'Coup d'Etat' Attempt Fails As HYRC Elects 5-Man Slate

A strong but unsuccessful coup d'etat attempt again aroused the Young Republican Club as over a third of the members rose against the organization's proposed slate of new officers at the HYRC's election in Phillips Brooks House last night.

Of the five major offices, the only unopposed candidate was John W. Stephens '55 of Eliot House and Lometa, Texas, who was unanimously elected president at the start of the meeting. From this point on, in an unprecedented rebellion, a concerted minority waged a close battle to upset the organization choices, only losing the vice-presidency by five votes, and the secretaryship by four.

Unlike past elections of the HYRC, which have been characterized by violent oratory and histrionics, retiring president Roger A. Moore 1L set the tone for the meeting by urging more decorous behavior, especially next month when Adlai Stevenson speaks at the Godkin Lectures.

The vice-presidency was finally won, 36 to 28, by John C. Eldridge '55 of Lowell House and Silver Springs, Md. John R. Thomson '57 of Weld Hall and Scarsdale, N.Y. was chosen operations director. He is currently secretary of the club and its only freshman officer.

In the evening's closest contest, Christopher A. Smith '55 of Lowell House and West. Hartford, Conn., took the post of secretary from Burton Berkley '55, 35 to 28, as the minority nomination speeches began to become more vehement. The organization's rule was openly challenged in the nominations for treasurer, but its candidate, John S. Luckstone 2L of Cambridge was elected anyway. One write-in vote for Balzotti was received.

The opposition speakers noted that the organization's speeches were well prepared in advance. "It's not easy to compete with people whose remarks are neatly typed ahead of time," said one of the minority faction.

Four members of the club were elected to the Planning Board after the voting for the major offices was completed.

The election was moderated by Earl M. Kulp 2GB, chairman of the Election Committee. Kulp explained to the Young Republicans that the reason membership cards were being checked at the door was to prevent any election fights from "being splashed over the front page of the newspapers."