Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31
CLAIMS OF THE A. F., A.
Figures Given Out at the Rochester Con
vention.
Strength of the Order and It's Allies
What the Association Will Ask
of Political Parties.
81" lH~J-
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
One thousand delegates to the Superior
Council CT the American Protective Asso-
citation met in annual session last Tuesday
and Wednesday in Rochester, N. Y. The
convention represented an actual voting
strength In this state of 313.OOO, and in the
nation of about $500. Co.,. -,,,-
The most important action taken by the
Supreme Council in Rochester was with
reference to the coming presidential nom
nations. A political policy was formulat-
ed by the convention. the matter of 'candi-
dates was discussed and line of action
laid down regarding the question of party
platforms and issues. H 7' - a-.r
The American Protective Association and
the allied orders are non-partisan. They
make no nominations of their own, but in
dorse the Candidacy of such men as are
pers onae gratae to them. BY such action,
1t was told in Rochester. local elections,
and in some instances state elections, have
been won by hem.
One Of the peculiar features of the con-
vention was that IN the resolutions that
We're adopted no mention by name was
made of any candidate for President or
any other Office, state local. Discussion
or candidates came UP either Informally on
the floor of the hall or else in committee.
The Superior Council. in following out the
requirements of its constitution, declared
that it would iEdoIse only that party, or
those parties, which should nominate can
d!dates whose records are not opposed to
the principles of the association, upon a
platform which sfUuld embody patriotic
utterances consistent with these principles
What 1t VIII Demand.
The American Protective Association will
demand as'the consH Grafton for its support
of any nominee ofHahy party for .Presi-
dent that the platform OF the national con-
vention Of that party shall reaffirm the
principle of the total separation of church
and state, the restriction Of immigration
and the reform of the laws regarding citi-
zenship and the right of franchise.
1t will demand. TOD that such party shall
affirm Its faith iptthe American public
school system tbt basis Of liberty ani
prosperity. The allied orders make claim
to a membership representing more than
one.fourth of the voting population of the
United States. They asset that they hold
absolutely the balance of power, and that
1t is in their mower 10 elect defeat any
presidential nominee.
This tableshows their voting strength as
1T was represented to me by a delegate to
the Rochester convention, who gave to
me this information:
American Protective Association B. 700 600
National League for the Protection $50
of American Institutions. ........1. 800 900
Junior Order United American Me-
chanics .............,..... ...!....... 100000
Patriotic Order Sons of America. 250eOO
Order of Deputies. Observation-Disclosures. Ia 600
All other patriotic organizations. 25OO0O
About 2,500.ooO Of this membe rsiiip are
associated with two or more of the or:sani-
cations, SO that the actual voting strength
of the allied orders Is not farsfrom :.000Oe0.
The National League for the Protection
OF American Institutions is not strictly a
member of the allied orders, as it is not
secret. Its president is William H. Par
sons. its secretary is the Rev. DR.. James
M. King, and it's list of membership
are the names Of Dorman B. Eaton. w. u.
kunhardt, John D. Slayback, J. Edward
Simmons. Jonathan Trumbull Henry
Hitchcock, Bishop Arthur c. Coke, Gen.
Cephas Brainerd, Henry E. Rowland and
William H. Peckham. The league is work.
ing to procure this amendment the six
teenth to the Constitution of the United
States:
Neither Congress nor any state shall
pass any law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, or use the property or credit of the
money raised by taxation. or authorize
either to be used, for the purpose of found
ing, maintaining OR aiding, by appropria-
ton, payment for services. expenses
otherwise. any church, religious denomina-
ton or religious society, any institution,
society or undertaking. which Is wholly or
In part under sectarian or ecclesiastical
control
gates from the different patriotic orders to
a convention held in Washington last
March.
-,-.. Common Ground.
The Patriotic Orders and the National
League meet on common ground, and work
together in their approval of this pla tform
''The objects Of the league are to secure
constitutional and legislative safeguards
for the protection of the common school
system and other American institutions,
and to promote public instruction in har-
mony with such Institutions and to pre-
vent all sectarian or UNCONVENTIONAL ap-
preparations of public funds. arl
Regarding the personnel of Its member
ship. an interesting report was read at the
Rochester meeting.
1t was said that los members of Congress,
the governors of four states, majorities in
the legislatures of several states, the school
boards of PA citiesAand towns. and a ma
jority of city. and town officials in every
central and western state We're members
of or allied with tfetA. PA. - 80
The national REPRESENTATION. according to
the report. is divided as follows:
Ohio sA......-.-,.....--.. 10000
Pennsylvania ..............-........... 22O, 900
Indiana NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 100, 600
Illinois NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 35O. 900
Michigan observation-disclosures. 2S5, 600
Kentucky ..........- s@s................ $1,000
Wisconsin ...................... 115, 900
Iowa 1!ty................ 200, 600
Pacific coast. ............::. 125, 600
New England. .......,................... SOC. 600
Southern and southwestern states. 75O, 900