The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-28
WEDNESDAY CLUB
PLANS FOR BETTER
THINGS IN FUTURE
President Corley's Report
Shows Progress Made !
During the Year
RULING OF CHAIR
PRECIPITATES FIGHT
Guigon Charges Spitework In
Dropping of Banks, Broken
borough and Neither
wood from Board

treasurer were accepted and officers
and directors were elected. after a
stiff fight over the approval of the
recommendation of the nominating
committee, at the annual meeting of
the Wednesday club last night, at
tended by about eighty members.
President j. @. corley. who pre-
sided, and SecretaryTreasurer Green
were reelected. and Henry r. Me-
loney was elected vice-president, and
the following chosen as the members
of the board of directors;
G. A. Cnnepa. John Stewart Bryan.
William j. Friend. Norman Call. j.
G. Corley, Conway II. Gordon, G..
Jeter Jones. II. T. Meloney, w. G.
Mercer. George Ainslie. J. Scott Par
ish, George w Stevens. W. Kirk
Mathews. DR.. f. n. Calisch and NJ.
T. Spicer.
The Struggle.
There was no opposition to the
election Of the chief officers. action
being unanimous. but night over the
dropping of three members from the
board of directors was precipitated
by A. Il. Guigon. who charged that
-spitework was responsible for the ac-
ton OF the nominating committee in
F. Banks, BENJAMIN Brokenborough
and A. Ne'herwood. the alleged cause
being that they had dared sign their
names TO "a communication to a news
paper uphoiding a criticism OF the
chorus Of the Wednesday club"
Everything moved smoothly while
the minutes of the last session and
the reports OF President Corley and
Treasurer Green were read. and the
chief officers unanimously elected.
Then the chair appointed Horace r.
Smith. c. ". Tanner and G. f. Win
der as members of the nominating
committee to select sixteen names for
nomination for the board of directors.
When the report was read 1t was seen
that three OF the old members had
been dropped. while the other thir-
teen were retained. Mr.. Gaigon de-
cisrcd that this was caused by the
action of those three men in uphold
ing a criticism Of the "Wednesday club
chorus. and that they were being
punished for the crime Of free speech.
He called upon the nominating COM
mistee and upon President Corley TO
give any other reason for the re-
moval of these men, but his cbai-
lenGe went unanswered. Mr.. Guigon
then stated that ne desired to place
three names in nomination. these
three being the men dropped by the
nominating committee
Calls Ii Monstrous.
When the chair ruled that no one
else had the right the make nomina-
lions. Mr.. Guigon declared that ruling
"rnonstrous and unheard Of chal-
longing amy one in the audience TO
give any rule OF parliamentary pro-
eedure iustlfying II or 10 tell of any In
stance of such rule in the history of
parliamentary bodies. Receiving no
answer. he appealed from the ruling
of the chair and was voted down. He
then called for n division and after
much argument over the apparent dis
position of the chair not 10 call for
the division Mr.. Guigon won his point.
The chair was sustained this time by a
vote Of 81 to s.
The trouble was smoothed over by
conciliatory speech by j. s. Bryan
and Mr.. Guigons disavowal of inten-
ton TO reflect upon President Corley
and harmony was apparently restored
At no stage OF the proceedings were
there any words used which might
cause III feeling. but the struggle was
Il long drawn out one.
Under the rule calling for new BUSH
ness the motion TO allow members to
vote by proxy was adopted over some
opposition.
President Corley's report was opti-
mistic, showing the progress of the
club and its gradual triumph over
financial difficulties. He pointed out
that while many cities larger than
Richmond had been compelled to sus-
pend operation for several years at
a time and that Cincinnati is able to
hold festivals. but once in two years,
instead of annually as in Richmond.
The report, which recommends in
creasing the subscription list to seven
hundred and suggests a campaign for
a new auditorium or, If that be i'm
practicable, changes in the present
building, is in full as follows:
3s Presidents Report.
Richmond, Va May 81, 1918.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is with exceeding pleasure that I
congratulate the members of the
chorus of the Wednesday club on the
splendid success of their work for the
season Just closed.
Mr.. w Henry Baker deserves spe-
.cial mention for the six months of
work which he faithfully performed
In preparing the chorus for the mid
winter and spring concerts. and his
.untirinG and successful efforts In aug
mentirg the membership Of the
chorus.
The members of the music COM
mittee we're faithful in the perform
ance of their duties and endeavored
to select program that would be
pleasing to all.
The board of governors and other
committees never failed to respond to
any duty requiring their time and at
tention. dong most willingly any and
everything which would contribute to
the success of the festival.
II ,,ct& a w RI n