Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-28
ATTACK MADE ON Diets
Directors OF ]. s. I. M. A. Make
Answer to Charges of Mis-
management
STRONG DENIAL PROMULGATED
Board Accuses Secretary Deets Of IT.
Irregularities and Claims His Removal
Would Have Boon Desirable - Rea-
sons for Removal Of Offices Presented
and Other Charges Answered.

duo SSs0s S'so' wv FN''sS'S' 49,
The recent communication from J.
A. Gum pertaining to alleged misman-
agement Of the affairs Of the !. S. I.
M. A. by the board of directors and
defending the acts of Secretary l.. c.
Deets, of the association, In his con-
troversy with the board, has brought
forth an answer from the directors.
The charges presented by Mr.. Gum
have been given wide publicity and the
reply indicates that the annual meet
ing of the association will be a lively
one.
This statement repeats accusations
against Secretary Deets which were
made few months ago. In more or
less definite form, and is a defense OF
the board against charges that have
been circulated recently by friends of
Secretary Deets.
In full the statement follows:
L
Travelling Mems association:
In answer to the individual critl-
cisms and comments upon our official
acts OF the past year, we feel 1t is dua
all concerned that an official statement
be made by your board of directors.
We are accountable ITO you for what
we have done in the conduct of bust
ness, and invite your investigation and
Judgment. Ordinarily public state
ment OF this kind would be unneces-
sary, but, lnasnuch as many false rep
reservations have been circulated and
printed, and our motives questioned,
we, have the following to say.
Complaints Made.
Early in thesyear the board was adj
Vised that complaint had been made
| to the proper authorities Of the board
that IT had been discovered that the
secretary guilty of grave frregu-
Ilarities and practices. Under the d.
rection Of these authorities an inves-
litigation was made. A review of all
the evidence In detail, If given in fair
ness to all, would fill all the pages of
a newspaper A decent consideration
OF the Yishesaand feelings Of those in
VOWED III lIi!S CONTROVERSY SAonesAsl -
from the right soA inclination to pub
|slish the testimony. The Judgment OF
the majority Sof the directors, serving
at that time and now, was then and
Is now, that the secretary was guilty
of the irregularities charged; that In
the handling Of applications for menu
bership he had practiced gross decep-
ton upon the board and had placed
many applicants in the false position OF
material misrepr esentation in their ap-
plications for membership. The duty
Of your directors Is to protect and-'ad"
vance the interests of the association,
and in dealing with this matter those
interests alone were kept in view.
Every act was impelled by business
consideration of what would be best for
our constituents, and we ask you as
members to give the situation the same
calm business thought Our Judgment
was thae the welfare of the Iowa State
Travelling Mems association demanded
an adjustment and correction of the
evils without publicity and scandal ID
the organization. The bylaws relat-
ing to malfeaseance in office is vague
and subject to many constructions.
Any attempted action under 1t meant
the taking of the matter into the dis
trict court. Please bear in mind the
directors had not the authority to ex-
pei the secretary from office under the
bylaws. To the end that the matter
might be thus dropped, the practices
In question stopped. and publicity
avoided record was made to the ef-
feet that the board was unable to de-
termine beyond all doubt the guilt or
innocence OF the secretary, but they
were convinced to such an extent that
they felt he should retire at the expir-
alton OF his present term. To this plan
the secretary objected and later dis
charged most Of the clerks who had
testified against him. 1t was deli
cate and difficult situation to deal with.
The board acted for the associations
interests, but from that time until now
unfair advantage has been taken, and
honest attempts to adjust a bad stu
alton so that the association might not
be damaged have been distorted and
represented as political tricks.
As to Removal.
With reference to moving the offices,
our lease in the Croker building had
expired, we were CROWDED Ior FooHi,
more. vault space was imperative, and
change to some other quarters was
business necessity. The question was
discussed by the board for four or five
months, special committees were APP
pointed to Investigate, and finally the
present quarters in the Fleming build
ing were leased. We pay $S4 more per
month for our present rooms than was
paid for the other suite. This is sim
ply a matter for calm business judg-
ment The erection of the Fleming
building marked an epoch in the prog
ress and growth of Des Moines and ev-
cry institution which has moved its
quarters there has enjoyed the benefit
of a like advertisement of prosperity
We have there more room, more vault
space and vastly superior equipment
and surroundings in every way. In
| making this move not only was regard
| for our present needs considered but
the future years and growth of the
| organization. Our membership is high
class, entitled to and DESTROYS Of the
same class of offices. 1t means an adj
ditional expense of 3 cents per member