SPEARE TO LEAD AUTO ASSOCIATION

The New York Times
December 2, 1909

President of National Body Unanimously Re-elected for Another Year.

A. G. BATCHELDER HONORED

Local Man Selected as Chairman of Executive Committee—Butler Head of Board of Contest.

President Lewis R. Speare of Boston was unanimously re-elected President of the American Automobile Association yesterday at the first meeting of the new Board of Directors at the Hotel Belmont.  Mr. Speare's re-election is due to his successful efforts in advocating sane driving on the road and in bringing about more harmonious relations between automobilists and those who were inclined to be hostile to the increasing use of motor vehicles.

Following a suggestion of the Directors a new office was created in the board, that of Chairman of the Executive Committee, and to the position A. G. Batchelder, one of the best-known workers in the American Automobile Association and at one time Secretary of the association, was elected.  The list of officers shows several other important changes.  Frederick H. Elliott was re-elected for the fourth consecutive year.  A new man will head the Contest Board for the coming year.  Samuel M. Butler of New York was the selection.  He has had considerable experience and is expected to bring about complete harmony, notwithstanding the fact that he is new to the position.

John P. Coghlin of Worcester, Mass., as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, presented the following report as representing the choice of the committee, and all of the officers were unanimously elected.  They are, with the members of the new Executive Committee:

President, Lewis R. Speare, Boston, Mass.; First Vice President, Robert P. Hooper, Philadelphia, Penn.; Second Vice President, Frank M. Joyce, Minneapolis, Minn.; Third Vice President, F. C. Donald, Chicago, Ill.; Treasurer, H. A. Bonnell, East Orange, N. J.; Secretary, Frederick H. Elliott, New York; Chairman of the Executive Committee, A. G. Batchelder, New York; Chairman of the Legislative Board, Charles Thaddeus Terry, New York; Chairman of Touring Information Board, Powell Evans, Philadelphia, Penn.; Chairman Contest Board, S. M. Butler, New York; Chairman of Good Roads Board, George C. Diehl, Buffalo, N. Y.

Executive Committee—Gorton W. Allen, Auburn, N. Y.; F. C. Battey, Savannah, Ga.; John Bancroft, Wilmington, Del.; J. P. Coghlin, Worcester, Mass.; H. E. Coffin, Detroit, Mich.; James T. Drought, Milwaukee, Wis.; J. H. Edwards, Jersey City, N. J.; C. H. Gillette, Hartford, Conn.; Edwin S. George, Detroit, Mich.; Louis W. Hill, St. Paul, Minn.; William R. Innes, New York; A. H. Knoll, Buffalo, N. Y.; A. E. Lerche, Springfield, Mass.; S. A. Miles, New York; William E. Metzger, Detroit, Mich.; Oliver A. Quayle, Albany, N. Y.; Alfred Reeves, New York; H. M. Rowe, Baltimore, Md.; H. O. Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.; Paul C. Wolff, Pittsburg, Penn., and Frank G. Webb, Brooklyn, N. Y.

At the meeting there were in attendance fifty Directors, representing the following ten states: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  The following Directors were in attendance at the meeting, with President Speare presiding:

Gorton W. Allen, Auburn, N. Y.; John N. Brooks, Torrington, Conn.; Dr. C. L. Bonifield, Cincinnati, Ohio; W. F. Bonnell, Cleveland, Ohio; J. Henry Beck, Philadelphia, Penn.; C. N. Brisco, Morgantown, West Va.; S. M. Butler, New York; A. G. Batchelder, New York; H. A. Bonnell, East Orange, N. J.; J. P. Coghlin, Worcester, Mass.; A. D. Converse, Winchendon, Mass.; J. W. Densford, Oklahoma City, Okla.; George C. Diehl, Buffalo, N. Y.; J. H. Edwards, Jersey City, N. J.; Frederick H. Elliott, New York; Powell Evans, Philadelphia, Penn.; Phillip Elting, Kingston, N. Y.; P. D. Folwell, Philadelphia, Penn.; Dr. J. N. Faulkner, Paterson, N. J.; C. H. Gillette, Hartford, Conn.; Clay W. Holmes, Elmira, N. Y.; F. W. Herendeen, Geneva, N. Y.; John M. Janes, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Dr. W. H. Card, Minneapolis, Minn.; A. H. Knoll, Buffalo, N. Y.; A. E. Lerche, Springfield, Mass.; R. B. Nostrand, Jr., Peekskill, N. Y.; C. M. Robinson, New Haven, Conn.; Alfred Reeves, New York; I. H. Strauss, Wilkinsburg, Penn.; E. T. Staples, Bridgeport, Conn.; Joseph H. Weeks, Philadelphia, Penn.; F. G. Webb, Brooklyn, N. Y., and John A. Wilson, Franklin, Penn.

The following additional Directors were elected:

H. B. Allfree, Newton, Iowa; S. M. Butler, New York; F. C. Battey, Savannah, Ga.; A. G. Batchelder, Summit, N. J.; George C. Diehl, Buffalo, N. Y.; Phillip Elting, Kingston, N. Y.; F. T. Staples, Bridgeport, Conn.; William S. White, Sioux City, Iowa, and J. W. Watzek, Davenport, Iowa.