The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-01-11
E. W. Flentge Is Second
Choice With 20 Votes
Against So for Martin.
HARRISON PLEADS
FOR COMPETENT MAN
Says Salary Should Not Be Con.
sidered, But Demands
Service.

manner of electing a secretary. F. +
Martin was last night rechosen secre-
tary of the Commercial Club over four
other candidates. He received &c
votes against 20 for ex-Postmastel
+. W. Flentge, his nearest oppone mt
John Putt, a Justice of the Peace OF
Jackson, A. H. Hinchey, former secre-
tary of the club, and T. A. Wibben-
meyer each received one.
Before the election, the members
discussed whether the secretary should
be made by the Executive Committee
After number of amendments to a
motion that the secretary should be
chosen by majority vote Of the men,
bors had been offered, it was finally
decided that all amendments should
BE- withdrawn and that a majority of
the members would decide the cleo
ton.
Owing to the fact that the secre-
tary was candidate for reelection,
J. VI. Site was appointed temporary
secretary by President Carter. and
placed in charge of the counting. John
f. Lilly and K. B. Oliver .Jr., were
selected tally clerks, and A. H. Muel-
Ter and Sam Sherman were appointed
tellers.
When the question of the election
arose, quite number of members en-
tered into a discussion over the ques-
ton whether the secretary should be
required to devote his entire time to
the Commercial Club or whether he
should be permitted to handle the af-
fairs Of the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation, as had been the custom here
tofore.
1t was pointed out that the position
Of secretary was gradually becoming
the most important Office in the club
and for that reason the holder shold
give his entire time to the club. The
salary was also the occasion for de-
bate. The matter was finally referred
to the Executive Committee, which
will make its recommendation to the
club at the next meeting. 1t will then
be decided whether the salary of the
secretary be increased or not.
During the discussion it was point
ed out that the salary now paid the
secretary should be raised if he must
devote his entire time to the club.
According to the secretary's esti-
mate, the club has now approximately
$3.50 to $500 on hand, provided all out
standing dues are paid by the de-
linquent members. A surplus of $95
is in the bank. Against this fund,
however, are several bills to be charg-
Ell, not including the money for the
printing Of the brief written for the
Government armor plate plant.
Charles l.. Harrison, of the Execu-
tie Committee, made a bitter fight
It have the election of the secretary
to the Executive Committee. "This is
getting to be job scrambling propo-
sition, it seems to me-" he said. at
ought to be our endeavor to give the
officers of the club the best man we
can find to fill the office of secretary
There has been too much pussy-foot-
ing and wire pulling concerning this
matter.
THE applicants present ought to
rise and explain what they will do in
case they are elected, and let the
members of the Executive Committee
decide which would serve the club
best. Besides, if a man should be
elected tonight, then he ought to be
put on probation. If he does not de-
liver the goods in so days, then out
he should CO."
He added that the salary should not
be an issue in this election at all. "If
the best man wants the position for
even 5000, then" he said, al would be
in favor of changing the constitution
to that effect"
After the election of the secretary,
President Carter expressed his graft
tude for the support he had received
during his term, and introduced the
new president, NJ. E. Leming. The lat
ter delivered a short address, express
ing the nope that his administration
as president of the Commercial Club
would be as successful as that of the
outgoing president.
These new members were received
into the club: ]. w. Flanagan, George
H. Campbell, G. A. Turner, R. H. Linn
baugh, C. J. Winningham and the
Jones Printing Co.
An amendment to the constitution
was submitted to the club by Mr..