The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
MORE RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION
WILL NO DOUBT BE ADOPTED.
Supreme Lodge to Take Charge of
Uniform Rank-Award in
Voting Contests.

elections until after the convention had
time to consider the endowment fund tangle
as committee of the whole. The report of
John A. Hinsey of Chicago, the head of
the endowment board. was referred to a
standing committee. This committee will
make a report, with recommendations, con-
corning Mr. Hinseys statement of affairs
some time early in the week, perhaps to-
morrow. After it is disposed of the men,
bers of the board will be elected.
The opposition to Mr.. Hinsey seems TO be
growing, 1 and it was said last night it
would not be surprising if he were defeated,
although his friends argue that to defeat
him would perhaps weaken the rank by
alarming those who hold endowment poll
cies. On the other hand, there are those
who urge that a change of administration
would do much toward restoring confidence.
There promises to be a serious time in the
convention over the endowment fund con-
troversy. No one seems to charge Mr. Hin
sey with bad intentions, and the feeling
seems to prevail that the investments in the
.LexingtoRsNIotel and Fort Worth Bank
were simply errors in judgment that any
one might make Representatives were
wondering yesterday who are the men in
terested in this hotel and this bank This
was not disclosed in the report any more
than were the names of those whose notes
the Endowment Rank holds. Matters of this
sort will be inquired into by the committee
and reported to the convention.
There was smooth sailing the first hour
or so when the convention opened yester-
day morning. James Moulson, of ST. Johns,
New Brunswick was advanced from SUI
preme master-at-arms to supreme prelate
by reclamation. r.. l.. c. White, of Nash
vile, the present supreme keeper of rec
ords and SEAL was reelected by acclama-
ton His name was presented by Repre-
sentative Cherry, of North Dakota. The OPP
position had been unable to FIND candi-
date to stand against Mr.. White. His cleo
ton was regarded a vindication of the
official family now in control. Much OF the
fight of the present convention had been
directed against Mr.. White. Thomas d.
Meares, of Wilmington, Del, supreme mas
ter of the exchequer, and another alleged
slate candidate, was also reelected by
reclamation. BY this time the present man
ayers of the order were feeling in fine fet-
tie and were in shape to make a strong
fight for H. A. Bigelow, of Washington,
for supreme master-at-arms Opposed to
him were Fred r. Beane, of Maine, and
A. B. GARDENER of New York. Bigelow
was elected on the third ballot John w.
Thompson Familiarity known to all the SUI
preme representatives as Uncle" John,
was reelected supreme outer guard by
clamation He has held this position con-
tinuously for twenty-five years.
For supreme inner guard Representative
Simmons, of Delaware, was elected on the
first ballot. Opposed to him was Repre-
sentative Jameson, of Colorado. Simmons
received 60 votes, Jameson So and one vote
each was cast for Representatives Davis and
Schuster.
There were many congratulations for Mr.
White and Mr.. Meares, who felt particular
~ gratified at their reelection after such
a bitter fight against them. Mr.. White
said that his reelection by reclamation, in
the face of charges made against him. was
an honor of which he had good reason to
feel proud.
Major General Carnahan was reelected
commander of the Uniform Rank. This
was perfunctory, as it is said he was the
only man who had the red-tape requisites
for the position.
The work of the investigation continues
but all interest in it has died down since
the officers have been reelected Some of
the supreme representatives now declare
that they are more interested in finding out
officers than in anything else, and favor not
only expelling him from the Supreme Lodge,
but also from his grand and subordinate
lodges and branding him as a traitor to the
whole X. of p. world. 1t is claimed that
for the first time in the history of the lodge
members cannot trust each other, and that
there is a feeling of general distrIst.
"Things have been reported so accurately
to the papers that it almost looks like some
one was here in the convention hall taking
notes of our proceedings said one of the
representatives.
RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION.
There is likely to be considerable restric-
tive legislation at this session of the con-
yention Some feel that supreme officers
have had measure too much of discretion
airy powers heretofore, and that there should
be different form of counter-checks on ac-
counts that would tend to economy. One
objection is that not enough has been known
to the grand and subordinate lodges con-
corning the management of Supreme Lodge
business. and there is a demand for sys-
tenn of printed reports to be made at stated
intervals, in order that all Knights may
know just how the central body is being
conducted. Many amendments to the law
having in view the accomplishment of these
objects have been introduced, and are in the
hands of the judiciary committee. One thing
generally predicted is that if radical re-
forms of methods are not made now the
seed will at least have been planted and will
come to fruition two years hence. Express
sions concerning newspaper publications are
not all of censure, and some of the supreme
representatives say that good will have been
accomplished by the papers having stirred
the organization to its foundation. These
expressions are quite common among local
members of the subordinate lodges. Several
have been heard to remark the last few
days that no harm has been done. If there
were wrongs. they say it is not too late to
right them, and if there were no wrongs the
sooner it is known the better. it seems that
there has been an uneasy feeling for long
time on account of publications in the off,
cial or semi-officical organs of the order
The special committee consisting of Rep
resentatives Kuehnle. Clizbe. harrington
Bolton End Weed which was Instructed to
investigate Supreme Chancellor Colgrove's