Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-07
SQUARE DEAL
IS CLUBS CRY
FIGHT IN RANKS SPLITS NEW Ok
GANIZATION
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED AT A
SPECIAL MEETING
Old Officials Claim Session Was Illegal
and Say They Still Fill Posi-
tions-Fraser and Jones
Blamed


OCEAN PARK. Feb. 6.-With two
sets of executive officers, both claiming
the right of office, split has oc-
Cured in the Ocean Park Independent
club and charges and counter charges
now threaten to break up or result in
a division of the organization. which
was formed here several months ago
for the purpose of engineering through
a square dear' in the approaching
election.
At a special meeting held by about
twenty-five members of the club last
night in the Decatur hotel e. c. Dun
nivant, president; j. c. Aver. secre-
tary and treasurer, and w. H. Laseter,
acing secretary, were deposed from Of
flee and in their stead Robert Meyer
was chosen president and Z. M.
Spranklin secretary.
George c. Gallagher, vice president
of the club, presided at the meeting
and later rendered his resignation: his
place being taken by ]. F. Boutwell,. At
the session bylaws were changed and
committees on nomination and finances
were appointed, the former to frame a
ticket to be supported by the club at
the next election of trustees.
In deposing President Dunnivant
from office the faction Of the club
which assumed the reigns of govern
ment last night charge that he persist
ed in arbitrary ruling and that har-
mony could not be maintained with him
in the executive office; that dissatisfac-
ton and discord threatened to result
in the clubs disorganization.
Claims Meeting Was Illegal
Mr. Dunnivant asserts he still is
president of the club and that the meet
ing last night was an Illegal one, in
violation of the organizations bylaws.
This morning he gave out the follow
ing statement:
"The Ocean Park Independent club
will remain intact and never will be
delivered over to the Fraser and Jones
faction nor to the Kinney faction for
use in controlling the approaching
election. l still am president of the
club and if I live until a year from the
time of my election 1 still will be the
executive. The meeting last night was
absolutely illegal, for the bylaws ex-
pressly state no special session may be
held except upon call of the president.
I did not call the meeting last night.
also was not present, nor were Secre-
tary j. C. Aver or Acting Sescretary
w. H. LaSeter.
"The meeting was clearly a Fraser
and Jones one and in the greater part,
if not entirely so, the men in attend
ance were those who are dominated by
the leaders of that faction. In depos-
ing me from office the move is to place
the club in charge of men who will
turn the organization over body and
soul, if they can, to Fraser and Jones
at the next election"
In direct contradiction of Mr. Dumb
wants claim Robert Meyer, the newly
elected president, and Murray Steele,
one of the strong members of the club,
stated this afternoon that facts had
been misrepresented.
Contradict Statements
"While this dissension in the club has
resulted in an unpleasant publicity and
may end in a division of members. /
want it clearly state the members of
the club who last night effected reor-
ganization stand, as they did before,
strong for the square deal platform.
The report that there is a movement
on to throw the clubs influence and
vote to the Fraser and Jones faction is
untrue We shall stand as indepen-
dents in the approaching election and
will vote for a ticket which will insure
fair play for all and will protect the
interests of the citizens as whole"
Mr.. Meyer made the following state
ment: Last nights meeting was a
legal one and was attended by twenty
five representative business men, who
are members of the club. The principal
objection to Mr.. Dunnivant as presi-
dent was that he ruled the club with
too strict a hand. The bylaws were
such that members were practically
barred from having any management
in the clubs affairs.
"Under the new laws all members
will be enabled to take part and a
greater advancement and benefit may
be accomplished. We stand as before
for the square deal and shall en-
deavor to eliminate both the Fraser
and Jones faction and also the Kinney
supporters. Neither faction Will DOM
mate and the slogan will be fair deal
for both Sides"