The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-28
Vandervoort, Taubeneck and Other
Populist Leaders Come Together.
Az and Saw Applied to the Constitution,
and II Is Shaped Up to Suit the
Views of Its Chief.
Military and Secret Features Are Large
ly Done Away With.
Perfecting the Organization Of the Indus
trial Legion Hendricks Clubbers
and q Primary Law.
vANDERvooRT.s ORGANIZATION.

vANDERvOORT's ORGANIZATION.
Changes I'm the Constitution of the New Pc
iitIcal Secret Society.
The proceedings, yesterday. at the meet
ing of Populists afford conclusive proof
tina Gen. Paul Vandervoort has consider.
able influence with the new organization
known as the Industrial Legion.
General Vandervoort was not at the
Memphis meeting and when informed of his
election as commander-in-chief he notified
the committee that there were several
features of the constitution to which he
would not subscribe, aud that he thought
there were serious defects in the plan of
organization. The executi We committee
appointed at Memphis was authorized to
make such changes in the constitution as
il might SEQ fit, and yesterdays proceed
ings developed that in addition to
pushing the organization of the
Industrial Legion in Indiana the
meeting had for Its other
and probably more important object. the
application of the ak and cross-cut saw 20
the constitution so as TO make 1t conform
to the Vandervoort view. The changes in
the constitution were made upon condition
that General Vandervoort would assume
the leadership to which he had been called
and put the legion upon an efficient footing.
ALI day yesterday the su subcommittee strug-
gied with the constitutional changes
proposed. Their report, as finally submit
ted last night, met the appreciation of Gen.
Vandervoort. the report was ratified and
General Vandervoort formally accepted the
. Office OF commander-tn-chief.
IN THE CONSTITUTION.
The changes made are important, but
- h. unxn a nm hrfnAv Tha o~Io,
which it was intended should be semi-mil-
itary. is Invested of all but q
semblancs of its military features.
The different classes-the senior. junior
and woman's relief CORPS were
abolished and all members will be ad-
mitted on the same basis. The feature Of
the extreme secrecy 10 also eliminated, 1t
being General Vandervoorts view that all
The secrecy necessary was to keep from the
enemy the knowledge of the ~lesion's plans
Ind In the divesting Of the
was abolished and q simple pledge was
substituted for the iron-clad oath
that had been prescribed. In this line also
was the elimination of the section provid-
lng for courts-martial and dismissal. in
place Of which 1t is provided that an offend
ing Der may be expelled from . local
odRe By a two-thirds vote. Under the re-
vised constitution the prime requisite of
10 tAnb ~ C0uuluot0 6u0ll
subscribe to the principles laid down in
the Omaha platform.
By the changes thus made the scope and
policy of the Industrial Legion has been
materially changed. From q semi-military
organization it has become q purely polit-
ical one, its purpose being the creation of
an army, or machine. to fight the political
battles of the Farmers Alliance and Peo-
pies party.
vANDERvooRT's PLANS.
In speaking to q Journal report
or, last night. General Vandervoort
said that by the changes made
the organization had been freed of some
features that were cum5rous. ana others
tina were undesirable. SIMPLICITY had
been substituted for complication, and oil
the red-tapo had been abolished.
What WILL be your plan of organiza-
tion~ was asked.
My plan will be to push the organize
tion Immediately. The general plan will
be after that pursued by the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union which l con-
slider the most effective ever contrived. In
the trst place, a State organizer will be ap-
pointed In every State. With each organ
izer IN charge OF his State the work Will be
pushed by congressional districts, by coun-
ties and by 70 wnships."
When Will the names Of your State or.
~ganizers be announced7"
Probably tomorrow. In most of the
States they are already picked out, but
none will be announced until all are Sc
Iected."
what other work has the meeting in
hand aside from that already accom-
plishedfn
I'VE nave our list of State organizers
TO complete, and also to prepare q
list of instructions. A general list
of instructions will be prepared which
Will be applicable to all localities,
and besides these there are instructions to
consider which will be applicable to par
tlcular localities, and which will be kept
secret"
In accepting the office Of commandment
CHIEF. last night. after the changes in the
constitution had been announced, General
be taken as an authoritative aud formal
declaration of the scope and purposes OF
the Industrial Legion.
II COMMANDERS ADDRESS.
His address was as follows:
Hon. ]. H.. Turner. Aajutant- general:
Dear Sir and Brother-Your official notice OF
Legion OF the United States received. deem II
proper 10 state, as you know. l was not present
ut the meeting az Memphis. and did not know
such an order was to be Organized. | am as
sured that the Legion does not interfere In any
way with any OF the industrial orders which
have so grandly done their part In educating the
people. but simply fills the long-felt want OF
supplying a compact political body, In which all
can unite on one common creed and the only
test OF membership be loyalty TO the platform oil
the Peoples party. II l deemed that we should
IN any way conflict with any OF the great indus
trial or labor organizations. / would have moth
money power OF the Nation In @ conflict, such as
the world has mover witnessed aud we cannot
do IL without "A perfect organization. We must
In some way weld into one strong, potent po