Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-17
A. P. A. ADVISORY BOARD
Statement of Its Objects by One of Its
Members
What Has Been Done as to the
Records of Presidential
Candidates.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

10 Ine EuIOr OF Inc Evening
So many incorrect and misleading state
ments have, during the past few weeks,
found their way into the public press re-
specting the organization known as the
American Protective Association and its
relations to the prospective presidential
campaign, and especially regarding the ma
tional advisory board of that organiza ton,
that 1 ask permission to state, through the
columns of The Star, the precise situation
of affairs, so far as it is proper to make
IL public. And, first, I want to correct
a w!dely-circulated report to the effect that
during the recent meeting of the executive
committee of the national advisory board
in this city letters were sent to the man
ayers of Mckinley, Reed, Morton, Allison
and others. asking them to appear before
the committee and state their positions in
regard to the order; how far they would go
In aiding 1t in its contentious and so on
and that the managers of all the candidates
except Mckinley oteved the summons and
argued for their candidates and made prom
ises of all kinds; that Mr.. Hanna, McKin-
ley's manager. did not put in an appear
ance, BUT that second letter to him brought
a response, to the effect that Mr.. Mckinley
declined to treat with any faction associa-
ton or society within the party, and that
thereupon the committee grew angry.
promptly decided to down Mckinley and
Immediately hoisted the Linton standard,
and instructed the membership to proceed
to rally around it.
Now, as a member of the national ad-
VlSory board / wish to say that there is
rot word of truth in this statement The
subcommittee of the national board has no
such power, nor has the whole board the
authority to dictate to the order in any such
manner. The powers of the advisory board
as is indicated by its name, are purely ad-
visory, and there it's duty ends. The COM
mlttee met in this city, and afterward in
New York, for the purpose of comforting to-
Sether and reporting the results of their
Investigations regarding public men and
their standing and records as bearing upon
the principles for which the order is con-
tenulng. This was done, and their report
Will be Submitted to the national body
which will meet i'll this city on the 18th of
May, accompanied, probably, by such sug-
Sestlons as they may deem proper to make
This Is the sum total of the much-talked-
about meeting of the advisory board of the
n. p. A.
AS TO the candidacy of Mr.. Linton, white
the friends of the order throughout the
country are hoping that he will become
the.r standard bearer under certain cir
cumStances, and are unitedly calling upon
him tC consent to do so, up to this time he
las never announced himself candidate
Tor the nomination at st. Louis. but has
perslstently refused to yield to the constant
and urgent requests of his friends to an
rounce himself True, there is a determina-
ton on the part of the order to get Mr.
LINTON of some Otner champion or the prln-
cfp'es of the order nominated at ST. Louis
but 1t is not done al his request nor with
his consent; nevertheless, we all know full
well that If We could succeed in having the
nomination thrust upon him he would
rot Shirk his duty. He has never shirked
duty, and never will
Inc a. p A. is terribly in earnest in it's
work, which is to endeavor to save this
country from any and all ecclesiastical
control and domination-a more thorough
ana more permanent divorce of church and
state-and is rot a warfare against the
Catholic religion as such. 1t interferes
that 1t excludes from membership ad-
herents of the Catholic Church, because it
believes such adherentS owe a primary al
ieglance to a power whose head is alien to
the American republic, and of such polit-
co-rellg1ouS character to be dangerous
III liberty, as Americans understand the
term. Never was the object of the a. p A.
more misrepres ented than when it's enc
Mes, during the recent debates in Con-
gress over the District and Indian appro-
prlation bills, denounced it as making war
upon the Roman Catholic religion, The or
der is purely secular, and is contendng for
the secularizatlon Of the state. Freethfnk-
erS, Sp1rltuallStS, Jews and out-and,Out
atheists are not only eligible but are well
coined to it's membership. 1t is political In
character. and is in American politics to
win If it's demands are not respected by
one party, it will ask for recognition by the
second, and if this, too shall reject it. then
Will be quickly concentrated into an in
Vlnc1bie third and new party such an army
of American patriots as shall utterly rout
and forever destroy both of the old parties
III this country. Mark we'll this prediction
A. j. BOYER