The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-15

General Secretary s. X. Mckee of
the '. NJ. c. a., who had been charged
by 400 members with being unsuted
Tor the position, was completely vim
dicated last night by the board Of di-
'ectors The board met at S o'clock
and continued in session until 1850
o'clock. Eleven of the eighteen mem
bers We're present.
In its report the board said:
summing up the evidence as n
whole. the honrd is of the opinion
thnt there has heen attnck on the
integrity or character of the general
secretary, or of nny ono connected with
the nssocintion; TINT the question ns
To the popularity unpOpulnrity OF
the general secretary. md the effect
which that hns the growth OF the
association, is simply one of Individual
opinion; md TINT no evidence has
bccn ndduccd before the board to Jus-
ttfy the hoard In calling for the rcsig-
nntton of the general secretary"
other matters of minor Importance
were discussed, accounting in part
for tho lateness of the hour Of ad-
tournment Members of the board who
were present arc w. -. Duke. presi-
dent w. J. Whitehurst James r.
Jones, Oliver J. Sands. James Lewis
Anderson, c. n. Richardson. Il. NJ
Smith, o. 4. Hawkins l.. NJ Williams,
Jacob Cmlauf and George w. Bahllle.
Other members of the board are James
W. Gordon. G. G.. Taylor. Jr., c. j. Bill
lups, X. S. Bosher. John Il. Minor n.
ID. Sills and DIR. S. G. Mitchell
The Board's Report.
The report follows:
Resolved. That the following be
adopted. ns tho opinion of the board.
and TINT IL be spread upon the minutes
OF the board, md that copies he fur
nished TO the newspapers.
/ On July IS. 1913. paper signed by
about 500 members OF the Y NJ. c. A.
was presented to the president OF the
association. The paper reads as fol-
Z lows
We. the undersigned members of the
Central y. NJ c. y. of Richmond, re-
GREETING the widespread sentiment and
attitude OF the membership and pub
lie. relative to the work and policy of
our Y. VI. {. A.. and feeling that such
sentiment and attitude has been and
is seriously retarding the growth and
real work that il should be doing, do
hereby respectfully and earnestly i'm
plore this board or directors to inyes-
lEate the situation and ascertain tho
cause or causes OF such conditions, and
take such steps as their wisdom and
discretion may indicate TO remedy this
regrettable state of affairs. We make
this plea in all sincerity, not from anv
that the best interests of the work de-
mand IT."
At special meeting of the board
held on August g. 1913, 4 committee OF
five, representing committee OF twen-
", who had secured the signatures to
the foregoing paper, appeared before
the board in pursuance OF request
from the board, and stated more speci-
tically the reasons why the foregoing
paper had been circulated among their
members. and why IL had been signed
These reasons were presented in writ
ing by the chairman Of the committee,
Or. l.. c. l.. Miller.
Leads Back 10 Mckee.
At that meeting it was stated that
there was widespread dissatisfaction
and discomfort with the management
and policy of tho Y. NJ c. A.. that there
was no personal aninus on the part
of the members OF the committee
against any one. and that their object
was to better the conditions and work
OF the association. 1t was also stated
that: But we, committee, can
state that in our rather extensive ex-
rerieuce. all lines seem to lead in
evitably back TO the general secre-
tary."
The names OF number OF gentle
men given TO the board, whom
this committee suggested could in
form the board OF the conditions which
existed. and OF the facts on which the
widespread discomfort with the policy
and work OF the association were based
The members of the committee stated
that their personal relations with the
secretary were cordial. and that of
their own personal knowledge they did
not know OF facts which caused the
sentiment OF dissatisfaction which they
alleged existed, nor did they know OF
anything affecting the integrity or
good character of the general secre-
tary. Al this meeting certain letters
from former employees OF the associa-
tion and others were read
After hearing the statements OF tho
gentlemen composing this committee,
the board adjourned TO meet on the 9th
DAY OF September, 1913. and invited
the gentlemen, whose names had been
furnished To the board. 10 appear AT
that meeting and make any statements
which they chose to make y number
OF gentlemen appeared. and this meet
Ing was held in public III the nature
OF an Investigation.
Called Him Unpopular.
Apart from tho statement or the Nir-
gina state secretary. the principal cvi-
dcnce given was TO the effect that the
general secretary OF the Richmond as
sociatiou is unpopular in the community
and tcmpcranentally unsuited for the
position which he holds. II was stated
that when members went out to can
vass for new members, they were met
with the statement OF gentlemen, whom N
they approached. that they would not
join tho association under the present,
management, and that this was a him
d.ancc 70 the growth OF the associa-
tion II was also stated that during
the canvass To raise funds for the "
w {. y. some of those approached
stated that they wanted to know I,
whether the secretary OF the Y. NJ. u.