South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-23


right 20 wear the button Of the in
ternadonal association. TO attend in
ternational conventions and 10 hold
such mem bership-a as mem
bership of right.
Arguments Presented.
Arguments for and against any
kind Of plan 10 provide for "involun-
tary Rotarians" were made at the
afternoon session AT the Elks'
temple. It was pointed out by many
speakers that the fundamental idea
Of the organization was 10 have one
member from each business classi-
fication and that any change from
this idea would be contrary to the
principles Of the club.
The subject of the discussion was
Involuntary Past Rotarians" 1t
was taken up under the following
sub-heads: What provision should
be made for a member in Rotary
who, through a change in Occupa-
ton and consequent change in
classification, loses membership in
Rotary? What provision should be
made for a member in Rotary who
changes his business location, NOV
ing TO another city, where his classi-
fication is already represented q?
What provision should be made for
a member in Rotary who moves TO
new location where there is no
Rotary club with which he can
affiliate?
At the end Of the general discus
sion Allen ID. Alert of Minneapolis,
international pa 5sident of the or
ganizatiOn. gave his views on the
subject. He advanced a plan where
by member who changes his occu-
patton might be elected TO member
ship-at-iarge with no classification
Under this plan It would be neces-
sary for the directors of the inter
national association to consider such
action and determine whether the
club was taking the matter too
lightly.
"One of the speakers this after
noon has said that there are big men
and songs birds in the Rotary club, ."
said Mr. Albert 4 do not know
which Of these statements l abhor
the most. We have no big men in
are leading bigger and better lives
because they are showing their faith
in the principles of Rotary.
Every president of the Rotary
club hopes and prays that something
can be done to take care Of these
men who are forced out of the or
ganizatiOn through no fault of their
own. l have heard me same argu-
ments that were made this after
noon at every district conference
that has been held this year Men
should continue their membership
in Rotary, not as a privilege, but as
a right.
q have never heard a real Ro-
tartan complain because he had be-
come a past ROtarian on account Of
the classification rule. They know
it is one of the rules Of the club and.
being big-minded and big-souled
men. they accept it. But 1 have
heard men, who have a yellow streak
down their backs. who have lost
their mem beTship in Rotary because
they would not attend the weekly
luncheons, sobbing about it. The
spirit Of the first class of uen is
big one. We should take action not
only TO salve their feelings but for
Rotary itself
The classification rule is good
one. but it is not a good one unless
it is used with common tense. When
=,
the spirit of it they are doing wrong.
Rotary is a much bigger idea than
it was five years ago. 1t is growing
in strength, for the ties that bind
US together are beneficial"
MulhOlIand Has Plan.
Frank L. Mulholland of Toledo.
president. advanced a
plan similar TO that Of Mr.. Albert.
A committee composed of Frank
F.. Herring Of South Bend, chairman:
Richard Fought Of Chicago. Frank
Manly Of Indianapolis, Louis Vein
stein of Terre Haute and Davis
Ewing of Bloomington, Ill, was ap-
pointed 10 draw up a report Of the
to be presented at the
evening session.
recommendation that the mem
bers Of the school board resign and
asking for a statement from them
that they knew of nothing against
the character of Supt. L. j. Mont
gOmery were adopted at the noon
luncheon by the South Bend club.
Otto NJ. KnOblock of the local club
presided Bert Brisley Of Fort
Wayne gave a chalk talk and Cliff
Miller Of the Cincinnati club gave
a short talk on the international
convention that is to be held at
Cincinnati. James A Jude. Rich
ard Elbel and Charles Lancaster
were initiated into membership.
Following are the numbers from
the various clubs that had repre-
sentatives at the noon luncheon:
Chicago, Go; South Bend. 81: IN
dianapohs. 90; Fort Wayne. 25: To-
ledo. 6; Evansville. &: Joliet. s.;
Danville. .: Terre Haute 8 Quincy.
.; Kalamazoo. 1: Bloomington. III.