New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-03
o., o.. HE'S A BOSS!
Chevra B'nai TomasCheff Inter
Stutzungs Verein Goes to Court.
"AUTOCRAT" IS SUSTAINED
Minority Leader Makes Trouble
Because He Cant Get Office,
Victorious Opponent Says.

Every little movement has a leader or lis
own Some movements have bosses; others
have autocrats When the Chevra B'nai
Tomascheft Unterstutzungs Verein was in
corporated, a few years ago. as a religious
membership corporation, with sick ana
death benefits. 1t had only leader. But
to-day-oi. OF! According 10 Louis Scherer,
a member OF the verein. 1t has boss and
an autocrat In the person Of Meyer. Lubin.
who bosses the seventy members and
Yields the most autocratc power over the
treasury OF the organization, which con-
tains 500.
Allowing for the difference in size, the
Baltimore convention had nothing In the
way OF excitement on the gatherings OF the
verein at its quarters. Nos and 10 Ave-
nue. D. scherer's story makes It appear
that Lubin was unto himself the perma-
nent chairman, the committee on creden-
tials and the committee on resolutions, and
his was the two-thirds vote that settled all
questions at issue.
This steam roller method ran along for
a long time until Scherer decided that there
ought TO be halt. and he took the affairs
to the Supreme Court. lie asked that a
receiver be appointed for the verein. lie
complained that Lubln paid no attention TO
the bylaws. which provided that three
blackba were sufficient to bar a candidate
for membership. and admitted fifteen men
into the organization against whom as
many as ten black balls were cast. Two OF
these. said scherer. had criminal careers
In Russia. and one was in the Tombs. &C
cused OF horse stealing.
Scherer went on to tell about Lubin's
autocratic manner OF filming members who
spoke at meetings without his permission.
These fines ranged from % cents TO 81. on
one occasion. II was alleged. Lubin denied
Moses Fink. a member in good standing
otherwise TO have anything TO say at
meetings for three months. Lubin also
fixed penalty OF 81 for members who
failed to attend the funerals Of fellow
members. In fact. the president imposed
his fines at will. so Scherer said.
Scherer told about the arbitrary way the
friends OF Lubn treated solomon Bitter
man. two weeks ago. at a meeting. Bitter
man tried to take the floor. whereupOn ono
OF the fifteen men introduced into the
vereln by Lubin, zone rough fellow" as
Scherer described him. struck him on the
head with a chair. inflicting a scalp wound
which had to DO stitched. The man who
committed the assault was arrested and
was fined s. in the magistrates court
Here was a situation in the internecine
affairs OF the veren that might have
"stumped" another presiding officer but
Lubin proved himself quite equal to tho
job He ordered 81 appropriated from the
treasury. or this s. was to pay the fine CT
more was to defray the cost OF getting tho
bail bond. and the remaining s. was to pro-
vide a strong-arm man to be- present at tho
following meeting to compel proper de-
corum. And then Lubin ordered further
appropriation of $l3 for drinks.
The explanation OF the assault on Bit
terman was that the blow that opened his
scalp was intended for another man. Bit
terman had TO go to Europe 10 recuperate
from the effects OF tho blow. 1t was also
alleged by Scherer that Lubin had threat
ened to mortgage the cemetery plot owned
by the verein.
Lubin denied all these things told about
him. He said that Fink was the trouble
maker. Fink, said the president, sat on
table in the certre of the meeting room
and defed the chair. AS TO the man who
was arrested. Lubin said. he belonged to
the minority. Most OF the trouble came
about, Lubin said. through the ambition OF
Scherer to hold Office I'm the verein. JUS
tice Brady denied tho motion for the ap-
pointment OF a receiver, SO Lubin continues
I'm command.