Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-18
COLLINS FAMOUS CIRCULAR.
1t Is Fully Explained Before the state
Council Jr. O. u. A. M.-rhe Color
Question Comes Up for Discussion-A
va,uab,e Oficer Leaving the State.

It Is Fully Explained Before tne eta'o
Council Jr. O. u. A. M.-rhe Color
Question Comes Up for Discussion-A
Valuable oficer Leaving the State.
UNIoNTowN, Sept. 17.-[Speciai. 1.-The
State Council Jr. o. U. A. NJ. spent the
greater portion OF the day acting on tne
reports of the Board of Officers. This busi-
ness was the occasion of considerable dis
cussion.
The first taken up was the report OF state
Councillor Collins, which was adopted IN
every particular. The financial reports
showed that an error had been made In
reporting the condition of the State Treas
urer. Supplementary reports show balance
of over % 900 in the treasury.
The question about the State Councillors
action in connection with the political con-
test in Allegheny county last fall was set
tied bE the approval by large majority OF
the following explanation ct A MI; Co'iinS
and the action OF the Board of Omcers:
A Denial and Explanations.
FIN answer to the newspaper statements
that the State Councillor has in any manner
brought the name of the order into partisan
politics, 1 most emphatically deny the
charge. These statements originated in q
newspaper that has persistentiy opposed
our order ana its principles, and whose SEN
sational tactics are generally well known.
They were copied during the recent exciting
campaign into other pa pers with varied en-
bellishments. equally untrue.
GAS to my connection with the school-tax
Veto circulars. They were issued by the
Allegheny County Republican Committee,
and when the Sheriff of Allegheny county
asked me to assist in their distribution
positively declined to do so, but informed
him that he could purchase list of the Sec
retar1es OF all councils in the United states
for 70 cents. never mailed any or had any
connection whatever with their distribution
excepting in the case mentioned hereafter
Regarding the confidential circulars, the
following are in brief the facts SO far as !
know: A package OF them had been brought
TO my Office less than one hour before the re-
eeipt of the letter from one o. s. Marshall, OF
klttanning. The man that brought them
was acting for secret political patriotic
organization of which 1 am member. He
lert them on my desk, saying, Here is some
dynamite; give them to trusty Americans.
schools personally approved OF the cir
culars, but they had no connection what
eyer with my official position in the Jr. 0.
U. A. NJ. When MarshalPs letter came to
hand asking me If could get him 100 of the
Veto circulars 1 sent the postofflce janitor
to the County Committee rooms with re.
them with the other package of circulars
and addressed them to Marshall at kittan-
ming. This was not an official action in any
manner.
The Letter Was Not OHtc1ai.
1t is fact that the note to Marshall
was written by me on paper with the State
Council heading, but wrote It on damaged
paper, spoiled in the printing, and which l
use for scratch or memorandum purposes.
My typewriter afterward copied his note on
an official note head, but 1t was not signed as
State Councillor nor addressed to Marshall
as Recording Secretary. 1t is regretted that
plain paper was not used, but / use this
spoiled paper for all unofficial communica-
tions. ALI official correspondence is signed
as State Councillor.
There is no other charge, statement or
evidence of my taking any part In the recent
campaign, or that brought the name OF the
order it into partisan politics nan and believe
newspaper controversy, or deny or explain
my official or unofficial actions in the public
press to have been for the best interests of
the order, though probably unsatisfactory to
some few individuals.
"The statement in Philadelphia paper Of
November 8, that had 'bartered with Sena-
tor Quay and Chairman Andrews for the
vote of tho order Is scarcely worthy of q
denial, it being simply. the unsupported
thrust of strongly partisan journal on the
day before election | never saw Chairman
Andrews but once and never spoke or wrote
to him a word concerning our order. Nor
had l any communication with Senator
order in politics. had no circulars in PHIL
adelphia, and distributed none there or else
where, excepting MS above mentioned. AS
trolling my personal political actions, but
have at no time, officially or unofficially,
used the name of the order in politics,
of the Hsf above facts 20 the Board of oficersS
The Color Question Discussed.
"A discussion arose this afternoon in re-
gard to an organization of colored men. 1t
occurred over the following recommended
tion of the State Councillor:
"a great field is being neglected in the
failure to organize the colored men. would
recommend that our national representa-
tives be instructed to bring this matter be-
fore the national council, and endeayor to
have an organization OF the colored men
age of the Jr. o. U. A. NJ an auxiliary there |
to. would not favor the striking out of the |
word white from our qualifications for |
membership, but the fact is 80 evident that !
an American patriotic organization is need |
ed among the colored people, that we should |
assist in accomplishing this object"
offered by the Ohio representatives striking |
out the word white" in the qualification |
clause but it was defeated. The matter will |
again be taken to the National Council.
A Sentiment for Partial Recognition.
The feeling is rather in favor of recog-
nizing an organization Of colored men, to be
distinct from the parent order. giving the |
celored men ritual OF their own and giving |
them Jurisdiction over their own affairs, |
with the exception of holding the supreme |
power of control with the parent organiza- |
ton. |
A recess of ten minutes was ordered this |
afternoon in order to give the retiring State |
Vice Councillor, H. J. Slifer. who will leave |
the organization in Pennsylvania to accept |
an important position with Western rail-
road, time to address the convention |
He was deeply interested in the work
and had he been State Councillor Collins
successor as 1t was booked he would, great
progress would have been looked for in the
Eastern district.
To-night's session was consumed in dis
cussing questions of finance for next year.
The State Councillors salary was raised l
from 81, 400 to 81, 800 which includes 5000 clerk
hire An unsuccessful attempt WAS made to
reduce the allowance to National Represen-
tatives.