The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-18
DANGER AHEAD.
Hon. John p. Poe Denounces the |
Endowment FraternitieS.

Endowment FraternitieS.
A startling statement was brought
out the other day before one of the
Baltimore Courts. The trial of the
Progressive Endowment League was
in progress which ended in placing
that concern in the hands of a re-
ceiver. While testimony was being
taken, the p. Z. L. and other short
term orders were denominated
frauds. Finally, one of the attor-
neys asked: GLOW about the Iron
Hall and other seven-year fraterni-
ties ?" The query brought another
attorney, the Hon. John P. Poe to
his feet who said with great vehe-
mence: They are all alike, all
frauds, and l, for one, propose to
wipe Maryland clear Of them"
This was an astounding utterance
to come from the lips Of member
Of the State Senate and candidate
for the office of Acknowledgement.
1t was evidently inspired by igno-
rance or spirit of righteousness.
If Mr.. Poe gave utterance to sim
cere conviction, he is simply igno-
rant of the facts, and is i'll a condi-
ton of intellectual blindness which
totally units him for the response
bic position Of legislator or Attor-
ney-General. 1t seems incompre-
hensible that Il man of political
honors, Of considerable literary abil-
ity, and of astuteness as Il lawyer
should believe any such nonsense.
On the other hand, if Mr.. Poe
gave utterance to his views in Il
spirit of vindictiveness, there is
trouble ahead for assessment and
fraternal insurance in Maryland.
If it is conceivable that Mr.. Poe is
at work i'll the interests of the old
line insurance companies to wage a
battle against endowment societies
such as was waged last winter in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
it is time for the "order men" to
take cognizance of the fact. Mr..
Poe has stated what he proposes to
do with the endowment and assess
ment societies now what do the fra
ternities propose to do with Mr..
Poe?
1t is well known that he is a gen.
tleman Of great political ambitions.
lie has been named by his party for
responsible office, and it remains
for those who are members of en-
dowment and assessment orders in
this state to say whether he shall be
elected to that office or not. There
are 1000 such men in Maryland,
and if the State Senator is going to
wipe Maryland clear Of these or
ders, if he is going to destroy insur-
ance certificates by the thousand, it
would be well for somebody else to
be elected Acknowledgement.
Evidently the fight between the
insurance companies and benevolent
orders is coming up in the next Leg
islature. If not Mr.. Poe, some
ambitious aspirant for political hon
ors will certainly undertake the at
tack. 1t means much to the Iron
Hall, the Fraternal Guardians. and
such orders as the Heptasophs and
Tonti. The Golden Chain, the
Equitable League, and the B. E. +.
will be all involved, while the A. O.
L. W., the Royal Arcanum. and
other similar organizations will suf-
fer. 1t is time therefore to organ
ize and prepare for the battle, and
no better point Of attack presents
itself than to request Mr.. Poe to
alter his position i'll regard to fra
ternal insurance or see to it that he
does not enter upon the duties of
the Attorney-Generalship.-Ex