The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02
STATE K. OF P. POLITICS
CANDIDATES WHO ARE our FOR
THE GRAND LODGE OFFICES.
Some Opposition to X. of n. and s.
Bowers-Rivalry Between Two
of the Local Lodges.

The session of the Indiana Grand Lodge,
Knights of Pythias. which is to convene at
English Opera House next Tuesday, will be
an interesting one. For several years it has
been an unwritten law in the order that in
the election of officers they should be pro-
NOTED from place to place by successive
steps to the high office of grand chancellor.
The line Of promotion is grand outer guard,
grand inner guard, grand master-at-arms.
grand prelate, grand vice chancellor and
grand chancellor. Several times, however,
this rule has been broken, and it may be
this year. Grand Vice Chancellor John W.
McCarde, Of New Richmond, will have no
opposition and will be promoted to the grand
CHARACTERISTIC. James E. Mcdonald, of
Ligonier, is the present grand prelate, and,
following the usual custom. would be elected
grand vice chancellor The feeling how
ever, is strong that he will not win this
honor easily, as there are at least three
other Pythians prominent in this domain
that will contest with him for the Office
They are James G. Owens, of Evansville,
George w. Powell, of Indianapolis, and
Erastus Peacock, of Rensselaer,
All will have their friends who Twill love
them for the enemies they have made .
Those most active in their efforts to defeat
Mcdonald are from his neighboring lodges,
as is also true in the case of Owens. The
opposition to Peacock is based on the fact
that he is in the railway mail service and
cannot give his attention to the duties of the
ONCE. This fact entered largely into his
ueIeat In 1896, by Union B. Hunt, the pres
emu grand chancellor. but many who were
George w. Powell is grand Instructor of
lA!s CONAN, and in that capacity is very
popular He will also have the prestige of
war service in his favor. For grand prelate
tnere are two candidates. John h. Frank,
0i AleXander, the present G.. NJ. A., and
Danei e. Storms, of Lafayette. Both are
popular and have hosts of friends. Frank
mas the advantage of the law of progress
sion IN MS favor, but is handicapped how
eyer eyer, by statements made when he was
erected grand outer guard to the effect that
ne never wanted to attain more than his
present rank. This was taken literally. and
b as, a GO consequence many who would have
De9n Tor him have made other promises
Charles A. Bookwalter, of indianapolis
Lodge NO. 90, present grand inner guard.
Is Is the only candidate so far for grand mas
eer at arms, but should Mr.. Powell be
elected grand vice chancellor the outside
lodges may claim that Indianapolis has
enough. For years there has been a rivalry
between Star Lodge, No 4 and Indianapolis
Lodge, No. Sc. The latter claims that Star
Lodge has been highly honored in the past,
highest rank and always wit. the support
OF indianapolis Lodge, No. &C. and now that
no. 90 mas candidate in line of progress
sion 1t is felt that No. should not be a
party to the overthrow of that rule by pre-
sssnting Mr.. Powell. Charles Tindail of
Sneibyville, the present grand outer
guard, will be promoted while the race for
his position is a free for all. Merrill Will
son, OF Elkhart, is one of the prominent
fPa ga sl o w. a. Morris. old Money
master of the exchequer, will no doubt
succeed himself. there is considered to be
no more popular man in the Grand Lodge
than he.
The office of grand keeper of records and
seal Will be the storm center around which
VIII rage the bitterest fight of all. Frank
Bowers, the present incumbent, has held
the office for twelve years and it is said he
service; that inasmuch as he has devoted
twelve of the best years of his life to the
interests of the order of knights of
Pythias, he should be continued in Office.
from 81, 500 to $1,000 a year with perquisites
q number of members feel that he should
no longer be required to make martyr of
himself when there are so many capable
knights in Indiana who are perfectly will
ing to sacrifice themselves and devote the
next twelve years of their lives to the in
tereSts of the order. 1t is said by many that
Frank Bowers, who has made model Off
Ger in many respects, has by outside deals
become unpopular with many He was con-
the defunct "Fraternal Accident Associa-
ton" He is also the treasurer of the Fra
ternal Building and Loan Association.
So far there is but one name announced
John Watts, of Grant Lodge, No. 1O3,Marion
Ind, who was a candidate in 1897 and re-
ceived $50 votes The lodges of Grant coun-
ty have united in his behalf and will have
the Grand Lodge to tell the members of
their candidates qualifications