The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-05-21
Views of the A, p. A.

The annual address of President W.
H. Traynor of the A. 2. A. was given
to the newspapers after it had been
carefully edited by Especial committee
and much of it cut ont Of the politi
cal phases of the order he said: "The
American Protective Association is
to-day recognized actor in Ameri
can politics, whose favor is openly
courted by political leaders, organizers
satf Candidates rUr public Office, who
year or two ago ignored, treated with
contempt or denounced it. The A. p
A. is standing menace to the perpet
uity of every party, being composed,
as it is, of the members of every party
So long as it remains unmoved by
threats, unyielding to the pressure of
party machines it will be treated and
respected by every party which dares
not incorporate the platform of the
order in its own. There are few re-
publicans, such as Linton of Michigan
Gear of Iowa, Bradley of Kentucky,
Stone of Missouri, who have been fear
less in their Endorsement of our prin-
ciples, but the question should be ask
ed and answered here and now whether
the A p. A. ism of these men is toll
Grated by the party for the A. p. A.
votes which each of them carries be-
hind him, what assurance have we
that this liberation will not cease the
moment the votes have been deliver
edr
The president expressed regret that
the A. p. A. had in some states been
used by party machines. He discour
aged any attempt to secure the nomina
tion of member of the order for the
presidency by either party. Referring
to the advisory board which created a
sensation by its attack upon Mckinley,
he said: "A source of prospective
danger is the national advisory board,
as it is at present constructed. In its
present form it is in danger at any
time of coming into violent collision
with the supreme executive board,
which is the supreme council out of
the session, and undoubtedly the super
ior of all other boards. At present it
recognizes no superior but the su-
preme council in session. and may pur
sue one policy while the supreme pres
ident and his cabinet pursue one en-
tirely opposed to it. -
Mr.. Traynor recommended that no
candidate for national political Office
should receive the Endorsement Of the
board until all state councils should
have passed upon him, that no notifi-
cations of political nature from state
or supreme council be mandatory, but
merely advisory.
The only references to church mat
ters in the address are the following
"a we'll meaning and by no means
unimportant section of the order has
arisen which advocates peace with the
priest and his subjects and harmony
between them and the members of the
order. Some would even go SO far as
to negotiate with them politically, than
which nothing conld be more danger
GUS to the perpetuity of the association.
Others 60 so far as to take the position
that a member of the order possesses
the right to determine for himself the
question of the loyalty or disloyalty of
any papist postulant for Office and re-
serves to himself the right to persuade
others to vote for said papist Such a
contention is not only absolutely unten-
able, but highly dangerous The can
didate voluntarily renounces the right
Of private Judgment in this essential
when he becomes member of the
order. II Is a solemn compact which
he can neither modify nor amend.
The keystone OF the A. p A. is the fact
that y papist no matter how liberal
nominally, is not consistent citizen
Of the United States. Entire renunci-
arion Of the papacy must precede his
acceptance Of our association as cam
didate worthy q It's suzrageA