The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-06-15
QUIETLY AND SERENELY.
HeS the Law and Order League
Intends to Work i'm
st. Louis.
Its Influence i'm Politics-How
X. of L. Candidates Are
Easily Defeated.


X. of L. Candidates Are
Easily Defeated.
81. Louis POsi-Dispsien
Among the results following close
upon the heels of the late strike of the
Knights Of Labor upon the Gould
southwest system Of railroads, was the
organization, locally, of a society de
nominated The Law and Order
League" The fact that such an or
ganizatioR existed, and that strenuous
efforts were being made TO extend its
Membership 10 include. all respectable
citizens not connected with labor as
sociatiens or labor unions, was gener-
ally known aboEt town. Contrary to
the methods of all St. LOUIS Law and
Order Leagues which have endeav-
Ored IL right public wrongs in the
past, this organization is secret in Its
proceedings cad zealously guards from
the uninitiased even the most trivial
facts conn-cted with the order; least
Wise such was the conclusion arrived
At by persons who made inquiries
about it A POst-Dispatch reporter
who asked Gor information on the sub
lect from prominent merchants On
Change, whose names are kaOwn 10
figure ON the membership rol of the
order, inVeriably received the answer ::
II am sOt a member, and j krow
nothing 81 all about the Law and
Orler League"
They would then refer you to SEINE
other gentleman who unblEshingly re-
pested the same srero,yped formula.
By eliciting a few facts from each of
sone dGEn or fifteen different mem-
bess end putting them together 4 very
clear ides of the organization et the
Leasuewas obtained.
THE LAW AND oRDEn LEAGUE
vas first formed at DeSotu, Sedalia
o. come Their interior b3wn. ITS Os-
tersible object was to protect prop
erty FROM the strikers ard as Is name
indicated to preserve law and order.
The League extended rapidly !
over the state and finaHg struck this
city. Merchants on Change took
the matter up and quietly organized a
local association. Wins the original
me1nbers were could sot be ascer-
tanned, bslt the membership increased
rapidly until at present IL is claimed
that there are between twelve and
ffssen thousand names upon the rolls.
Until recently the League excited but
littlecomment as compared with the
SmPortanoe which its large member.
shiR impaired to it, but liz the light of
the operations of branches of tie or
gaIizatinr IN other parts Of the state,
in which It Is said that its vast voting
strength was used so defeat certain
candidate for office who we're .ebjec-
tenahle in the eyes of the League,
the Local League suddenly assumed
pefstical color which has been the
principal topic of discussion among
politicians for several days pest. An
association numbering $4,000 votes
whiot 1t will cast solid is not to be
triAed with in politics and IN a city
where the two big parties are 60
evenly divided in strength it could
hold The balance of Fewer without
difficulty. The League Is organized |
upon E plan which could not be im-
proved upon for political purposes. |
Every ward or district, in some cases [
more than one ward, has It's
council or lodge presided ever by an
'fhcer. The grand or central lodge
or coune8 for the city, is composed of
delegates from each Of the minor or
ward councils and, it is presumed, has
General authority III city affairs.
Iaj. Charles Pearce, the attorney,
Tas the temporary head of the
league. A shert time ago, last
Teek, it is believed, the central |,
emmittee met and elected permanent
hcers; whether Pearce was re. a
Ieoted or not could not be ascer- i
aimed. S
The object sought TO be accomplish. i
4 by the League in q political way, c
told to Post-Dispstch reporter by q
member is to secure in a quiet way IL
he election of the best men prospect. e
re of their politics. :;
''The League will net put up a Sc
cket, nor will it proclaim in loud e
mes whe its candidates are, but | a
ink that the members will do their el
most to secure the election of good q,
en-" n
"Will the League select candi- in
tie for every position on the tieket?" d
"No, L don't think that is the pro- IL
anime. If the candidates on both nt
e good, honest men the League may be
a infn-fn-n L. ~, -. IL. -. -