Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-21
VRES'' AIM
TOUNSEAT KELLY
omerce Chamber Election
4 Month Promises Fight
on Secretaryship
N RADICAL CHANGE

nother movement TO dislodge N. b.
~ from the general secretaryship Of
~ Chamber of Commerce has been
5<ed by the live wire" element of
organization. The new plan is to
~ the adoption of amendments to
;1ylaws which would give the mem-
cf the body a right to elect officers
"a Of relegating that power to the
- Of directors
ms Of the Give wires" became
M and n group of the "old guard"
~ hastily called meeting yesterday,
tnged plans to block such action.
I()oo members, who are prominent in
~ executive committee, have called
I6<her meeting for tomorrow. when
|IEtailcd program to combat the action
~ %X the 'live wires" will be planned.
/ Ia meeting of the general member
Md Of the Chamber has been called by
fnest T. Trigg. president at the
|[x6niest of fifty members. for o'clock
X6ursday afternoon. to act on the
endments, which II passed. will loose
y &bolitical campaign during the weeks
|toceding the annual election on the
|&5rd Thursday In January that will
Make the Chamber personnel to its
|t1ry foundations.
y The '.Iive wires are determined to
|0omocratize the chamber. Not satisfied
With their victory of last year, when
they elected four OF the ten new direc-
tors. putting that many of the "old
'1guArd'' to rout. they plan to accomplish
their purpose in one sweep. Not con-
|ttnt to press their advantage year by
gear. although II was generally ac-
know1edged that they would elect
ltrger percentage Of the directors this
Ixtar, and thus gradually work the more
'prosressive blood into the directorate.
they are determined to depose the con-
[servative element at once
Mr.. Trigg. who was elected in the ma
:fure OF a compromise to the live wires"
>1a& year. will not deny that he is n
candidate for the chief executive this
year. While he would not say definitely
That the chamber under his admiristra- :
.fion had accomplished everything that
the progressive element had demanded.
yet he felt that 1t had taken great strides
In that direction and had attained re-
'Guits which, considering the critical cor
ditions through which the country is
Dassing. could not have been surpassed
had the radicals been in power He
fRiIs to see how the current crusade can
Affect his administration and is con-
WINGED that there is no thought Of aim
Ing ut any one person or persons Off
ClAl Of the chamber.
JOHNSON AGAINST CHANGE
S5 Alba B. Johnson, vice president Of the
Chamber, declares that the proposed
amendments TO the bylaws would be a
Rreat calamity and would never be
adopted. They would place the general
secretary, he continued. In position
Where he would no longer be responsible
20 the board of directors.
vi "A man practiced in the arts of poll
fics" Mr.. Johnson concluded. could per.
Maps obtain his own election. l estimate
mat thirty-six of the present board of
forty directors are united in their opposi-
non to such a move"
NJ PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
n The proposed amendments are pre-
6oneed In three ways. the alternate
%fAfts being slightly modified so that
<1lhe at least may be sure OF meeting all
1equirements In case the others are
Dund to be unconstitutional under the
rules Of the chamber
III The first amendment provides for the
~ forty directors. president, three vice
Iresidents a general secretary and a
<reasurer for two years. ana three vice
yresidents for one year and the election
~ three vice presidents for two-year
$terms at each annual election thereafter.
The president. general secretary and
4reasurer are to be elected every even
numbered year. and no one Is to be eligi-
lble for the presidency FOR more than
two successive terms.
81 Under present terms the members elect
only the forty directors, ten each year
and the directors choose their own OF.
dcers. including only five vice presidents
from among their number. the president
being limited to three successive terms
of one year. In case a V lcancy occur.
between elections, the present practice
Of filling the place by appointment by
the directors Is changed to appointmen
'ty the president of the nominee havinl
the next highest vote at the annual elec
st1on Immediately preceding such va
oancy.
a Another amendment changes the
,rresent provision of the bylaws whereby
The nominating committee Is made VI
~ three directors and three members
'reither officers nor directors, to a nomi,
;yoctors and four members. The time
limit Of two weeks,before which ann tel
nembers may nominate n candidate fol
|<ths board of directors is decreased, s,
that such a notice may be sent In W
10 ten days in advance OF the election.
The ballots containing the nomination:
must be sent In duplicate to each mem
;Der three days before the election nc
wording to the bylaws. but an amend
lent would increase that to one week
" The committee on membership, nov
mde up of seven directors. is changed
~ another amendment, TO seven mem
.bers. The executive committee nov
ni1mbers eleven vice presidents and di
fecfors; it is proposed to change IT.
porsonnel to include the nine officers a
Z Drovided under the amendments. th'
I chsirman of the finance committee an'
No chairman of all committees relating
- the chamber bureaus.
II oil "a nv n