The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-28

assessments, threatening to make still
further increase of assessments at the
next national meeting, thus increasing
the burden already too onerous and re-
quiring larger payments than are de-
manded by other reputable and solvent
organizations
This statement is false in this. that
every increase that has taken place has
been the act of the national council.
not of the national officers, and as far
as any future increase is concerned, eV-
cry member must know that it is with
in the province of the national council
and not the national officers.
This circular also claims that these
parties promulgating this circular are
acting in good faith and for the pur-
pose of investigation. That there is no
such purpose on the part of the promul-
gators is manifest,as the place of meet
ing of the delegates who are requested
to attend, is in Kansas City, Mo, re-
mote from the headquarters of the or
der and from the books and records of
the order, which would be necessary to
demonstrate any fact by investigation.
again, the purpose to investigate
does not require that there should be
such circular. Meetings of this kind
are unauthorized by the constitution
and laws of the order, and the parties
who have promulgated the circular
have not only violated the constitution
and laws of the order, but are guilty of
criminal libel. The idea that any such
action could be for the good of the or
der, when the whole matter would get
wide spread over the world is so pre-
posterous that it needs but a second
thought to reveal its absolute villainy.
ITO add to these diabolicaI charges.
it is stated that more specific charges
and proof to substantiate the same will
be presented at the meeting of the del
egates." This implies that those respon-
sibIe for the issuing of the circular have
more than they have mentioned in the
circular. To this we say, that all such
statements are simply, absolutely, ma
i 77r-- ~,ir-
cular is a gross and Infamous libel and
the promulgatOrs of the same are, un-
der the statutes of Kansas, guilty of
libel.
business management of the order, we
have to say, the law of the different
states in which this order does business
provides for ample and full inveStiga-
ton of the standing and business man
agement of this and other similar or
ders and for the investigation of all
matters pertaining to the rights of
members. The national officers of this
order court legal and impartial investi-
cations and at all times will render all
possible assistance in such investiga-
tions.
LAS to the personnel of the parties
whose names are printed in this circu-
lar, we do not care to enter upon and
discuss at present. Several parties
whose names are there, say they did
not sign it or authorize their names to
be signed. J. J. Hit, one of the signers.
is not a member and has not been a
member of the order since May, 1899,
on account of the non-payment of as
sessments. AS to the others it will be
found they have either been misled by
Misrepresentation made to them to Sc
cure their signatures or that they have
sinister motives.
.'The national executive committee
have acted promptly, proceeding against
all who could be reached to this time,
and proposes to continue the work. Sew
lr, !, +1an 1e,Ru
prescribes by prompt suspension, and
others who have been found guilty will
be similarly dealt with. The national
executive committee will protect the
good name of the order.
1.-The names of the OriginatorS do not
appear on the printed circular, nor the
men who promulgated and caused the
same to be circulated. The circular was
printed in Kansas City, No, and those
who Matched up this scheme of libel
and defamation may or may not have
signed it. The statement is made by
some of the parties that the printed
circular is only in part the instrument
signed and that several of the names
signed when it was presented to them
do not appear and that it contains
charges that were not in 1t when they
signed The real author of this assault
upon our order is the chief officer of
rival order, to-wit, E. s. McClintock,
Royal Prophet ancient Order OF Pyra-
mids.
mo council can legally send any del
egate to any such meeting as contem-
plated in said circular nor can any
council do so without becoming party
to the libelOuS statements therein con-
tained.
':The executive committee will deal
with those that are guilty as they de-
serve"
In behalf of the members who are
charging the national officers with mis-
management, Attorney Balm this morn
ing submitted a proposition for an IN
-f1 1T11a 61e
partment and three reputable business
men of Topeka. The national officers
are still considering the proposition,
and have made no reply.
The whole trouble arises from the
fact that the present national officers
were mainly responsible for the orig
ination of the order and believe they
have the right to perpetuate themselves
in office. For some time there has been
dissatisfaction over the fact that they
alone have had the handling of the
affairs of the order since it's start.
The action of the national officers in
purchasing the Topeka city building is
also a matter of protest among many
of the members of the order, not be-
cause it was not considered a good bus
mess move, but because it is believed
to have established a dangerous pre-
cedent There is nothing in the consti-
tuition or bylaws of the order which
allows such action to be taken, but the
constitution does give the executive
committee arbitrary power, which
amounts to the same thing.
The national officers of the order are
elected by delegates from the various
councils, but the charge is made that
the present national officers have so
manipulated things in the past as to
have delegates favorable to them
elected.
According to Mr.. Balm it is also
charged that the national officers have
been crediting themselves with too
much money in the event of making
loans This amounts to a charge that
they have been receiving a bonus in
some cases.
The national officers state that
Messrs. Miller, Rhodes, Edison and