The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-23

Icrowd-in many cases the number attend
ing from Esome localities being double
what was expected. The writer of this
also interviewed a number of Sir Knights
from various localities. and finds that MI,
Gassetts lie being upjustly censured. The
| Chicago Tribune contains an interview
with DIR, Gassette which we copy in JUS
tica to that gentleman. 1t lis as follows:
THE grumbler at the management of the
recent Conclave of Knights Templar is
still fabroad in Chicago. He is not so
have himself heard. Yesterday afternoon
a Tribune reporter called upon MIR. Nor
man T. G assette, Chairman of the Trien-
NAL Committee. to see what he had to say
about the various complaints made 10
regard to delays, disappointments, etc.
Mr.. Gassette said: 1T liz not for me to
say a word. Ii there is anything to be
said at all, knights sTemplar of Chicago
ought to say il. have sacrificed every
personal comfort to make this
thing q success. For two years
or more have given this thing
my personal attention, and for months
past | have scarcely seen my family, and [
have given my time without thought for
4 tU6 eflupiy tuo Ccucut VI tue
city of Chicago and Templarism. No
Oonclavs ever passed off more successfully
and every fair minded man who has at
tended other Triennials will tell you SO.
| The sub com mittees had charge of the
various details. and nearly every member
of the Executive Committee was Chair
| man OF one of these committees. They
went on to do their work. contracted debts
and we merely approved what they did, in
Executive Committee"
Further than this Mr., Gassette would
not say. He had no reflections to make
upon anybody at all, and if the Tsmplars
of Chicago could stand it he could. That
day they had paid out some $4,000 in
Guiding $500 for Hooley's Theatre. $500
to Pinkerton for police, $1,000 for lemo-
made frapps at the Exposition, ball and
| reception.
Mr., Blakely, the Secretary of the Fin
auce Committee, said that oil the personal
subscriptions had been collected, and MIR.
Gsaette said that be believed that he had
enough cash in hand to pay all the bills
contracted.
A knight Templar who is in a position
to know, said to Tribune reporter yes
terdaY that Mr.. Gassette was being as
sailed uDjustly and unnecessarily.
II never saw committees do anything
right anyhow. and now they try to shift
all the responsibility upon Chairman
Gassette's shoulders. It is not fair
at all, The Cbairmen of the sub-com
mittees did the business. Look
at the botch that they made of the arches.
/ have heard it stated that knight Tenn
plar pretty we'll posted in such things sug-
gested that three arches be put up, and
one eff them across Madison. to the east
of Dearborn street, where everybody could
see it. This gas pipe and rag business was
all nonsense. The funeral arch was to
have been of handsome design. the column |
to have been in imitation of granite, with |
the letters sunk iuto them. Instead of
that they got some cheap muslin and Cali |
fornia pampas grass for plumes, and some
black rags. and that did the business. |
The gas pipe arches were total failure. |
1t was the same with the management OF
the distribution OF the tickets for the |
theatres and the CONCERTS. People who |
wanted to go TO Hooey's were sent TO |
HaVerly's or MeVicker's, and vice versa, |
and some who wanted to 20 to the thea
tres were given concert tickets. That |
feature wasn't attended to or appreciated |
as it ought to have been. It was only /
such man as Gassetts who could have |
made the thing q success, and if he had !
had the exclusive power there WOULDN'T |
have been these serious bitches at ALL"
The gentleman thought that, taken all |
in all. this had been the most successful |
Conclavs be had attended. and in point of |
enthusiasm and numbers had never been |
equalled."
The ARGUS gives this extended notice |
of the matter that all may be herd. and
at the request of some Sir Knights who
are not pleased at the wholesale denuucia-
ton of Sir N, T, Gaseette. when others
should, ct least share the blama.