The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-01-17
COMMERCIAL CLUB TO FIGHT
PROPOSED TERMS OF MERGER
Spirited Session Promised
When Members Meet
Tuesday Evening to Dis
cuSS Proposition Made
by Outside Committees
for Consolidation of
Commercial Bodies

1OlliiliClAlti DhliSS
Widespread dissatisfae-
ton in the Commercial
club was apparent Mon
day over the newest plan
for merging with the
Chamber OF Commerce.
and a sharp fight over
the proposition is expect
ed 10 develop when il
comes before the club for
consideration Tuesday
night.
Tentative constitution and by.
laws for the consolidated orgsnira-
ton have been drafted by tho Mer-
chants Exchange committee and
approved by tho Chamber OF Com.
mcrcs Reorganization committee
and committees representing other
commercial organizations.
Declare Plan 10 Frsms-up
Commercial Club members. how
ever. consider tho new plan would
result IN rotbinK them OF their
voice IN affairs Of the organization
and open q way for special interests
TO gain complete control.
Tuesday night has been desig.
mated as tho time for consideration
by tho club OF tho chambers con-
soudation plan. contained In n ten.
tatiye constitution and bylaws for
tho proposed corporation
Warm Contest Predict
Tho plan will 30 TO the man
OF tho club without tho approval -
its special committee. and will be
fought for and against In what prom
ines 10 DO one OF thu warmest con.
tests In local history.
Picked TO pieces and robbed OF It's
robes OF phrascology. the cham
bcr's tentative constitution looks
like q black hand letter. according
To some club members
Out OF courtesy TO the chamber.
tho Merchants Exchange and other
commercial organizations which
are interested In forcing q eonsol-
idation. Il was passed up 10 tho
club without tho recommendation
OF the special committee. and for
no other reason.
Otto Case VIII Fioht
I, became known Monday that
Otto Case. the club secretary. 10
signed his office recently not xholly
because OF political aspirations. but
that he might have the opportunity
OF fighting tho proposed merger on
the floor Of the club.
Tho submitted tentative consti-
tuition provides that tho consoli.
dated organization b known ~ the
Chamber OF Commerce. and that IL
shall b capitalized for $500 900.
represented in 1000 shares OF stock
al 800 . share.
Msmbsrs Classified
II classes members under three
hssds--"regular. associate and
Trading"
Regular" members must pay s<s
year dues and trading members
$50. Associate" members must
pay so annually.
Hut only regular" and trading"
members who own stock may have
tho right TO vote.
Twothirds OF the present mem.
bership OF tho club. iis members
say. will be unable 10 pay the price
Government OF tho merged or
ganiration. By the terms Of the ten
tativo constitution. would be con-
fined n a body OF 81 trustees. vest.
ed with the right TO name the cham.
bers officers.
Ask All 10 Turn Gu,
This. members declare. would
make tho new chamber q close cor
porstion. absolutely.
By this clause. II IL pointed out.
special interests may easily pur.
chase tho dominating hand and
control every act OF the merged
chamber.
Tho chamber trustees are expect.
ed TO accept the plan OF consolida.
tion At their meeting Tuesday after.
noon.
Secretary Case urged Monday
that every member OF the CONNER
cia Club be in attendance at Tues.
day nights meeting.
II promises TO be thoroly enjoy.
able and exciting session--if no
body gets killed.
Opposition Ia expected 10 devel.
op over the matter OF committees.
Tho tentative constitution provides
that all business matters requiring
action be referred 10 standing com.
mittees.
Oppose Open Meetings
At present. such mstters are de-
cided by the entire vote OF the
club In open meeting.
The open meeting plan In consid-
cred by the Commercial Club as
one OF its strongest features and
has met with favor because each
member had the right to vote on
all questions requiring club action.
On the other hand. the Chamber
OF Commerce has been always OPP.
posed to open meetings. each mat.
ter being referred 10 committee
or subcommittee. which had power
TO act for the whole organization.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.