Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-21

| C,.'"''n AT any meeting OF the Grand
| LID Unless its assessments have been
| sgr@h'" ptior to or at the current meeting.
| 90 tueSuon arose upon the application
| O. si""u-hodes Camp OF this city
ion representation. It's representative ad-
mitting that the camp was IN default
o'0nei Srifiin, % Bedford. said he would
| ue personally responsible for the dues OF
.n's Guys camp. Colonel Logan made
we point that failure To pay dues did
no' carry expulsion. and that the council
nau hotning TO do with the dues or ar
lV"tases or the camps. Colonel Holmes
smith, the first lieutenant-commande ~
Sarland-Rodes Camp, was then admitted
TO seat In the council on Colonel C;rif-
nm 3 assurance shat the dues would be
paid.
colonel Logan moved that the article
making the prepayment OF dues a pre-
requisite to representation In the Grand
camp be not construed 10 apply TO the
council. and the motion was carried.
This question being settled. and the or
ganization OF the council beng therefore
perfected, the findings Of the Investi-
eating Committee was read. together
with the order assembling that commit
tee In Richmond.
on motion. committee of five, COM
posed of Colonies Croker Wright, Cook,
Griihn. and Logan, were appointed TO
formulate a plan Of procedure. after
which recess was taken for dinner.
Afternoon and Night.
After dinner the Committee on Proce-
dure reported, recommending that the
transcript Of the testimony adduced be-
fore the Investigating Committee be read
and that when that was concluded the
council sit with closed doors to determine
as TO its mode Of procedure With the as
sistance OF the reporters present. Adju-
tant Elicit then read the voluminous re-
cord, four hours being consumed therein.
II was Z O'Clock when the record was con-
cluded. and then the question of going
into new evidence was taken up. Colonel
Opie thought il would be unwise to do
this, and argued the matter briefly. No
decision was arrived at and the council
adjourned for supper.
AT $50 o'clock the body reconvened,
and Colonel Opie offered the following:
Resolved That we proceed to ballot
10y roll-caH upon the question of sustain
Ing or not sustaining the report of the
investigating Committee without argu-
ment."
General Rosser moved that the report
of the Committee on Procedure be so
amended as TO provide for holding the
conference with open doors, which was
finally agreed to.
Judge Wright. on behalf OF the COM
mittee. stated that their sole object in
recommending closed doors. was the inn
preston that there might be some COM
rades present who would desire TO pre-
sent propositions looking TO a harmonious
solution Of the matter under cOnsidera-
tion. which could better be discussed In
secret meeting. He was. however. in
favor of open doors, so far as he was
concerned. He thought nothing should
be concealed. and he did not think there
was anything TO be concealed.
a COURT-MARTIALS SUGGESTED.
Colonel Crocker suggested that the
council formulate charges against Grand
Commander Stubbs. II the evidence ad-
duced before the Investigating Commit
tee was deemed sufficient TO warrant the
preferring Of charges, and that a court
martial be ordered. He said: II have
come to the conclusion. so far as my own
view is concerned. that we should regard
the Investigating Committee as being
merely a court of inquiry. inasmuch as
there were no charges brought against
Commander Stubbs. nor was he notified
in advance of any such charges. 1 think
he is entitled to have a trial by court
martial after being furnished with
charges and specifications. II is due TO
that we should know the truth. We have
no prejudices to crafty. The sole aspira-
ton of this camp is to get at the truth /
do not think any OF us can say that the
testimony which has been reported 10
US by the Investigating Committee is not
serious. II is very serious. At any rate.
il is serious enough for trial Do the
friends Of Commander Stubbs say that
he has had a trial-a fair open, and
trfa 1af ng Oil
GENERAL ROSSER'S VIEWS.
General Rosser said: I'VE have had
this court of inquiry. and its proceedings
are before us. and the question is, What
disposition shall we make OF them? You
cannot condemn the record. You must
accept it, or. if you reject it. you cannot
prefer any charges"
Judge Wright the next speaker, said:
"The first point we should make is this:
Let us join issue on that repOrt-whether
it ought TO be accepted or not. Ought
that report TO be received as the report
of an investigating committee or as
trial court, and are we to receive ii as
an appellate court, and reverse the same
or affirm it? The personnel of that COM
mittee l admire very much. and have no
criticism to make. but l wish to ask was
ii the province Of that committee to say
whether the charges were correct or not?
Well here is a report full of suspicion,
The evidence discloses two things-bribery
and improper conduct in playing poker
with two agents OF two book publishing
companies. To play poker is not exactly
regarded as a great sin, but l do not
hesitate TO say that when Major Stubs
played poker with these two agents of
the book companies. he committed
blunder, and ] do not wish TO cOndone
that at all. But there is q question of
bribery involved. Does the evidence JUS
tify US In finding him guilty of bribery?
l have read ii over carefully, and | do
not hesitate to say that l don't believe
he is guilty OF bribery, and II we do not
believe that he is. why are we not. as
Confederate soldiers, brave enough to
come out and say so, and modify the COM
mittee's report in that respect. The COM
mittee themselves stated that they were
sitting as a high moral court; that they
were not trying Commander Stubs: that
there were no charges preferred against
him. / would not be afraid TO go be-
fore a grand jury or petty jury. but l am
afraid Of these high moral courts
would not even like to 90 before court
of twelve preachers. Qaughter) say,
do not let the brand of infamy rest on
this man Of having received a bribe when
the evidence does not show II. 1 want 10
saw here that Major Stubbs would give
millions Of dollars to have an opportunity
of resigning but he doesn't want 10 be
like Scotts coOn-fired out. u-aughter)
am not in favor OF court-martial. out
I would be i'm favor Of il before l would
vote TO say he was guilty of.bribery. Let
charges be formulated against him, and
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