The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-18
ISLANDER ON THE K. OF P.
sENTINEL's ATTEMPTS TO DRAG
POLITICS INTO THE ORDER.
Majority of the Grand Officers Are
DemOcrats-WatsOn Was App
pointed by One.

nave Deen an active member or the
knights of Pythias order for almost fifteen
years. and member of the Indiana Grand
Lodge for more than ten years, and have
never yet seen that order prostituted for
political purposes as has been recently
charged by the Sentinel
This was the expression made yesterday
by gentleman from out this city. and who
is competent to speak on the subject, as his
further remarks show.
THE Sentinel and a few other papers, .
he went or, have for some months been
seeking to create the impression that GER
tain men in politics have been using the or
der for their personal advancement. think
the knights whose names have been used
in connection with the matter need no de-
Tense, and if they do I have no doubt they
are amply able to defend themselves. But
l. in common with thousands of other
knights, want to express my indignation at
the SANDER upon the order pronounced by
the Sentinel and others when they say that
the order in Indiana has allowed itself to
be prostituted for partisan purposes. NO
man or set of men dare attempt to use the
order as has been charged. To refute the
SANDER l need only cite the fact that the
Grand Lodge officers as citizens, represent
both the leading political parties, and in
about equal numbers.
1.-THE Grand Lodge officers at this time
are divided up as follows: The grand cham
cellor, grand vice chancellor, grand master
of exchequer. two of the three Grand
Lodge trustees and two of the three MEM
bers of the finance committee are Demo-
Gratis These are the principal officers of
the Grand Lodge in the administration of
its affairs when the Grand Lodge is not in
session. The keeper of records and seal,
the prelate, the master at arms and the in
ner and outer guards are, citizens Re-
publicans. 1t will be observed, therefore,
that If there are any rings in control, or if
politics has been influencing the selection
of Grand Lodge officers, the Republicans
are not the ringsters and have been get
ting the worst of it decidedly. But there
Is absolutely no ground for the charge
made by the Sentinel. Grand Lodge officers
are not elected as Democrats or Republic
ans. | have never heard partisan politics
mentioned as a factor, except at the recent
session of the Grand Lodge, when it was
charged by number of Democrats that the
tempted by partisan Democrats in order
that the Sentinel and other demagogues
might be supplied with scarehead articles
proclaiming that Republicans were debasng
the order to wicked purposes. AS to this l
do not know. but l know that Mcdonald was
elected by an Overwhelming majority. All
mittee on finance for the ensuing year, were
appointed by Grand Chancellor McCardle,
who is Democrat, and who was prom
inently mentioned as a candidate for Con-
gress in the Ninth district. With this
showing any fair-minded person ought to
be satisfied. But the Sentinel just now will
probably not consent to be classed as fair
minded There is an election approaching,
and Hunt, Watson, Brown and others are
Grand Lodge men prominent as Democrats
and Republicans worked together for and
against successful and unsuccessful aspir-
ants, but partisan lines were not noticeably
Friendship and wide acquaintance are
potent factors in political success. Those
just as potent as those growing out of pro-
fessional and other relationships. But 1t
will not be denied that they are entirely
natural and legitimate.
WATSON APPOINTED BY A DEMO
Graf.
"The charge of the Sentinel that James
e. Watson was appointed grand instructor
to further his aspirations Republican
candidate for Governor are as absurd as its
other misrepresentation Watson was APP
pointed by Grand Chancellor McCardle
who, as stated above, Is a Democrat. The
Sentinel's attack therefore, is upon Nc
Cardle rather than upon Watson. Grand
Chancellor Otto Kolb. Republican, two
years ago appointed James H. Willard, a
prominent Democrat, as grand instructor.
Three years ago Grand Chancellor G. f. s.
Neal, a Democrat, appointed Union IL.
Hunt, Republican, as grand instructor
And now Grand Chancellor McCardle APP
points Watson There certainly has been
politics in these appointments. The
Sentinel also tries to make it appear that
Charles S. Hernly is using the order for
partisan purposes because he happens to be
chairman of the Grand Lodge committee on
finance, and at the same time is chairman
of the Republican state committee Hern-
ly has been chairman of the committee on
finance for the last ten years, and has been
reappointed by each of the ten grand cham
celloTs in that time because of his splendid
qualifications for the place. Hermy GER
tainly cannot use the committee for partisan
purposes. since both the other members of
the committee are Democrats. the commit
tee being composed of Charles >. HernIy,
c. F. S. Neal and Dan w. Simms
Some of the prominent Democrats who
attended the last session of the Grand
Lodge were w nl H. Eichh 70 pan NY W.
j. E. Mcdonald, ]. W.. Hoffman, J. II.
Russo and w. A. Morris. Some of the
prominent Republicans present We're G. S.
Charles S A. Bookwalter, W. L. Dunlap, G.
F. Remy and F. B. Posey. have not
talked with one of these gentlemen on the
subject under discussion, but l know all
of them to be honorable, fa1r-mlnded men,
L challenge Interrogation OF any one or all
of those just named for corroporaIlon OF
the statement that the knights of Pythias
order is not being prostituted in Indiana for
partisan purposes as charged by the Sem
tinel.
common with thousands OF others. want to
know it, and l will give the Sentnel every
assistance possible in trying 70 REFORM the
matter. But not a word spoken by the the.
Sentinel on the subject is true, ana Know
it. / express the sentiment OF thousands OF
knights of Pythias in Indiana when | say
that the Sentinel, by its persistent misrepre-
sensations, is doing the order great IN
Justice. and that, in the name of fairness
and decency, these misrepresentatlons
ought to cease. The order Is one or the
most progressive in existence. 1t is daily
ministering to hundreds and thousands OF
those who are in sickness and distress:
There is now in Indiana membership OF
almost 10000. The good name l1s OF !, the qrder
ing its tenets ought to be protected from
further Misrepresentation ana slanoe s,
0therwise there will be such resentment by
the membership, irrespective of party affili-
alton as will effectually still the tongues Oh
n'1rnoses and to crafty personal pique.'