The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-12
Proposed Amendment to the
Constitution Is Rejected
After Warm Contest
SILVER SERVICE TO
PRESIDENT MICHAUX
Pleasing End to Business Ses-
sions Yesterday Convention
Spends Greater Part Day
on Committee Reports

For nearly two hours yesterday af-
sernoon the delegates to the Travellers
Protective Association Of America de-
bated the report submitted by the
special committee of tho national
board. involving flfty-nine proposed
amendments to the constitution n
bylaws Inc adopted all save the most
important one-which meant the let
ting down the bars OF eligibility to
membership. In lieu of h proposed
amendment to article Z, which was
the one rejected, the opponents COM
promised with the amendment to
article 2, section /, which makes the
change that vice-presidents or
manufacturing or wholesale concerns
are eligible to become members OF
the association.
The only other amendment OF In
terest was that providing that here
after the national chaplain shall be
elected in the city In which the ma
tional convention meets. For four
teen years Rev. Homer T. Wilson. of
San Antonio. Texas. has presided over
the spiritual destfnies of the MIA
ton, and the amendment means thai
mex year he will be displaced. though
1t Is quite likely hat before the con-
yention ends the post OF chaplain
emeritus will be created by the con-
vention. for DR.. Wilson is immensely
popular and the members feel thai
no convention would be a success
without his presence
Hear Committee Reports.
At the two business sessions yes
terday. at both OF which the dele
gates packed the jefferson auditorium,
the convention received and dis
cussed the reports OF a number Of
committees all of more or less inter
est. and at the afternoon session. in
leszthan an hour, raised $2,SS3 for
the Homer +. Wilson fund which
lis set aside by the organization for
the widows and orphans Of it's menu
bers and Ii under the direction of
the national board. Indiana led the
contributions with $500 and the an
nouncement was hailed with prolong-
ed cheering. By divisions. posts and
individuals the secretary called the
roll and the responses were prompt
and generous. some of the delegations
taking up collections In the audi
forum while the rol call vas in pro-
gress and the competition between
he States eventually attaining keen
interest DR.. Wilson. for whom the
fund is named, made graceful ac-
Acknowledgement OF the conventions
generosity.
The pleasing feature OF the day.
which ann at the close OF the at
ternoon session. was the presentation
to President ID. ". Michaux of a hand
some solid silver water set. the gift
OF the delegates. The presentation
speech was made by Archie Rruner.
OF Tennessee in a happy n n
President Michaux responded feeling
ly. The organization has had no
more popular head than this gallant
Texan. and If its rules permitted the
hardly q doubt but that he would be
chosen by reclamation. but they do
not. SO the final swing of his gavei
Friday means his retirement to the
ranks.
Election OF Officers. :
From present Indications George
II. Armstrong, of Pennsylvania. will
have no opposition for the presidency
and It seems certain that HouSton.
Texas, win capture the mex c%oHven-
ton hands down. The bushes Of
the association has been 30 advanced
th.t the delegates confidently expect
to finish UP Friday afternoon, when
the officers will be elected and the
next place of meeting chosen.
Tho association practically COM
p1eted the business OF hearing the
reports yesterday afternoon Of the
special committees appointed by
President Michaux to pass upon the
reports Of the standing committees
and most OF then were approved
without objection.
Chairman Neill McCou1l, OF New
York. who submitted the report. OF the
committee oil State secretaries. stated
that only three States-Texas. Me-
hraska and North Carolina-has
taken the trouble to mako reports. and
his committee recommended that
these reports be discontinued as a
feature OF the national conventions.
the suggestion OF the committee to
the effect that the secretaries may
make verbal reports to the convention
ii they SO desire and this amendment
was adopted;
The report Of the committee on the
findings OF the national committee OF
railroad chairmen. which was sub
mitted by D.. w. Zeigler, of Iowa, was
perhaps the most interesting. The
special committee reviewed the var
ious reports at some length, main
tanning objection to the great detail
into which some OF the chairmen had
gone. but approving the recommends
tons as to sanitary drinking cups;
clean linens for seats and berths;
round trip tickets between interests
points; better sanitary regulations in
sleeping cars and coaches: readjust-
ment OF freight rates. and especially
the readjustment OF the passenger
rates in the southwestern territory,
which are declared higher IN proper
ton than those prevailing in the
other divisions IN which the organi-
cation exists. The committee urges
continuance Of the work along these
tn cordially
commend the work Of the national
baggage. commissions recent subdi-
vision OF the association-which II
seeking to correct excess rates and
ffsonfinned ON Second PaTQ.l