Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-20
DENOUNCES GAG RULE
Can't. Potter Stirs East Wash
ington Citizens Meeting.
CALLS MEMBERS AFRAID
Lack Nerve to Discuss Change in
District Government.
HIS RESOLUTION SHUT OUT
Letter From Chairman Smith Read.
DR.. Emmons Defends Rights of
Street Skaters.
HIS RESOLUTION SHUT GU

Last nights session of the East Wash
ington's Citizens Association vas enliv-
ened by Capt. William NJ. Potter making
an effort to discuss the question of a
change In the form of the local govern
ment The captain had set of resolu-
tons already prepared. but was prevented
from getting them before the association
because w Mosby Williams invoked the
application of rule 3 of the bylaws of the
association. This rule provides: NO re-
port or discussion concerning the form
OF District government shall be allowed
Al meetings of this association, except by
unanimous consent
Why don't YOU ask for unanimous con-
scnt?" Capt. Potter was asked after he
had discussed the question of changing
the bylaws.
Because, he answered Il do - want
to take an oven TO cool snowballs in
Capt. Potter declared, with show Of
feeling, that he would not remain MEM
Der OF an asSOciatiO ten minutes where
the right to speak upon so important an
issue is denied. Some of the older mem
bers of the association, among them \.
Sperry, recalled that such ii discussion
came near wrecking the association many
years ago, and il was found necessary to
adopt what Capt. Potter termed an OBJ
noxious rule The rule. Mr.. Sperry de-
clared, adopted at the time Silas
Clark, since dead, endeavored to have
the association act upon the question Of
change in the form of the local govern
ment Charles \. Shields admitted that
the rule was adopted at the time men
toned, but his recollection was that the
question at issue did not exactly involve
a change in the form of government, al
though it had some bearing upon the
question of the government.
The question was brought before the
meeting last night by a report Of the
executive committee made upon a reso-
luton introduced at the last meeting by
r.. Edward Clark, the executive commit
tee having concluded it was an unwise
thing to have the association participate
In a matter expressly prohibited by the
bylaws.
Urged Not to "Crawfish."
Don't crawfish." argued Capt. Potter.
You have burning question before you
aad the only thing TO do is to meet it
squarely. Why not have full and free
discussion of the question? So far as
/ am concerned / do not intend to stand
for having the resolution of Mr. Clark
buried by the executive committee. Had
/ been at the meeting | should certainly
have voted TO let II come before the
meeting. i was unavoidab bly, absent how
ever. and did not have an opportunity
to put myself record"
Mr.. SperrN ASKED II tllOSe IN attendance
did not think the association had been
wisely managed during the thirty eight
years OF its existence, and suggested
that the taking up of the question I'M
dor discussion and the arguments that
would follow would have tendency to
wreck, rather than to advance, the In
terests of the association.
Don't throw any req signals across my
path" said Capt. Potter. "Other pow
erful organizations have met the question
and discussed IT, and there is no reason
why this association cannot do likewise
i do not care TO belong to an associa-
tion that Is afraid 10 meet SO important
a question and pass upon its merits
President Smith recently gave an admira
bic interview upon the question, and why
should the association crawfish. crawl and
be afraid?'
Capt. Potter declared he would have
submitted a minority report had he no,
been prevented from attending the meet
ing of the executive committee
NJ. /. Weller, vice president of the as