The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-26


pretended by the members of the or
der and particularly those who were
responsible for the revolt at Scranton,
says the Pittsburg Dispatch. The
fight promises to find it's way into the
courts, no matter what disposition is
made of the charges preferred against
the state council before the national
judiciary of the order 1t will be
some time, however, before any legal
action will be taken, as the courts
have uniformly held that grievances
in secret societies must be prosecuted
through the highest tribunal of the
orders before the courts will interfere,
and both sides know this. In the
meantime, and while the charges
against the state council are pending,
the subordinate members have been
asking where they are at, and how
the suspension of the state body affects
their standing in their councils. In
order to set them at rest on this point,
State Councillor George b. Bowers, OF
Altoona, who is still acting as the Off
cial head of the order in the state, is
sued the following circular yesterday to
the membership:
WILL CONTINUE AS BEFORE.
You have doubtless heard that at
the late session Of the Jr. o. U. A. NJ.
at Scranton the state council was
charged with having committed a fla-
grant act of insubordination, in refus-
ing to pay the national per capita tax.
as required by the supreme law of the
order. The result of this act was that
our beloved order in the mother state
n za 1f11it cd 10
rebellion, and our state council char
ter was by the national councillor re-
luctantly suspended, pending trial on
the charges preferred
This act on the part of the national
councillor suspended the relations be-
tween the state and national councils,
but leaves the relation between the
subordinate councils and the state
councils unchanged. You will continue
to transact business the same as be-
fore. receiving dues, paying benefits,
receiving members, etc. If the mat
ter is not fully determined before the
current password expires. which will
be for 80 days after the first of Octo
ber, you will receive further instruc-
tions from me.
In the meanwhile an effort will be
made to have the charter restored to
the loyal councils of the state, and such
as will affirm their allegiance to the
supreme law, if after trial and con-
viction the charter is forfeited. Should
the charter be restored as aforesaid
II will be necessary to hold another
session of the state council at some
central place to receive the same, AMI
proceed with the complete work of the
late session. At this meeting we trust
you will be represented, but if you are
not able to send a representative send
a letter expressing your loyalty and
allegiance to the supreme laws.
"As heretofore, no communication or
circular letter should be received by
the councils unless it has the approval
or permission of the state board Of
! officers and the councillor should see
that no such communication is read"
WE'RE CAUTIONED AS TC RESULT.
There are some things in the circu
lar of the State Councillor that have set
the anti-administratiOn element to
thinking. All through the session at
Scranton it is said that while they
were threatening to refuse the pay
| rent of the per capita tax they We're
follow such action. This was taken
by them as bluff. They said the Ma
tional Council would not dare to suS-
pend the State Council, and they de-
MED the right of the National Council
to take the charter away. But it did
not prove to be a bluff. The State
| Council was suspended, and now it is
beginning to dawn on some that those
who made this action necessary will
| at the wind.up find themselves out
| side the pale of the organization.
Members of the order who can read
between the lines Of State Councillor
Bowers circular issued yesterday, say
| that it is plain that the administration
| has in view the conviction of the STATE
| Council on the charges made before
the National Judiciary. 1t will natur-
| ally follow that if this should be the
result Of the trial and the State Coun-
| Gil is found to be in a state of rebellion
against the supreme head of the order
those who brought about this condition
of affairs will not again BE- admitted
| to the order.
= is claimed on the part of the ad-
ministraton that the crisis was
| brought about by q conspiracy he.
! tween members from other states and
the leaders Of the opposition in Penn,
sylvania. 1t was stated before the
session Of the National Council that
| there was an understanding among
! certain members whereby o rebellion
would be inaugurated if certain legis.
| latlon were enacted by the nationa
body. A circular was spread broadcast
throughout five states melting the
members to a revolt against the Ma
tioral Council. II was signed by Past
State Councillor Miers of New Jersey;
| Past State Councillor KeetOn. of Nir.
| giuia; Past State Councillor Parker, ui
| New York; State Secretary BoVlen, II
the District OF Columbia and w. A
Pike. of Philadelphia.
ALLEGED GRIEVANCES RECIrED
II reCited a long list of alleged grie v
anres, which the administration de-
nOunCed as false ard misleading, anC
then urged the States to refuse to pay
any per capita tax, and also 20 refuse
to recognize or accept the new law
adopted by the National Council unit
the higher body modified things To sui
them, The elimination of this plan
of action was seen at Scranton
The leaders of the opposition tool
desperat. chances Past State Coun
cilor c. ~ Raymond. Of Lancaster, wa
their leader. Mr. Raymond is admit
tedly a politician and diplomat, anC
none was more surprised than the aC
ministratlon when he allowed the ou
position, to continue the fight after h,
saw what it would inevitably lead u
After proposition To pay the per cap
ita tax had once been voted down, al
opportunity was given 10 recnnsi1o'
| thn nnIinn d Ihn .n nnnn tln.nu LII