Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-27
Tennis mt Newport,
THE SUPREME LODGE.
Gossip as to the Coming Election of
Officers.


Gossip as to the Coming Election of
Officers.
The present supreme chancellor of the
order of the Knights Of Pythias is w. W.
Blackwell Of Kentucky.
The prospective supreme chancellor is
Walter B. Richie of Ohio. At present this
gentleman Is the senior vice chancellor, and
one of the customs of the order is to pro-
mote the vice chancellor to the highest
office. There is nothing in the constitution
which exacts this, but 1t has been always
done before, and there is nothing to indi-
cate that the practice of the future will
not be followed in this instance. Vice Su-
preme Chancellor Richie has filled the office
to which he was elected at Kansas City
two years ago with distinguished vigor and
tact, and has earned his promotion. The
Star man has been in conversation with
scores of the leading Pythians. and without
exception 1t was stated that Mr.. Richie
will be unanimously elected to the highest
office within the gift of the order.
The Fight for the Vice Chancellor
ship.
The real fight will be for the office of the
supreme vice chancellor. The fight is
on already, and an active campaign is be-
ing waged by several candidates. A large
number of Pythians are ambitious for the
honor, not only because of the enviableness
of the position itself, but because, as al
ready indicated, II is the stepping stone to
the official pinnacle of the order. Most of
the candidatesseTe naking a still hunt, and
some are merely mentioned in connection
with the place in an undertone, but they are
in the race for all that, and are quietly
working among their friends. These friends
are using their influence with other friends
and thus the matter grows. Miles OF po-
litical wires are being pulled in the lobby Of
the Ebbitt House, the headquarters of the
Supreme Lodge. The representatives to the
Supreme Lodge lounge around in groups
and talk the situation over. The candidates
between whom the fight seems to lay are
Phillip T. Colgrove of Michigan, a represen-
tative to the Supreme Lodge from the grand
jurisdiction of that state, and Joseph H.
Lyon of Kansas, supreme masrer-at-arms.
Both men are veterans in the order, and
have won their spurs by arduous and I'M
selfish effort in the interest of Pythianism.
Neither Of these gentlemen is saying any
thing for himself. but each recognizes the
fact that the other is In the contest to win.
This morning the rivals met in the par
lor at the Ebbitt and talked of everything
seemed to feel any interest in the coming
fray in which they are to be. so II now APP
pears. the principal actors. They discussed
the German question, the liquor question.
the growth Of the order, the glories Of its
future and the magnificence of its past but
they studiously avoided having anything to
say about the supreme vice chancellorship.
Neither seemed to have any interest in the
| friends were at work on the case.
Veterans to be Continued.
1t can also be read clearly that the su-
prems keeper of records and SEAL r. L. C.
White Of Nashville, Tenn, is slated for re-
election. He has held the office since 1887,
and has grown so familiar with all the de-
tails Of the work and has given such uni
versal satisfaction that there is no doubt
about the matter Of his reelection. It is
known q he nf Pyfb N
who would like to succeed him, and have
covertly used the argument that one man
ought not to be continued In the same Of
flee for more than two terms at the most,
but these gentlemen seem never to have
been able to command strong enough fol-
lowing to show fight.
There is no candidate in the field, and IL is
not probable that one viii be developed be-
biennial election. 1t seems also that the
supreme master Of excheQuer Thomas q
Sample Of Pennsylvania, will be reelected
His report. which is printed in another
column, shows how well he merits recogni-
ton for services performed. ard, as far as
can be learned today. no opposition to his
| reelection will be made 1t has not been
authoritatively announced that he is q
| candidate. but this is currently understood
| No man would decline the honor, and Mr.
| Sample has all along proved his zeal and
| enthusiasm which he puts into his work.
There are q number Of smaller offices in
| the Supreme Lodge to be filled at this ses-
| sion, but the electioneering is on a very
| small scale. The candidates are numerous
| and q forecast at this time would be the
| merest guesswork. as the successful can
| didates. IN order to accomplish their am
bition. will have to form combinations with
| other candidate1. This will not be done till
toward the close Of the convention:
The shs !; q. Dsfor. ,, stated vii be over
q. E. Frazer. Reconnaissance of public