The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-13
Fight Over Bylaws Will Be to
Finish. 7
INSURGENTS OUTLINE PLANS
Want Club to Have Voice in Its
Own Affairs.
And Cut Powers of the Execu-
tive Committee.

Club women not only in Topeka, but
throughout the state are showing wide
interest in the result of the Doster-
Monroe fight for a change of the rules
of the Good Government club of
Topeka that will take the control OF
the club out of the hands Of Mrs.
Lila Day Monroe and her associates.
The final battle that threatens not only
the control but the possible future Of
the club will be fought in May. In
the meantime both the insurgents and
the leaders in power are making
preparation for the fight.
1t is upon the rule regulating the
admission Of women to club member
ship and the policy permitting the
executive committee to give out So
called authoritative statements Of the
club without a vote of the club men,
bers that certain members of the or
ganization have prepared for conflict
1t is the charge Of the Doster-Wright
insurgent following that Mrs. Lila Day
Monroe has assumed and exercised I'M
due liberty and authority In the max
ing Of public statements regarding the
attitude of the club on various ques-
tons and that she has either directly
or indirectly used her influence to
regulate the admission Of women to
membership who would follow her
SUGGESTIONS rather Inan COM Dat nGE
views. In return for which the Mon
roe-McFarland faction assert that the
insurgents are trying to disrupt the
organization and have based their
charges upon theories rather than
facts.
Under the rules Of the Good Gov
eminent club, any member of the ex-
ecutive committee may reject the
name of an applicant for club men,
bership. The executive committee's
word is final. There is no appeal
Mrs Monroe is a member Of that COM
mittee. It's membership Is composed
of the regularly elected officers of the
club-president. vice president. secre-
tary and treasurer-and three cluD
members nominated and elected by
the officers and not the members OF
the association
When a woman applies Tor member
ship to the club, her name Is submit
ted to the executive committee. That
considers the application and il none
of the seven members object, IL rec
commended to the club body Tor MEM
bership. But. And here ts where the
war of the women started. II one
members of the executive committee
does not want the candidate admitted.
her name is rejected on the lone OBJ
lection, and does not go before the
club at all. This policy gave rise to
the charges that the Monroe following
for political purposes and that canoA-
dates for membership to the club were
rejected either for personal or political
reasons and without vote OF the ciuo
To Break .sGag Rule Policy.
The Doster amendment to the rules
seeks to submit names OF all cand1-
dates to the club membership for &C
ceptance or rejection and to break the
alleged gag rule" policy OF the ex-
ecutive committee.
Another objection is the attitude of
the executive committee regarding the
making of statements to state and mu-
nicipai officials and to the newspapers
as to the attitude of the club on pup
lie questions. 1t is charged that MRS.
Monroe and her associates have given
to the newspaper statements regarding
the stand of the club members on pup
lie issues without first submitting the
statements to a vote OF the club. MIS-.
Doster made these charges on the
floor of the club during the debate last
week.
ssIt Is Not Fair" Says Mrs. Doster.
Sentiment contained in some OF
these statements was not approved by
the membership Of this club" said
Mrs. Doster, land the first that we
knew of our stand on these questions
of public importance was when we
read the statements in the newspapers
1t is not fair and should not be per-
mitted.'
Case OF That Advisory Board.
One instance cited by the insurgents
in their objections to the seemingly
unlimited power of the executive COM
mittee was the naming Of an advisory
board of the city commissioners. The
names of the three members of the
board are said to have been selected
and submitted to the city commission
ers by the executive committee with.
out the consent or approval of the cluf
membership. That was another issue