by the chair to take up thls
work of organizing clubs to represent
states which are not represented.
Prominent men In official life in Wash
ington are interested In the project, and
from now on the members Of the executive
committee Of the league VIII be acnvey
and aiding in the increase of the member
ship. What was regarded as the most Inn
portant matter discussed at the meeting
organization with a well-equipped club
house. This plan, which has been the am
bition Of Henry M. Camp, president of the
league. and other members Of the execu-
tive committee, will be acted upon den-
nitely at the next meeting.
Former Senator Buffers Views.
An address which was intended to arouse
OAtAuSAoohA uAhoA8 SAiC AuVAA0SAS " sAAS
several associations represented, and In
which the necessity of organizing cubs for
the states that are not now represented,
was made by former Senator Marion Butler
o. North Carolina, a member OF the COM
mittee
''If were President Of the United
States" Senator Butler said, Il would do
everything in my power to encourage this
movement and aid the league In its work,
and every government employe who Is en-
| titled a and whn falls to do his
duty by neglecting to cast 1t I would put
out Of the government service. There Is no
more pitiable specimen of mankind than the
man who gives up his citizenship and
rights just because he is too lazy or who
.s afraid to go out to his home state and
cast his honest vote. Such man cannot
a disgrace to the government to which he
has sworn allegiance and to the tate which
sent him to Washington.
They are of the class Of men President
Roosevelt term mollycoddle' readily APP
plies to- the speaker continued, only l
think they are even l-ss entitled to con-
sideration than is the nonenttty suggested
by Mr.. Roosevelts word" He thought
those who occupy judicial positions could
exercise a little activity in politics without
soling the ermine
Senator Butler stated that considerable
Of the lack of activity in Washington
among the government clerks may be due to
the stringent Law. of the civil service COM
mission, apd he attacked the commission
for what he termed "broW-beating meth
DDS.
This civil service rot" he continued,
has gone too far, and If the President IS
the man think he Is he will not sanction
any movement that would bring harm to
a public-spirited republican who shows
sufficient citizenship and Americanism to
take part in politics. Gentlemen, II the
laws Of the civil service are Injurious to
our cause and are un-American, it is our
duty to take steps to have the laws amend
ed, and can assure you there are enough
good republicans in Congress sufficiently
courageous and sensible to attend to this"
Senator Butler concluded by suggesting
that the chair communicate with the re-
publican state chairmen throughout the
country and invite them to designate
states now in Washington to attend the
next meeting Of the executive COMMITTEES.
This suggestion met with the approval OF
the committee.
Other Addresses.
Jere A. Matthews, president Of the In
diana Society of Washington and former
secretary to Vice President Fairbanks. who
was present by invitation made short
address in which he voiced his hearty ap-
prevail Of the plans of organization being
mapped out by the league. Stating that
he was speaking individually, and not as
president of his state society, he said he
would establish a political club in Wash
ington for the people from his state, say
ing there has not been an Indiana political
club here in q number of years, despite
persons from Indiana In government serv-
Ice here. His sentiments were echoed by
Col. Odell, prominent 1ndianian.
An address on the same lines was made
by T. Lincoln Townsend OF Philadelphia.
Mr.. Townsend is an active political leader in
his state, and a member OF the Pennsylva-
MIA Club Of Washington. a non-partisan or
eanization. He said he regretted that the
Keystone state Is not represented in the
league. and assured the executive commit
tee that he will lend every aid to move
ment with this end in view.
Committees Appointed.
1t was decided at the meeting to give an
|. excursion to some river resort this sum-
mer, and the chair appointed T. NJ Suther-
land, Noble N. Potts and Senator Butler as
a committee to make the necessary ar
rangements and report at the next meeting.
Chairman Camp upon the motion of Gus
A. Schuldt, appointed s. committee COM
posed of Robert H. McNell, Harry Govan-
noli r. Stone blackstone, w. L. Symons and
Gus A. Schuldt to take charge of the or
ganization of the new clubs from the states
not represented.
The following new members were elected:
T. NJ. Sutherland of Ohio, to succeed ]. w.
Bell; William Denne of Missouri, to sue
coed Clarence f. Adams, and Capt John J.
Capers of North Carolina The latter, who is
a member of the national republican COM
mittee from his state. made an address,
in which he emphasized the necessity of
extending the work of the league, and in
which he expressed regret that The republi-
cans from his state have no political club
here.
The next meeting of the executive COM
mittee will be at the call of the president,
at the Pennsylvania Club, 18th and X
streets northwest. Mr.. Townsend is chair
man Of the house committee of that club,
and he extended the invitation to meet at
the club house at any time in the future
VIRGINIA p. e. Council Convened.