The Washington times., 1911-06-30
INSURGENTS STORM
CITIZENS MEETING
Capt. W. M Potter and His Host Sweep Civic I'm
provement Measures Through East Washington
.-.< Associaton-Ignore Precedent.

On the head, Of the venerable Capt.
W. NJ. Potter rests the wreath of vic
tory today III
Led by Captain Potter, the "insurgent
army" of southeast Washington invad-
ed the bailiwick of the safe. sane, con-
servative'' East Washington Citizens
Association. The insurgents came, saw.
conquered.
And when the smoke of battle had
died away the army of invasion, with
Captain Potter at its head, marched
away with the spoils of conflict. Behind
them they left only the shattered tra-
ditions and precedents of the East
Washington Citizens Association, forty
years old.
When President Thomas w. Smith
opened the meeting at 314 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast last night, there was
no suggestion that anything out of the
ordinary was to be startedsS 1T was
the associations monthly meeting. and
elimination of street-Cleaning stables
from square 1913, new Eastern High
School site on square 1913, and the pro
posed construction of an East Capitol
street bridge across the Eastern branch
were the subjects scheduled for discus
sion.
Precedent Broken
Ordinarily the procedure would have
jects mentioned by members of the ex-
ecutive committee, a debate, during
which the flower of oratory would have
ruled supreme, and then the questions
would have been referred back TO the
executive committee for further con-
sideration.' After which ice cream ana
cake would have been served, and ever
one would have gone home, having
spent a very pleasant and quiet even
ing.
gavel for order, it was noticed that
there were many new faces among
those present Then Captain Potter
took the floor and announced that he
had several names to propose for mem
bership. Soon it was seen that Captain
Potter's initiates outnumbered the other
members of the association.
Resolutions were introduced by Cap
tain Potter, as per program, ana
posed the construction Of permanent
STRENGTHENING stables in square lVl
advocated the building of high schoci
on this sit, and recommended the ter
ritory bounded by A, c., Seventeenth.
and Twentieth streets southeast as th@
site for the new stables.
Then Captain Potter read bill pro
Viding for the erecting OF the stableS
in the proposed territory. which ne sara
REPRESENTATIVE Lobeck would introduC"
in the House for the association. This,
too, met with no opposition. But when
the usual motion vas made to refer II
back to the executive committee zap
tain Potter started something
Insists on Action.
He insisted on immediate action by
the association, and it soon was plaSn
that the new members were of the
same opinion.
In spite of the fact that large num-
Der of your friends are in our midst
this evening said President Smith, II
trust that you will not insist upon the
precedents of procedure being disre-
garded, even if it is an emergency
case"
Il sure will insist upon action by the
association responded Captain Potter
'My friends are here tonight, and I'm
proud of it. It's about time l got some
friends in this association.
S. W. Curriden and NJ. |. Weller, OF
the executive committee, put up de-
termined but losing fight against Cap
tain Potter's revolt. Then Mr.. Weller
said that if the phraseOlogy of the bill
were changed, he might agree TO IL. Ihe
discussion here eentered on the use of
before and after A, c, Seventeenth, and
Twentieth streets. Mr.. Weller intimated
that the way Captain Potter had drawn
up the measure Congress wouldn't Know
what il was all about.
I'm sixtY-nine years old announced |
Captain Potter, rising to his feet. Il
didn't have, the opportunity of college
education when a young man, but IN
not an ilIiterate man. Twenty-Five years
ago I was graduated from the class OF
the National University Law School. |
I've never had the nerve to give up nv
War Depa rtment job and practice my
profession, but l have got the nerve to
make a fight for the people of southeast
Washington, and it's the grandest prac-
tice in the world" Cloud applause.)
Bill Is Endorsed.
BE that as 1t may" said Mr.. Weller. !
modestly, but our lawmaking friends
upon Capitol Hill often ask my advice !
about drafting bills for the District of
Columbia, and they have enough conf |
dence in me to take my advice"
But ii was no use The insurgents ]
unanimously" indorsed Captain Pot |
ters bill, and he was authorized to have /