Ellis Parker Butler

“ Scott is clever in some ways. He has some unusual ideas that are pretty good. It would be just like Scott to get together a lot of good fellows and organize them in some way that would be unusual and what you might call chic. Of course they would want me with them, I am so good-natured and easy-going and all that. They'd all want me in their club, of course. But some men have such mean dispositions—some men like Scott are such sore-heads and so vindictive—there are some men in Westcote so stubborn and quarrelsome—fellows like Rogers and Grieg and Harkins. ”

“ Scott went on: "somebody will mention a man's name, but unless he is so disliked that some member gets purple in the face just to hear his name, nothing more will be done about it. If some member does go purple in the face, he has the right to oppose the man mentioned. He opposes him and gets some one to second the opposition. Then he has to write a letter to the membership committee telling all the reasons why the opposed candidate should not be admitted—why he is not a fit companion for the members, what a vile temper he has, and so on. ”

“ If he can convince the membership committee, that committee reports to the board that it will resign if the opposed candidate is admitted to the club. The board then posts the opposed candidate's name and recommends that he be not admitted. Then the club members vote on the candidate. If enough think he is not fit to associate with gentlemen—think he is ugly of disposition and quarrelsome, and sure to make trouble in the club—he is blackballed. ”