The New York herald., 1877-11-18
THE o. A. us SECRETS.

WHAT THE REcALcIrRANr MEMBERS HAVE
ING REVELATIONS PROMISED -REPREsENrA-
: TIVE POLITICIANS TO DE srBPENAED II A
SUIT Is BROUGHT IL COURT.
Much discussion was excited among members OF the
mysterious organization known as the 20. A. o."
tOrder OF the American union) by the letter Of Mr.
George r. Edgar, giving his reasons Tor Withdrawing
from the Order and published in the HERALD OF yes
tcrday Mr. Edgar claims that the organization has
fallen into the hands Of political tricxsters who would
manage 10 to further their personal ambition. His
promise 10 publish "Wnst know about the q. A. u"
has apparently set the members in q ierment o. cx.
element
HERALD reporter called upon Messrs. Edgar
Henry I. Holt, William N. Reid and William II. Van
Nortwick, the gentlemen who have been ostraczsd
from tho Order. The last named gentleman declined
talk about Affairs OF the Institution present.
but II the suit brought against the 60 A. t."
by Aessrs Holt and Edgar shall be tried in court hs
will obey a sdbpmna and testify freely.
Mr.. Edgar said :-ssThe reason the gentleman com.
posing the Senate objected to the publication Of the
protest because might interfere with their aims
at Washington where George d. Weeks late President
OF the Senate secured appointment Treasury
agent because OF his prominent positien In tho
90 A. u Colonel Spates, the editor OF the Cleveland
members Of the Orderin Now York and throughout
the country are also TO have to grind at
the Hayes grndstone. few nights since there was
gwen IN Washington a banquet In honor OF Edwin
Cawes already referred TO, and who claims 10 be tho
author the plank relating tho schools
ths Cincinnati platform Prominent nj the banquet
w,re Messrs. Spatcs, klgore and w *. Rogers, pri-
vate secretary oi President Hayes. Mr.. Mccormick,
secretary OF the Order, was toasted also Mrs.
Hayes, and a letter OF regret was read from Mayor
Rose Of Cieveaud-ail of which looks like attempt
ON the part oil the %. A. u managers to capture
President Hayes"
REVELATIONS TO COME
In reply to question TO the probable eliect upon
the Order u the suit pending against II should b" tried
IN open court Mr. Edgar said:-"l presume II would
be impossible to prevent many oi the secrets 0i
the Order from being given 10 the public and involving
names oi scores-hay, hundreds perhaps thousands
OF representative men IN ut least eghseen states. In.
ciuding Governors United States Senator's cx-Cabnei
officers and speakers OF state Legislatures. Wo nave
not yet decided m which court shall try suit
have against the oroer, but II 30 irto the United
States Circuit Court We can summon witnesses from
any State In the Union, and many high officials at
Washington will be served with subpenas, and 1t
would appear that the needed electoral vote 10
make up the 1855 was gained upon tho issues made by
TINS order IN Nevada, as well as majority of the
Legislature OF that State, besides officers IN the var
Gus counties
Mr.. Henry T. Holt who was next called upon, is
still mcmbe OF the ORDER and was Secretary OF ths
.Seuaten from the time Of Mr.. keid's until the
present year Mr. Holt talked eloqucntly OF the "hva
best years OF his lie which had oeen wasted IN tho
service OF the 20 U. A. !" Himself and Mr. Edgar, he
SAID, had done most OF the work and 10 them be-
longed the credit oi extending tho organization
] which It existed when they took hold OF It
| by a resolution OIL the ''senate' he was empowered
TO settle bills with the money he received revenues
OF the Order and to hand the recepcd bills 10 the
Treasurer instead OF the cash. Mr.. Holt gave de-
tailed statement OF tho financial relations between tho
State organizations and the Senate" all going
show that the Order has great difficulty IN meeting
expenses, ana that the state 0odies have, at Tine
or another repudiated their debts TO the central
organization, ana some oil them have Icd
altogether from the control OF :he Senate Z"
| REPUBLICAN, COMMITTEE.
"At the meeting oil The Senate held IN Wilmington.
DeL on the 18th and l3n OF July, 1876 " continued
Mr. Holt, "a Finance Committee appointed
raise iunds for the extension OF the order The com
mitlee met and resolved 10 apply to the National Re-
publican Committee Tor funds 10 propagate the Order.
Tue committee adjourned TO meet 10 the Fiith Avenue
Hotel and talk OF the matter TO the National kepub
lican Committee. | was present At the meeting,
ana, on invitation Of tho committee, went IN witn
them. Tnreo OF US represented the committee.
| Tho ether applied for funds, and, whom 1t
my turn TO speak said In substance. mr. Chairman
want you ~ understand that we as an Order wc re-
ceive money from ou viii accept il for the purpose
of extending influence tho republican party; but
| believing that every effort put forth tor the up
building of our order will indirectly but inevitably
rebound to tho benefit OF that parry, We ask you
give money tor tho extension OF the Order Tho
committee listened to story and bowed out. wc
tho committee That had voted TO give 81 900,
of which 81, 600 was TO be paid at onco
| Order, SO lar l know. has
received anything from that committee. When tho
senate met IN September following George ID. Weeks,
It's president oil the Finance Comm tlee, turned
III 5000, reporting that At came IRON friends From
whom II came do not know, out presume from tn0
National Republican Committee
Mr William N. Reid, formerly secretary to the
.'scnate" OF the Order and who is involved with
Mcssrs holt Edgat the dspeasure of the orgaDi.
zation, was founco DO very ILL., but managed to briefly
express his views OF tho difficulty. II appears from
| his statement that Mr. Edgar employed as
National Deputy oil the A. y. U.-that Is,
he went about organizing new councils
| IN the States For thus he
| paid 81, 900 year. Nj. Reid Tor time received
$500 year for his services .as secretary. Mr.. Reid
also referred 10 the fact o George W. Weeks having
obtained his position as Treasury agent through hIs
| supposed influence the u. A. u. He also detailed
at length circumstances OF his exclusion from tue
| Cleveland Council.