The Washington times., 1911-05-20

BUCK-GORDON CIVIL
SERVICE BODY GOES
OUT OF EXISTENCE
Disbands After Vice Presi-
dents Quit, Dissatisfied
With Founders.
WAS ORGANIZED
ONLY A MONTH AGO
Alleged Incorporate Remarks of
Both Buck and Gordon
Criticised.

Tho National Civil Service Improve
ment Association Of Business Men OF
the United States is no more
OF sporadic growth, its life has been
relatively shorter than its title. Today
it has no president nor vice presidents.
Tomorrow it will probably have passed
into oblivion.
The dissolution of the lopg-naned 80
ciety was precipitated last evening
when its four vice presidents resigned.
They were John Joy Edison, Louis P.
Shoemaker. Milton E. Allies, and Charles
]. Bell The reason for their resigna-
ton was certain infammatory state
ments made by the society's president,
Fulton r. Gordon, and its secretary,
Joseph w. Buck. The designations were
placed in the hands of President Cor
don, who thereupon resigned himself,
and announced he would disband the or
ganization.
Organized a Month Ago.
The association was organized a
month ago with a flourish of trumpets
by Mr.. Gordon and Mr.. Buck. The
four gentlemen named were PUT down
as vice presidents, and a long list of
prominent Washington business men
was put forth as the executive commit
tee. 1t was ann ounced big mass meet
ing of business men Of the whole coun-
try would be held in Washington. May
81 and June /.
Fro mthe start, the committee of one
hundred, organized in Washington to
work for the interests of Government
employees, with P. B. Chase as chair
man and former Senator Charles Dick
as director, was doubtful of the wis
dom of such an organization as Mr.
Gordon and Mr. Buck proposed. When
The latter declared, at a public meeting,
that members of the House who voted
TO increase their own pay should be
horsewhipped, and when the former, at
another public meeting, declared that
Government employees would strike un-
less their needs were met by legisla-
tion, Mr.. Chase issued a statement con-
demning the utterances and declaring
the association in no way connected
with the committee of one hundred.
This was followed last evening by the
resignation Of the vice presidents. and
the announcement by Mr.. Gordon
that the organization would disband,
and that the convention of business men
would not be attempted.
The Letter to Gordon.
The resignation Of the vice presidents
was conveyed in a letter signed by them.
1t was as follows:
Washington, D. C. May 1e. 1911,
Mr., Fulton R Gordon. President
ment Association.
Dear Sir: We will cheerfully and
earnestly do all in our power, in
every proper manner, TO secure pro-
vision for the retirement of super
annuated employees in the classified
service; and. further, as no increase
of compensation of clerks and other
employees in the service has been
made for over fifty years, while
large increase has occurred in the
cost of living, we believe in, and will
advocate, a just increase in salaries.
In view, however, Of the recent in
temperate public expressions of Mr..
Buck, the secretary, and your own
remarks upon the subject of strikes
in the Government service. in terms
we cannot approve, and do not wish
to be, in the least, held responsible
for, we are constrained to tender our
designations of the offices to which
we have been elected, and will en-
ploy our efforts in another and, We
hope, in a more effective direction.
Yours, very respectfully,
JOHN JOY EDISON,
LOUIS P. SHOEMAKER,
NJ z. ALLIES,
c. J. BELL.
Mr.. Gordon and Mr.. Buck held con-
ference today over the fate of their
association. Mr.. Gordon urged Mr.. Buck
to abandon it, and informed Mr.. Buck
that he would have nothing more to do
with 1 tat any rate Mr.. Buck said
he might endeavor to find another pres
ident and other vice presidents and keep
the society going. He has not deter
mined whether he will attempt to hold
the convention of business men here
May 81 and June l.
Mr.. Grdon pointed out what he con-
sidered insurmountable obstacles to any
further effort to perfect an organization.
In view of the repudiation of the as
ISOLATION by its vice presidents. II is
believed to be doubtful whether Mr..
Buck could resuscitate 1t.