The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-28
ANr1-HoRsE THIEVES CONVENTION.
About Two Hundred Delegates in Town and
Many Slore Expected.


The Anti-Horsethief Association of the
| State of Kansas will meet in annual con-
vention in this city today and will last
several days. About 200 members were
present last night and it is expected that
100 more will be added TO the list of dele
gates. They make up a fine body of men,
and, while farmers predominant, yet many
townspeople are in attendance from every
portion of the state They are mostly all
camped at the Occidental hotel, and they
are an interesting crowd to mingle with,
representing as they do all occupations
and every portion of the state. Every
member of the association is proud of the
fact that he belongs to it and is cognizant
of the fact that he is factor in the sup
preston of not only horse stealing, but of
every other crime in the statute book, for
the association is really in favor of the
enforcement of all criminal laws. The
Kansas association has net only jurisdic-
ton in the state, but has jurisdiction over
Nebraska and the Indian territory, and, in
fact, over all the territory between Kansas
and the Pacific coast The organization
in the state contains 100 subordinate lodges
with membership of 1000 which is the
largest membership of any anti-horse thief
state in the union and nearly as large as
all of them put together. The other states
where there are organizations are Iowa,
Missouri ana Illinois with seventy-three,
eighty-five and forty-five subordinate
lodges respectively
The organization was founded in Mis-
souri, in 1868, when a few men OF Clark
and Scotland counties met at Lura, Clark
county and framed the first constitution
and bylaws They met few months
afterwards in Knox county with gentle
men from both Missouri and Iowa pres
ent, and adopted the constitution and by
laws and elected the following officers:
David Mckee, G. w. P; William Beach,
G. w. V. p; William Everhart, G. w.
Secretary; William Grant, G. w. Treas
urer, and H L. Mckee, G. w. Marshal
The meetings were held at Memphis, Mo-,
until 1871, when tie convention met at
Bonaparte, Ia.
In 1871 the society was organized as a
State institution in Kansas, and the an
annual meetings have been held respec-
lively at EmDOria, Parsons, Junction City,
Parsons, Anthony, Chanute, Mcpherson
and Independence. The state society is
governed by the following officers: 6. NJ
Coffman, president, Parsons; A. Il. Cox,
vice president, Elk City; A. W. Postle-
thwaite, secretrry, carlton; w. B. Killing,
treasurer, Girard, and J. D. Ogden, or
ganizer, carlton. In addition to being
president of the state organization Mr..
COtfman is also president of the national
organization, having been elected recently.
The meeting will commence with prayer
at 8 O'Clock this morning at Peerless hall.
An address of welcome will be delivered
by Mayor Carey, after which President
Coffman will deliver his annual address,
in which he will show the history of the
order and its achievements. He will sug-
gest that the salaries of the officers be in
creased as the work has doubled in recent
wears L E. McClelland, of Chanute, will
probably be the next president of the