Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-07

Rev. DIR. EnstOn.
tracted attention to the order and naturally
has increased the interest in the reports of
discussions in the local body.
1t is said that DR.. Easton and his friends
contemplate forming new national order,
so the trouble here has some interest be-
yond the boundaries of the District
An Interview With DIR. EnstOn.
In an interview with a Star reporter to-
day DR.. Easton said:
MY dissatisfaction with the manner In
which the organization is conducted dates
back to May of this year, when l was Sc
lected as a delegate from the District to
the Supreme Council at Milwaukee.
When 1 arrived there l found deplora-
BILE condition Of affairs. Over halt of the
men who sat in the supreme body We're not
entitled to seats, under the constitution of
the order They were seated 10y creden-
ttal committee appointed one week before
the convention met by Supreme President
Tray With membership in the mil
Ions, the books of the treasurer showed an
apparent balance of few hundred dollars,
and subsequent developments forced the
confession from the supreme president that
even this balance was only apparent, and
that the treasury was bankrupt. trust
fCrd of several hundred dollars taken up
by subscription for a specific purpose had
been misappliepd. and the administration
had been characterized by an utter d.sre-
gard of the constitution. Through the
votes of the delegates illegally seated in
the convention Supreme President Trayhor
was reelected Utterly disguised, 1 left
the convention before its adjournment. hav-
ing previously announced my intention to
withdraw from the order
AT the earnest request of prominent
members here and throughout the country
l held my resolution in allegiance for a
While in the hope that something could be
done without open disruption. but recent
events have satisfied ME of the futility of
such hopes.
1.-The power of the supreme president is
IN fact supreme. He can pack future con-
ventionS as he packed the last. He is as
much of despot in his particular province
as the Car CT Russia; he can override the
constitution with impunity. and if charges
were preferred against him his own ap-
pointees would try him. 1t is useless to
struggle against such an organization.
The discomfort is widespread throughout
the order. Several Of the most peaceful
state bodies have declined to pay any per
capita tax into the supreme treasury or
give 1t any support; others pay just enough
preme authority. The need for new ma
tional organization is apparent to every
one. 1t can be obtained with comparative
ease for many of the state organizations
notably New York, Massachusetts, Illinois
and Ohio-are in excellent condition"
viii there be such an organizat ion?"
There mist be if any effective work IS to
BE- done in national way. 1t has been held
off because of the fear that an open rup-
ture would injuriously affect the growth Of
the cause, but it is clear that nothing could
be more injurious than the manner in which
the affairs OF the order are at present ad-
min stored"
"Wir any of the councils here surrender
their charters and go into the new organi-
zation?"
Il do not wish to peak for the councils
Each VIII probably do what it considers to
be for its best interest. L will not attempt
to influence them in any way. Any action
they take must be their own"
MIR. Boyer's Explanation.
Mr.. A. ]. Boyer, a prominent A. p. A.
man and editor of the United American"
was disposed TO attach little Importance or
significance to DIR. Easton's detection from
that order, when seen by a Star reporter
today He said that DR.. Easton's grievance
is only personal one, and that when he
processes to make a national issue out of
it he takes altogether too much upon him
self.
1.-The truth of the whole matter is said
Mr. Boyer, that DR.. Easton has taken
umbrage at some trifing matters that do
not meet with his approval, and II he does
not like the way things are run in the or
ganization he is at perfect liberty to get out
lust the same as he would out Of any other
society.
does not run with invariable smoothness;
there are occasional dissensions In the
ranks and differences of opinion just as
there are in any other body. Dr. Eastons
charge against President Traynor and the
recent convention in Milwaukee are not
worthy of serious attention. He went INTO
that convention with the rest or us ana II
he had any fault to find with It's orSaniza-
ton that was the time TO 90 IL; II Is ialhei
late date now.
Il may be doing DIR. EaSton an ln1ustlce,
hut it seems to me the trouble is merely
local. and has nothing to do with the ma
nj Iva
made I'D of local councils When there are
a sufficient number of these state council
is formed and that is just what was done in
this city this week Washington has been
entitled to a state council for some time
mast but the supreme officers thought best
to wait awhile. l presume. However, SUI
preme President Traynor Ieputized state
president from neighboring district to
come here and organize the state council.
This was done Monday evening, and Of
ficers were elected. DR.. Easton was a candi-
GATE for president. but he was defeated by
very small majority. l think if he had been
elected he would not have had any criticism
to pass upon the A. p. A.
The A. p. A. and the Election.
There is one thing" said Mr.. Boyer, that
was proved by Tuesdays election, and that
was the influence and solidarity of the A. P.
A. There never has been time in the his
tory of the organization when it has taken
sucn a prominent part in politics and with
such pronounced success. Wherever the as
sociatior put forth its powers it carried the
day, and there is no use in wasting time
picking out local issues TO account for that
general landslide.
Take the state of Massachusetts, for
example. There of the two candidates.
Greenhalg, and Williams. the A. P. A. had
nothing serious against either one of them.
The members, a rule, followed their
personal preferences at the polls, but many
| preferred Greenhalge,and the result speaks