Evening star., 1896-04-06
A. P. A. IN POLITICS
An Unknown Quantity, Making Pre-.
dictions Uncertain.
BRADLEY said TO SEEK IT'S SUPPORT
Demands That May Be Made on
National Conventions.
TIE COMING MEETING HERE

The American Protective Association is
an unknown quantity which is beginning
to figure extensively in all predictions. 1t
is coming to the front rapidly, and seems
to be carrying out its announced program
to take part extensively In the campaign.
The Information from Kentucky is that
Gov. Bradley openly attended meeting
CT an A. p. A. council at Lexington on
Saturday night, and that he is seeking the
support Of the order In the presidential
race. He Is a member Of the order. The
story, however, is that the A. P. AS are
divided between Bradley and Mckinley,
and do not know which to concentrate
upon. The A. P. A. men claim that they
defeated the democrats in Kentucky last
year and elected Bradley governor.
The platform adopted by the Massachu-
sets republican convention contained some
features which have been construed as
meaning an anchor cast to windward to
catch the vote Of the order.
The politicians are now BEGINNING to won
der whether some Of the presidential can
dfdates fear this secret order with its un-
known strength, and whether they are not
dickering for its support Looking ahead
A. P. A. goes to the national conventions,
as 1t claims 1t will do, and demands certain
things these demands will have to be met.
They will have to be passed upon in such
q way, 10 Is said, as to raise new issue.
Will 1t De COndemnedf
1t is felt that one or the other Of the great
parties may recognize the order and the
other oppose it. OF course, it may be con-
demned by both parties, or quietly approved
by both. Which is most likely to give a
willing ear to the demands made by the
discussion Of the subject that contectures
cannot be made. Developments recently
seem to indicate that Mckinley Is the ia
vorite of the order among the republican
candidates. At a Massachusetts congress
stonal convention the other day few dele
gates who were A. p. A. men attempted to
have the delegates to the national conven-
ton instructed for Mckinley. The Ken
lucky matter follows.
"WiM the democratic convention sit down
on the A. p. A.?'' was the question which
a Star reporter asked a southern Congress-
man, who will be a delegate to the national
convention.
'I cannot tell you what the convention
will do." he answered, but I know what
q number of delegates will do. We will op-
pose any demand of the order, and try to
have resolutions adopted setting forth the
party's opposition to 1t. We will not oppose
the order because we believe its platform is
SO much wrong, but because the order is a
secret political institution. The democratic
party has always opposed secret political
societies, and will continue to do So 1t is
against our principles. The time is now
propitious to put ourselves on record. do
not suppose that the democratic party has
ever been in favor of sectarian appropria-
tons of public money any more than the
republican party, but democracy means an
open and square fight, in which every man
knows his opponent, and knows what to
expect Of him in a fight
Members Of the A. p. A. declare that the
order. which, thew claim
members, will stand solidly with the party
which recognizes its platform. and pledges
Itself to support what the order asks.
Bradley and the A. p. A.
A special to the Philadelphia Times today
from Louisville says:
Governor Bradley Of Kentucky ms to
be the A. r. A. candidate for President
rather than candidate on the republican
ticket. A local paper today publishes the
facts concerning his initiation into the order
1t took place at the Victoria Hotel in Louis
vile, September % last, by special dispensa-
ton OF State President Sapp. The initiation
was done secretly and just before the cleo
ton, but in time to me communica. ted to all
a. r A. members in Kentucky, who voted
for Bradley, and which probably acrounts
for his large majority over the number of
registered republicans in the state
Bradley does not deny that he is an A. P.
A., and his addresses at the councils in the
order are further evidence of this fact. Lin
ton OF Michigan being cut OF the race for
PRESIDENT, II Is stated that tho A. p A. has
united upon Bradley, and will attempt to
force his nomination at the St. Louis con-
vention. Col Bradley has been indorsed by
the supreme advisory board of the A. p A.
this action having been taken it is said at
the recent meeting in WASHINGTON He was
then urged not to withdraw from the race
under any circumstances. and the telegram
from the advisory board to Bradley is said
to have also stated that Mckinley had
joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Supreme Council Meeting.
A Detroit dispatch says: w. H. ]. Trav-
nor, supreme president of the American
Protective Association, has issued a cir
cular to the order at large upon the DO
litical situation. President Traynor urges
various state councils to send their rep
resentatives to the Supreme Council, which
meets next month at Washington, pledged
to such reforms as the subordinate mem
bers of the order most desire, thus avoid
Ing the dlr ger of strong partisans using
the order for their own erds