The Driving Clubs of Greater Boston 



13 



election of officials was held on January 4, 

 but owing to a question of legality, a second 

 election was hold on January 18, the latter, of 

 course, being the one that counted. 



It was this election that marked a new 

 method of the selection of officials. The old 

 way was to have the president appoint a 

 nomination committee to bring in a list of the 

 officers for the ensuing year. Then if there 

 was no opposition, the election was by accla- 

 mation. As there was seldom any opposition 

 under this system, everything worked very 

 smoothly, but still was not satisfactory to 

 many members of the club. 



In the election of January 18, what was 

 known as the Brand system, but which in all 

 reality was the same as our state elections in 

 using the Australian ballot, the plan being for 

 open nominations of the members from the 

 floor for the different offices and each man 

 nominated, of course, was placed on the ticket 

 for the members to choose and vote for in 

 secret. Following were the officials for the 

 ensuing year: 



President, Frederick J. Brand ; first vice-pres- 

 ident, Randolph K. Clarke ; second vice-presi- 

 dent. Almond S. Gushee ; secretary, George 

 H. Greenwood; treasurer, Robert S. Fitch; 

 directors, H. P. Gallup, G. W. D'Arcy. J. W. 

 Linnehan, P. J. Fitzgerald, Jacob Mosser ; 

 finance committee, Albert Fellows, Diedrich 

 Eilers, T- A. Smith; racing and speedway com- 

 mittee, \\\ E. Newbert, E. O. Haddock, H. R. 

 Barry. W'm. Brummett, F. S. Eldredge, F. H. 

 Robinson, D. M. Biggs, E. S. Harris, J. R. 

 Stuart, Jr., E. W. Berrigan, D. W. Sullivan; 

 membership committee, Nelson Pierce, R. C. 

 Richardson, G. E. Griffin; clerk, Ernest H. 

 Morgan. 



Socially, there were held several big stag 

 parties and whist parties. The annual ladies' 

 night and concert was on the evening of 

 April 17, and the appointments, entertainment, 

 music and attendance were of the highest 

 class. 



The second annual banquet was held on 

 October 27 at the women's clubhouse, R. K. 

 Clarke being the toastmaster. Members and 

 guests were present in even greater numbers 

 than on the year previous, many of the city 

 officials being among those seated at the 

 tables. It marked the closing days of the con- 

 struction of the Franklin Field Speedway, the 

 work having begun on August 1. This really 

 was the stellar event under President Brand's 

 administration of two vears in office, and at 



the dinner the speaking on all sides was oi 

 the jollification sort. Congratulations by the 

 politicians present were heartily extended to 

 the president and other officers of the club in 

 the accomplishment of their heart's desire. 

 The speedway was completed on November 



21. 



It was counted that the dedication of the 

 Franklin Field course, which was held on 

 Thanksgiving Da)', would be celebrated in no 

 uncertain manner, but the day was inclement 

 and it was impossible to hold the races, but 

 a goodly number of the members took part in 

 the preliminary parade, while many others 

 gathered along the line of the new speedway 

 and stood in the drizzling rain in the hope 

 that the racing might take place. The length 

 of the new speedway was a quarter of a mile. 



As was customary, two racing meets were 

 held at Readville during 1904, the first on 

 June 17, and the other on Labor Day, which 

 fell on September 5. 



The June 17 races drew out a large attend- 

 ance, and the most interesting event of the 

 afternoon proved to be the 2:13 trot, which, 

 was won by Authentic, owned and driven by 

 D. M. Biggs, his time of the third heat, 

 2:16 1-4, being the best made during the day 

 by a trotter. Dr. Shorb, driven by J. W. Lin- 

 nehan, grabbed off the second heat, which 

 gave his entry a place in the summary next to 

 the winner. 



The free-for-all had a good field of starters, 

 and was captured by Ned Wilkes. The first 

 two heats of this race were scorchers, the 

 opening one being in 2:13 1-4 bv The Private, 

 wdiile the next Ned Wilkes placed to his credit 

 in the fast time of 2:13. 



There were four classes decided on Labor 

 Day. The 2 :25 trot or pace was won by Billy 

 Barlow, owned by W. P. Boutelle and driven 

 by E. O. Haddock. The special slow class 

 was won by Mutineer, owned and driven by 

 C. C. Blaney. 



In the fast class, the 2:18 trot or pace, 

 after Miss Pratt had reeled off the initial heat 

 in 2:17 3-4, John W. Linnehan gathered in 

 the race with Budweiser, his second and third 

 heats being each in 2:18 1-4. C. C. Blanev 

 won the 2 135 class with Charlena. 



The club took part in the horse show at 

 Mechanics Building in the Spring and carried 

 off second prize. President Brand, with 

 Minetta, led the Dorchester contingent of the 

 parade, followed by J. R. Stuart, Jr., with 

 Susie F.. D. M. Biggs with Authentic, M. A 



