Evening star., 1896-10-24
A. P. A.. IN POLITICS
Joseph Brad6eld Criticises President
Echols.
HIS STATEMENTS FLATLY DENIED
Controversy Growing Out of the
Recent Circular.
MIR. ECHOLS INTERVIEWED

The fight in the A. p A over the way
the strength of that order shall be thrown
on November is getting warm. Today a
letter written TO President Echols OF mar
order by Mr.. Joseph Bra1field, a resident
OF this city, and for some time prominent I'm
the A +. A. movement, was given out for
publication. Mr.. Bradfied criticises Mr.
Echols In using his influence as head of
the A +. A. TO strengthen the republican
ticket The letter says:
Specific Allegations.
1T is known that on Thurs Jay October
L, you gave out 10 a newspaper reporiar a
statement in writing for publication. and
mat this was part of circular addressed
10 the order ostensbly as an explanation
ana enlargement of that very article IL is
also known that at midnight you left Wash
lnSton for New York where Won had a
conference with Andrew Powell esq and
also with Mr.. Hanna and other members of
the republican national committee AT The
commuters headquarters in the Metropoli-
Tan Lille building. 1t is known that Won
submitted TO these gentlemen the entire ar
ucie now being sent out under seal to the
coucciis IN certain localities, the whole of
which mad been printed before won gave
any part OF II to the reporter for The Star
II Is known that this article was approvel
oy MI. hanna and Mr.. Quay, and that the
ID
committee for printing, postage and other
expenses To be incurred in the distribution
OF this secret circular. 1t is known that
you We're at the Auditorium i'm Chicago on
thursday and Friday of the next week in
consultation with Mr.. Hanna about a DO
hlcai pohcy 10 be adopted 10y the order
and program to be carried out
IL Is known that you sen a teleg am from
Chicago TO a printer in this CITY ordering
hlm Ia go on with the work OF printing
.he circulars, which had been put in type
hefore you visited New York. 1t is known
tEat you came TO Louisville from Chicago
and there made several violent political adj
dresses as citizen but inside the coun-
ell rooms Of the order which You had en-
tered as a friend IT is known that on
your return to this city you gave. out an
other statement 10 a Star reporter In the
course. of which you stated that the secret
circular would be distributed chiefly In
Kentucky, West Virginia and Nary and,
whereas, IN fact and in trI;h, il was in
tended for distribution, not in the states
named, nor anywhere in Lhe east, but in
the west and northwest.
The excuse for this failure to treat the
east and the west alike is said to be that
the order in the east is united in political
sentiment, while in the west ii is divided,
and hence needs the paternal advice of the
supreme officers. But there is nothing in
the constitution or laws of the order to
warrant this partially. While il is admit
ted that the leadership and the bulk Of the
membership of the order In the east are for
the republican ticket, yet there are many
members who need information in order 10
be set right Many who We're unequivocal-
ly Tor Mckinley have been shaken by the
assumed position of ArchbiS hop Ireland.
whose recent letter has been diligently cir
cGlated by the republicans in all the mid
Ole and eastern states. This division of
territory between Ireland and Echols the
former working the Catholics of th. east
for Mckinley and the latter working the
A. +. A element of the west for him is a
stumbling block. 1t is claimed that Noar
secret circular and the archbishop's letter
were both i'm the hands of the republican
national committee at the same time The
coincidence in the publication of the arch
Dlshops letter, which was given out al St
Paul on the 10th instant, and your arraign-
ment of Bryan at Louisville on the same
cay. lends color to this charge 1t does
look as if both these arrows. shot in oppo-
site directions, came out of the same
CULVER"
denounced False.
THE Bradfeld letter is A malicious lie
from beginning 10 end" said President
Echols to a Star reporter. 1T is written
by an expelled member of the order. He
appealed to my sympathies and was as
sisted by me before 1 knew that he had
been expelled. He is a deadbeat of the
worst kind and is known to be so.''
1t is said that Mr.. Echols' friends prom
iSe to make ii warm for Bradfeld before
The matter is settled.
President EchoIs Talks.
Supreme President Echols was Interview
ed by Star reporter this morning, be-
fore the appearance of the Bradfield cir
cuar. about the attacks being made on him
because of the anti-Bryan circular which
is being sent out: THE attacks are moth
Ing more than were to be expected" sail
President Echols, 'and / do not think I
shall pay any particular attention to them
at this time. After the election | will prob
ably take some. OF these matters in hand.
There is no truth in what they contain. I
would have been unjust to the principles
of my order had 1 not promulgated the
record of Mr.. Bryan and all other candi-
dates for office. That is what / am here
for. / am satisfied the order will sus-
tain all that has been done by me and from
this Office"
The Atlanta Journal, which is supporting
Bryan, defends Mr.. Echols against any
imputations which may be cast upon his
honor. Atlanta is TIE home OF the presi-
dent Of Tie order. and he comes from one
of the best families in the state He is
so well and ., pularly known in Atlanta
that the Journal defended him without any
knowledge of the facts.
Mr.. Echcls is said TO be receiving plenty
of assurances that his course will be sp-
proved. In addition 10 that many OF his
friCnGs who are not members of the order
and who are not in sympathy with what is
being done have informed Mr.. Echols that