Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-14
AN LYSCR|MMAGE,
The SOvereigns of Industry
Fight a Pitched Battle.
CHARGES OF A RING'SRULE.
Treasurer Patton's DefalcatiOn Resur-
rected for Purpose.
SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS BANDED.
A Shtrpsburg Council Wants the Grand
President Impsached.
CHARGES OF A RINGS RULE.
SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS BANDED.
INSIDE REVELATIONS AS TO THE ROW

The alleged defalcation of j. w. Patton,
Grand Treasurer of the Sovereigns of In
dustry, is bearing lively fruit in stirring up
of internecine dissensions. The amount of
Patton's shortage is now definitely reported
to be s, ,375. exclusive of the $500 voted to
the Johnstown food fund, which will be
made good shortly by the Council. The
bitter fight in progress in the order had its
inception in Patton's levanting.
At the special meeting of the Grand
Council last Saturday evening, the whole
matter was resurrected and in the heated
discussion which arose, strong language
passed and blows were almost resorted to.
1t was lively time, and some of the
ladies present took refuge in a cloak room
while the wordy war proceeded. 1t was
brought out that on the night the Grand
Council met to vote relief to Johnstown, a
motion was made to make the sum $500. This
amount diversified Treasurer Patton's pile,
and with admirable sang froid Patton
moved to amend by making it 800. He
was voted down. The Grand Secretary
drew a warrant for $500 and sent it to
Committee. A messenger carried the war
rant to Patton, who drew a check for $500
and
PROMPTLY SKIPPED
to parts unknown. The check went through
one bank all right, and the money was
paid; but the bank on which the check was
drawn reported ''no funds" The Grand
Council thereupon resolved that the honor
of the order was at stake, and the check
should be made good.
Then came hot charges that officials of
the order had been cogBizant of Patton's
peculations for some time previous to his
disappearance, and that there was ample
proof that the higher officials had not e1-
acted bond from Patton, as required by
the bylaws OF the order. Dead silence
followed this accusation, and it was re-
peated with personal garnishments, coupled
with the threat that all members of the
Grand Council who could be proven to
have been aware of Patton's conduct would
be expelled from the order. Widest con-
fusion followed this announcement, which
was made by prominent Southsider.
The changes were run upon gag-law rul-
ings, it being claimed that the installing
official of the order had deliberately alb
sented himself from lodges and 13 in or
der to invalidate the right of their repre-
sentatives to appear in Grand Council, and
a lively rumpus was the result of this
charge.
IT SOUGHT IMPEACHMENT.
All this was incidental to the real object
of the special meeting, viz. the considera-
tion of a new constitution and bylaws and
the securing of new charter which would
allow the extension of the order to other
States At a special meeting two weeks
since the new constitution was combated
simply upon the grounds that IL was too au-
tocratic, and centralized the machinery of
the order in q few hands. But the oppo-
nents of the constitution found fuel to feed
the fire in the alleged existence of a 'ring"
in the order. The wrangle over Patton
added to the ranks of the opponents of a
new constitution, and it was defeated,
hands down. The question OF extension to
other States is generally favored, and will
receive attention later on.
A bitter personal attack was made upon
j. d. Buckley, Grand President of the Sow
ship of the new constitution and all the
autocracy implied therein, and all the
charges above outlined were boldly laid at
his door.
Finally, as a elimination of the stormy
episodes Of the evening, the members of
Economy Council, No. Is, hastily framed a
resolution impeaching the Grand President.
IT WAS RULED OUT.
1t was offered for reference to the Griev-
ance Committee of the order; but Mr.
Buckley, who was presiding, ruled against
its admission on the doubtless correct
ground that the resolution did not bear the
seal of the Council for obvious reasons. Amid
great confusion a motion to adjourn was
carried, and the fight came to a temporary
cessation.
There are 1000 Sovereigns of Industry in
Pittsburg and Allegheny and Al lodges in
Allegheny county. Although the order is
strongest hereabouts. there are lodges scat
tered all through the State. The order is of
a secret beneficial nature, and its rapid
growth attests very conclusively its popu-
larity. The Grand President, Mr.. j. d.
Buckley, is a member of the Central Board
OF Education.