The Jersey City news., 1891-08-01
F0RESTERS IN ARMS.
Court Jersey City Will Stand by
Durancey and Flynn.

The suspension Of Court Jersey City
Ancient Order Of Foresters, Dy High
Chief Ranger Linderburgh and the Ex-
ecutiye Council is causing Widespread
interest. not only among the thousands
Of Foresters in this city but in
every social, benevolent and political
organization as well. throughout the
county and State.
The real cause of the trouble has not
been divulged. From interviews with
members of Court Jersey City and mem
bers of other courts. NEWS re-
porter has succeeded in unearthing
the true inwardness Of the whole afftir
5. i. DuranceY, the convicted ballot box
stuffer, who figures couspieu0usiy in the
trouble, refuses positively to discuss the
matter, as he does not want 1t given pub
licity- From his friends, however, the
following facts were learned
At the recent State Convention OF
Foresters held Ia Paterson, Durancey was
elected delegate to represent Forester's )
Of this State IN the National Court
convention TO be held in Brooklyn. He
is hard worker in the interest'of For
estry, has organized several courts,
among which is Court Paulus Hook, now
one of the most prosperous courts In the
city and he Is also director In the For
esters' Hall Association.
at the convention held In Paterson
lDuEtteu CduuiudttS were nominated LOF
delegates. Durancey, who was not
delegate to the convention, re-
ceived the third highest vote
and was elected. The eight
candidates who were knocked out
represented principally courts In Jersey
City and Hoboken. DuranceT's election
caused considerable i'll feeling aud It was
from this that the present trouble arose.
One of the eight defeated candidates ex-
aulined the laws of the order aud found
what he claims TO be a section which
makes Durancey ineligible as a
member of any Court. The Jaw
is section %. article 25. which provides
that no man shall be eligible to member
ship in anv Court who has been convicted
Of a felony, and the word felony is I'M
derlined.
The defeated candidate, who is a MEM
ber of Court Emmer. was shown the law
and thinking Durancey would certainly
be expelled from Court Jersey City, was
instrumental, it is alleged. In having
Court Emmett pass resolutions recon-
mending him to 1H the place. Durancey
was chosen TO fill 1t; Bad
blood exists among the Foresters
and hot tight is being waged. II is not
at all improbable that the matter will be
aired in the courts.
Martin Flynn, another of the con-
victed ballot box suffers, Is also n mem
Der of Court Jersey City and an attempt
Flynn expelled but the court :
decided 70 stand by both men and viii
fight the case to the end. An eruption
in the Forestic world is apparently inev-
itab bile.
The Executive Council, upon learning
of Durancey's case, insisted that Court
Jersey City should expel him. This the
court refused to do, the members argu-
ing that neither the court nor Exc cutive
Council had any right to say that Dur
ancey or Flynn were gully. SO long as the
State courts had granted an appeal
"lf the State Court thinks there is any
room for doubt, the courts of Fores ters
should think likewise" said prominent
Forester this morning.
The refusal of Court Jersey City to ex-
pei Durancey resulted sub
sssusn'Gg see Court '1s and aPspsi0n noM tSs Os
Court is making Durancey's
fight its fight. The court has appealed
from the action of the Executive Council
and the matter will be settled by the Ma
tionaI Court. Durancey has his creden-
tials and will attend the National
resign from the court but his friends will
not permit him to do so. The only thing
the members of Court Jersey CITY regret
is that Durancey did not sticK TO his IN
tention OF not signing the registry books
Thew do not believe him guilty.
Another point urged by Foresters is
that Durancey cannot now De expelled, be
cause if he had been convicted of a
felony it was the duty OF
the court to forward to the
Executive Council, copy of his convic-
ton; and further, that the Court
neglected to prefer charges against him.
Another peculiar thing in the case. is that
the old Executive Council were eognlzant
of Durancey's conviction, but failed TO
take notice of it.
DuranceY, il is alleged. threatened to
sue the Executive Council IL that body
expelled him, and this accounts, it is
said, indirectly for the suspension of
Court Jersey City. IL is also claimed
that the laws of the Foresters con filct
with the laws of the State regarding in
surance societies.
Members of various courts also main
tain that Durancey and Flynn have not
committed felonies but misdemeanors-
'.The law said a well posted gentle
man, (which provides FOR such cases as
these, is like milk shake, badly mixed. "
The case will be decided by the National
Court, which meets in Brooklyn this
month.