Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-01
OUR MAIL POUCH.
A Mountain of a Molehill.

To the Editor of The Dispatch:
In your issue of July 20, under the above
caption, appears an article, that in Justice
to the citizens and especially to the mem
bers of the j. o. U. A. NJ. in Conneautville,
demands notice, that its fragrant errors may
be pointed out. The writer of the communi-
cation has scorched his own fingers in firing
shot at the Junior Order which was os-
tensibly aimed at me. The premature dis
charge came in the form of slanderous let
ters, under the cloak of good citizens"
These were sent out to intimidate the re-
cipients into dropping their names from the
charter list. Granting that some good citi-
zens might object to the order on the same
ground that they would object to other
secret ORDERS deny the fact that good citi-
zens gave their sanction to such methods as
were employed. and challenge the gentle
man to give the names of the good citizens.
Remember, please, that good citizens never
object to having their names connected with
laudable purpose, and failure to comply
with this request will be bona fide evidence
that good citizens is q myth, aside from
the author who penned the letters.
State Councillor Collins aptly applied the
word boomerang to illustrate the effect of
the letters in question. To my certain
knowledge some of the members that were
now at fever heat, with one hand on the
throttle and the other on the bell rope, and
in clear, unmistakable tones the bell sends
out the warning, "Hands off American in
stitutions." This deprives no man of his
rights. politically or otherwise, so long as he
is in sympathy with American ideas. AS to
those who declined to join, know of but
one, and this individual accepting his
version, declined through no fear of religion,
but because he belonged to several orders
and did not feel justified in adding additional
expenses.
am credited with claiming that the order
was simply beneficial organization. This
is simply an untruth that has no foundation.
When asked the aims and objects OF the or
der, L have always given the beneficiary
part second place, and so look upon 1t. In
the five objects of the order look upon the
nrst and last as primary, viz First, 70
maintain and promote the interests of
Americans and shield them from the de-
pressing effects of foreign competition;
fifth, TO maintain the public school system
OF the United States to prevent sectarian
interference Herewith. and uphold the
reading of the Holy Bible therein. Mr..
Anonymous, do you object to either of the
above principles? If so, on what ground?
In saying that the order does not contain
the foremost citizens" you again mlslead.
Let me enumerate the firms which represent
the three leading groceries, two merchants,
and the head clerk in the other store, both
banks. one of our leading manufacturers,
etc. Only one "professionaleman,"a as yet.
Yes, this statement is true, but as soon as
two others return from vacation we will
claim three out of five professional men. Is
this not a creditable percentage?
In an order that averages 36 years how
man can go on record as saying it is COM
posed of boys is a mystery. Yet the gentle
man makes the statement that such is,
largely, the case We have probably a dozen
under q, and of this number only three
would be disqualified by age from carrying
musket in defense of our country.
The faction in sympathy with the writer
referred to know full well that threats were
made and carried out against numbers who
Joined the order. If this is an erroneous
statement, kindly explain why some have
forgotten where they received tonsorial
treatment prior to instituting- the Council
Two-edged swords cut both ways, and the
back stroke may have equal force and cut
even deeper. WILLIAM V. ALFoRD.
CoNNEAUTvILLE, July 30.