The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-10
Starts With Efforts to Hold Sc
cret Investigation of Com
plants Of Members of Asso-
CATION
WITNESSES SEVERELY
CROSS EXAMINED
Many Tell of Widespread Sen
timent That Something .
Wrong With Management
of the Institution---Fifteen or
Twenty Testify

TOPuidl Sft3liihEilts t&p1cSSEu ny 'asE
unanimous vote of almost one hundred
citizens of Richmond. OVERRIDE the de-
sire of some members of the board OF
directors OF the Young Mems Chris
tan association to hold the hearing
as to the conditions existing in the
association behind closed doors and
caused the meeting to be thrown open
to the public and the numerous
statements that sMckeeism" is the
basic reason for the reported ur-
popularity ofthe association In Rich
mond to become public property
For three hours the board of d.
rectars heard men, who had signed
the petition asking for an inrestiga-
ton, tell why they deemed one neces-
sary and then for nearly an addition
al hour they listened To unsolicited
statements from business men. mem
bers OF the association, and former
members who told of widespread
sentiment against what one man char
acterfed as the "domineering. dic.a-
torial unfriendly attitude Of General
Secretary McKee~-a sentiment which
he stated extended from the Bouie-
ward to Church HILL
Wanted Open Meeting.
Throughout the hearing. or investi-
cation as the meeting was termed af-
ter it had been decided 10 admit tn"
public ard newspaper men, cross dueF~
tion're was frequently resorted 10 10
break down testimony
Jacob t'rnlauf and DIR. Mitchell
earlv In the session placed themselves
on record ms advocating full ana
OMEN Investigation and several times
during the rather stormy session In
.ervened between those furnishing
TESTIMONY and npsmhers OF the hoard
whose Question frequently led 10 heat
ed wor9s curt replies and. as MT.
y*ufyyus %insImatad "a forgetfuiness
that the meeting was fer the purpose
rf discovering the resons for the re-
ported sentiment against the Young
Mems Christian association when.
aecarding To the signed petition ana
the statement made last night, Is SO
wiS@e...sa throughout the city,
After all Of those. 10 whom inyi-
tattors hal been sent. had spoken
aYd several others had testified and
bad ts-s subjected To crVs-eNant
RAJ, - ..e meeting adjourned to a
permit 4. short executive session on
the beard of direct srs. AT this meet
ing II vas decided TO hold another
open meeting on next Tuesday night
ut o'cleck fer the purpose Of hear
ing any others who might iesire 10
make statements to the board.
q
motion Of DIR. Mitchell, was invited
to attend the meeting last night. Al
tNanvh me invitation was extended
within The first twenty minutes OF the
session he general secretary did not
make his appearance. sending as a
reason ror his refusal to accept the
invitation the one read at the open
Ing of the session In which he stated
that the return Ia the city of severa!
- at &C. St.Y n @
being present.
NcKce's Side Not Given.
Primarily the meeting last night
dealt with a series Of reasons why the
association is unpopular IN Richmond
and did rot show any side of the gen
eral secretary's case.
Every man who spoke at the meet
ing reported that from personal
knowledge of hearsay he was certain
that. although he is a man with great
faculty for detail ana ability to man
age the financial part of the associa-
tion. the general secretary does not
possess the personality to make
friends: that his manner Is dictatorial
and tImineering and tends to make
enemies rather than friends Tor the
assoc p~pn.
Although IT had been rumored on
the streets that rooms of those board
INK III tile 1oubR @aNh ShtAS1Mth "s~
ISOLATION were subject to search nj
any time a sensation was sprung
when Mr. Northrup, who occupies a
room in the building. declared that
he. had ,ust learned that negro, pos
sibly accompanied by white man
had searched his room within the last
few days. 1t was stated that not only
was the room entered, but that the
bureau and other articles OF furniture
t-I - NGE ha o.
been searched by these men. whose
action had. 1t was testified. the sane
ton of he general secretary.
Director williams stated that the
men were In search OF whiskey and
cards. which II Ia against the rules to
have within the rooms and that this
was deemed the only way to break
up gambling and whiskey drinking
In the rooms.
Member Of Board Kissed.
Various members ofthe boart
cross questioned those appearing be
fore them. but Director williams gain
ed considerable disfavor with some Of
those present. and upon two occa
sions was Kissed. This happened ono.
during the hearing OF State Secretar,
Alice. Mr.. Williams took exception
to statements made by the State sec
rotary, questioned their anthenticy ant
strongly intimated that Mr.. Atlee hat
made a point in formulating his com
parison OF Richmond with other citiei
to pick out cities which would plac,
the local association at a disadvantage
Later In the evening when Cabel w
Lnwton was being questioned regard
Ing connection with~the Young Men'i
Christian association another Sigh
occurance of the kissing occurred
LAYTON testified that he rocmed IL
u q. -. 4Sxxxw rrfAva