The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-15
A. P. A. AND POLITICS
POINTS FROM THE ANNUAL ADDRESS
OF PRESIDENT TRAYNoR.
Purposes of the Organizat ion-The
Order N standing Menace to the
Perpetufty of Every Party

WASHINGTON May l4.-The most note
American Protective Association was the in
novation made BY giving to the pubic the
annual address of President w. ]. H. Tray
nor. While some parts of the document
were erased by a special committee, the body
OF IL gives more authentic information upon
the purposes OF the order than has ever be-
fore been made public upon authority. Presi-
dent Traynor deals at great length with the
political phases Of the A p a. He says:
1.-THE American Protective Association is
to-day q recognized factor in American pol
ftics. whose favor is openly courted by poiit-
ical leaders. organizers and postulants for
public office. who. a year or two ago, ig-
nored. treated with contempt or denounced
IT." Then he warns the order against elev-
enth-hour converts and says: The A. p. A.
IS standing menace to the perpetuity OF
every party. being composed. as It is, of the
members of every party. so long as it re-
mains unmoved by threats, unyieldng to the
pressure OF party machines, 1t will be hated,
but respected. by every party which dares
not incorporate the platform Of the order in
ats own The great majority OF our order
have waited patiently during the past year
for some sign from one the other of the
political parties that it has received a change
Of heart that 1t is honest enough to publicly
express. There are a few Republicans, such
as Linton Of Michigan. Gear of Iowa, Brad
ley of Kentucky and Stone OF Missouri who
have been fearless in their Endorsement OF
our principles, and while il may be fortu-
nate that they are Republicans, it is more
than fortunate that they are not either the
Republican party or representative of that
body, and the question should be asked and
n l. 49, -
A.-ism Of these men is tolerated by the party
for the A. p. A. votes which each CT them
carries behind him, what assurance have we
that this liberation will not cease the mo-
ment the votes have been delivered?
A. p. 4. has in some Stsfes 6ean used ' hv
party machines. He discourages any at
tempt to secure the nomination OF a mem
either party. and says that no member OF
our grand organization could ever receive
him the nominee OF either one OF the great
parties, even though that member were the
immortal Linton himself"
Referring to the advisory board, which
created sensation by its attack upon Nc
kinley, he says: "A source of prospective
danger is the national advisory board as it
Is at present cons tructed In its present
form IL Is in danger at any time of COM
ing into violent collision with the supreme
executive board, which is the Supreme
Council out of session and undoubtedly the
superior of all other boards. At present fl
recognizes no superior but the Supreme
Council in session, and may pursue one
policy while the supreme president and his
cabinet pursue one entirely opposed TO it,"
re specifically named He recommends that
no candidate for a national political office
should receive the Endorsement of the board
until all state councils have passed upon
him: that no notifications of political
nature from State or supreme councils be
mandatory, but merely advisory.
The only references TO church matters In
the address are the following: "A we'll
meaning and by no means unimportant Sec
ton of the order has arisen which advo-
Gates peace with the priest and his subjects
and harmony between them and the MEM
bers of the order. Some would even go so
than which nothing could be more danger
Gus TO the perpetuty OF the association
that member of the order Possesses 5n gesit tbe
right TO determine for himself the question
OF the loyalty or dssioyalty of any. papist
the right TO persuade others TO vote for said
papist. Such a contention is not only abb
solutely untenable. but highly dangerous.
right of private judgment in this essential
when he becomes a member of the order. 1t
modify nor amend. The keystone n o of tbe
A p. A. is the fact that a papist, no matter
how liberal nominallys is not a consistent
ciaticn Of the papacy must precede his ac-
ceptance OF our association a candidate
worthy or its sufrrages."
In the council. to-day. a motion was
adopted requesting the advisory board to re-
port to-morrow morning at $50 O'clock A
member or the board said tonight, however
that the body had not come to conclusions
regarding the matters before 1t, and would
not be able to report to the council until
Saturday. The report Of the Committee ON
press and literature presented by its
secretsry, J. A. lansing, of Michigan. II
showed that over 100000 leaflets had been
distributed TO State councils in the last
year; also hundreds of thousands of PAM
order