The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-24
the city as the people here would retain of
FOR THE SUPREME LODGE.


FOR THE SUPREME LODGE.
Supreme Chancellor Colgrove was intro
duced by Chairman Denny. On behalf of
the Supreme Lodge Mr.. Colgrove expressed
thanks to the State and city for the hos
nitable welcome.
when the committee from indianapolis
came 10 Cleveland at the last enca mpment,'
the highest grade of hospitality should the
encampment and convention be brought
here, they expressly reserved any express
sion as to the weather that would be met
with here From my experience here so far
! am led to believe that indianapolis people
have as little control over the weather as
they have over the secular press of the
city. The welcome from the Governor has
been warm one, so has our reception by
the mayor of the city and the citizens gen.
orally, and am not ready to take the head
lines of the daily press as an indication of
the feelings of the people who have offered
US hospitality. Our welcome has been as
enough. The mayor has vicariously thrown
the doors of the houses of Indianapolis open
to us and we appreciate it,"
AN INTENSE EXPECTANCY.
When the public meeting of the Supreme
Lodge was finished the galleries were
cleared of visitors and the body went into
secret session. There was an air of intense
expectancy. The routine business was dis
posed of with rapid precision, after which
White. supreme keeper of records and seals.
Mr.. White arose to question of personal
privilege. Every one knew what was COM
ing. and no one was surprised when Mr..
White very emphatically asked for COM
plete and thorough investigation of charges
concerning the financial management OF the
supreme Lodge, made in the morning pa
pers last Monday. Mr.. White said:
supreme Chancellor, in the Indianapolis
sentinel of yesterday morning appeared an
h oh c1l
lowing extract. (Here he read that portion
OF the SentinePs article which quoted a
member OF the Supreme Lodge as directly
rejecting upon his personal integrity
supreme Chancellor and members of the
supreme Lodge, l have no desire to charac-
terize the assertions which have just read
That leave to you l have employed every
agency at my command to discover the au-
tEor or these charges, and all have been in
enectual; Beyond the fact that the alleged
reporter in manuscript by member of
this body-so much he has confessed
his identity. Five iiUsS" you 40 have
by your unanimous suffrage expressed your
confidence in me. Since 1888 ! have held a
this body as a trusted official recognize
the fact that my official conduct is properly
a subject OF criticism, properly expressed,
but when my personal integrity is attacked
I must defend myself or ask you to defend
me. My reputation is almost my only pos
session. have no other legacy for my chill
against me are either true or false-I am
either guilty or innocent. If these charges
are true L am unworthy to occupy the posi-
ton of trust in which you have placed me.
am not worthy to be a member of this or
der. If they are false, the man who has
furnished them TO the press should not be
permitted longer to remain within frater-
nifty which his presence polutes. If l am
guilty as charged you must say so; if am
you vindicate me-
Continuing, Mr.. White declared that he
wanted full investigation made, not by
committee of his friends.
Then" interjected one of the representa-
tives there will be no Investigation. We
are all your friends" The, applause with
there say, was the feeling of the repre-
sentatives toward Mr. White. There was
remarkable demonstration when he finished,
same subject. IF the identity of the SUI
preme representative who gave the infor-
nation to the papers had been known" said
a representative who was there, he would
have been instantly expelled from the
body
Others who were concerned in the publica-
tions referred to- especially those in the
Sentinel, were Master of Exchequer Thomas
L; Meares and Representatives Fethers, or
Wisconsin, Burns and Butterfield, OF Ohio,
members of the finance committee. They
were also heard on the same question OF
privilege The speeches were most ener-
getic and all the speakers condemned the
men responsible for the publication OF the
report, holding with Mr.. White that they
order if complete investigation shall not
Justify the charges On the passage of
resolution, introduced by Representative
Frink, of Missouri Supreme Chancellor
Colgrove appointed a committee of five to
investigate the subject in all its phases.
Representatives Gale of Massachusetts,
Bangs of North Dakota, Watson of Indiana,
Daniels of Idaho and Richardson of Virginia
constitute the committee Judge Gale Is
the chairman The committe was vested
with full power to investigate all books and
vouchers, and, IL possible, to ascertain the
names of those who furnished Information
to the newspapers. 1t was instructed TO
use all dispatch and make Its investigation
as thorough as possible. Accounts and
vouchers will be examined, and nothing left
undone to clear up the charges one way or
the other, it is announced. The resolution
adopted provided for a report by the COM
mttee before the election of officers to-mor-
row.
Reports made by the various officers
were submitted to the convention and re-
ferred to the proper committees without
lished in the Journal last Monday. Repre-
sentatives Carter of California, Fethers OF
Wisconsin and Shiveley of Indiana were APP
pointed a committee to place the reports
before the proper committees. Charles A.
Lee, of Rhode Island, was made OFFICIAL re-
charge of the publication OF the ofnclai
daily of the Supreme Lodge, 1900 copies or
which are to be published each day. inc
hours for beginning the daily sessions were
fixed at $3.50 o'clock a. m ana o CLOCK ?; III.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials was submitted and all the credentials
passed except those of Representative Bar
ry of Wisconsin His credentials were SAID
to be irregular and were referred pack 10
the committee.
II was o'clock when the Supreme Lodge
ediourned, in order to allow the members 10
see the parade.