The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-09
ON A new BASIS.
Commercial Club Elects New
Board of Directors.
Attempt VIII Be Made to Put
Life in Organization.
SHORTAGE OF FUNDS.
An Appropriation. Made OF
Money Not Available.
Fifty New Members Added to
Rolls.


The reorganized Topeka Commercial
club came into existence last night
when the board of fifteen directors
selected to represent the various in
terests of the city were elected. all
save one. The railroad interests have
failed to agree upon a man who will
accept the responsibility of q director
of the club. A. A. Robinson has been
urged to accept the place and there is
possibility that he viii yet agree to
accept it.
The old and familiar face of C. K.
Holiday beamed across the presidents
desk and with gavel in hand he start
ed OFF the reorganization and held his
seat until a few minutes later an ad-
journment was taken.
There were less than twenty-five
members present and for some reason
the new board of directors selected a
ent. The efforts of Secretary Poole to
reorganize the club are meeting with
but half hearted support. The bust
ness men who in the past have been
conspicuous for their absence, but
two or three out of the old guard
being present at the meeting.
Every thing came off as advertised
suit will be as the plans outlined are
entirely new and novel. Each OF fif-
teen lines of business have selected a
representative and these selections
nights meeting. This body will get
together and select a president and
the club will then have head, some
thing which it has been minus for al
most a year.
The recently adopted bylaws provide
that fifteen members of the club shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. The club has member
dFed. The new bylaws prior to the
time of their last amendments pro-
vided that a quorum should consist of
thirty members.
Appropriation for Italy.
Following the cut and dried portion
from the Red Gross society asking for
an appropriation for the earthquake
sufferers of italy. 1t is a well worded
affair and tear starting appeal and
handful of members who were present
at last nights meeting and 5000 ap-
preparation was made from the funds
in the treasury.
Following the reading of the ap-
peal, Judge T. F. Carver moved that
an appropriation of $500 be made and
a check turned over to the president
of the Red Cross society immediately.
he was perfectly willing to have his
motion amended If in the judgment of
those present the amount should be
changed. There were numerous Sec
onds to the motion and warrant was
ordered drawn for the 5000 appro-
priated.
beneficence on the part of the club the
report of Treasurer A. NJ. Mills was
read showing that there is a balance
in the treasury of $1,937.70. The re-
port indicates that the total receipts
for the past past year hare sn zS ga
leaving a balance of $1,9S7.70 in the
hands of the treasurer.
Early last fall an attempt was made
by a committee from the Commercial
fund. Nearly the entire sum was sub
scribed by Topeka business men with
the understanding that it was to be
used in promoting a state fair and
tertainment fund for the club.
Only a portion of the fund collected
was expended for the state fair,
something like $4,000 being left in
the treasury of the Commercial club.
If this sum which was subscribed for
specified purpose is taken from the
funds now in the hands of the treas
urer of the club a deficit of nearly
5000 would exist. In other words the
Commercial club is at this time
bankrupt and has a deficit aside from
the appropriation of 5000 made by
less than 25 members of the club at
last nights meeting.
The bylaws of the organization
provide that appropriations shall be
made by the board Of directors and
the action last night was taken before
the board of directors for the en-
suing year was elected. The action
was not taken at a meeting of the
board of directors but at a meeting
of the Commercial club, in a call for
which, no statement was made that an
appropriation had been asked for by
the Red Cross or any other society.
The action of the handful of men
present at last nights meeting in
appropriating funds for the aid of the
earthquake sufferers from a bank
rupt treasury is Illegal. Two thousand
dollars of the fund which was sup
posed to be in the treasury of the
| Commercial club belongs to the state
| fair committee and was appropriated
| for their exclusive use. Notwithstand-
| ing this fact a portion of the salary
| of the secretary and his assistant has
| been drawn from the fund and not
from money collected from the men,
| bership as dues as contemplated.
Secretary Poole's Report.
Secretary Poole submitted his re-
port for the year which closed with
/ last nights meeting in which he says:
curing six day service on the Topeka
& Northwestern railroad; was in
strumentai in securing state Sunday
school convention which will be held
in Topeka in May.
Through the efforts of the Com
& Southwestern railroad was re-
suscitated. There will be various
opinions as to the wisdom of doing
this but without this aid the matter