Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-07-04


keepers hotel proprietors who attend theiI
own bar, telephone, telegraph and electric
II linemen, window glass blowers, manufao.
turers of fireworks, and persons who cannot
state the year of their birth, with some
other classes not engaged in this part OF
the country, such as mine workers. pro-
fessional riders or drivers in races, divers,
aeronauts, etc.
The compulsory initiation fee of $500
has been abolished, leaving it optional with
Conclayes to fix such fee as they may de-
sire
Many other minor matters were adopted,
but foregoing includes the most prominent
proceedings of the late session.
The late session of the Supreme Conclave
was composed of about 450 Representatives,
and the body was very intelligent and
highly respectable class of men. Good
order was generally preserved, but Supreme
Archon Cohen had a very difficult task to
perform in governing such large body,
with SO many able and intelligent men
desiring to speak on all matters of interest
on which there could not help but be many
conflicting opinions. However, he accom-
plished his work with general acquiesence
on the part of all the members of the body
The methods of legislation are deserving
of mention, as they contributed largely to
the orderly despatch Of business. A Com
mittee on Special Legislation was appointed,
to whom was referred all propositions for
changes in the laws. This committee re-
ported back on all these propositions with
either favorable or unfavorable recommen-
dation Their favorable recommendations
were generally adopted, and referred to the
Committee on Law with instruction to
prepare the necessary amendments to carry
them into effect as laws. Their unfavorable
recommendations were generally confirmed.
| The orderly conduct and intelligent
transaction of the business of the Supreme
Conclave was most strikingly displayed in
the manner in which the election of Su-
preme officers was conducted. Ballots had
| been prepared containing for each Office the
names Of all the several candidates on one
ticket, after the manner of primary tickets
used in our county, a sample of the ballot
| then used being now in my possession. A
Board of Election of five members was
appointed, who stationed themselves near
the front of the platform The Supreme
Secretary then called the roll of Supreme
officers, Supreme Committees, Deputy Su-
preme Archons and Conclave Representa-
went forward, and, after being identified,
cast his ballot, when the next name was
called, and so on until the election was
completed. No mans name was called
until his immediate predecessor had de-
posted his ballot 1t was the most order
election of the kind / ever participated in
An election of all officers occurred on the
| first ballot except for Supreme Inspector
MI fo1I
1853; Schmidt, 161 and Cooper, 1O2. This
necessitated second ballot, Cooper being
dropped, and by common consent Of the
other candidates, hats were passed around
for the ballots, which resulted as heretofore
stated in the election of Gault.
The adoption of the new table of rates
was of course, the most important subject
of legislation acted upon by the Supreme
for adoption by the Supreme Conclave.
at SO cents for $1,000 at 81, and rising to
So. II at SO years Of age. Second, l. o. H.
Committee Table, beginning at 80 cents per
1000 at q and rising to So AZ at so years of
age Third, I. o. III. Committee Trial
Table, beginning at 81 cents at 81 and
rising to 81. is at so years of age. Fourth,
Theodore Lengmiller, Louisville, KY,
proposing regular increase of 80 per cent.
on the present rates. The first and second
plans met with little favor, and the merits
of the third and fourth plans were the only
ones under general discussion The argu-
ments in favor of each were able and
exhaustive and when the final test came
the 30 per cent advance on present rates
failed of adoption, and there was no
Of Init fa +ha hoc
plan, which was done by practically
unanimous VOTE The ablest speakers were
probably in favor of this plan, urging very
strongly that their figures were constructed
by the best actuaries who could be en-
ployed, and that the present rates were
never correctly prepared and adjusted, and
were therefore an unreliable basis on which
to construct new table. The representa-
tives from our section supported the 80 per
cent increase plan, but now feel that they
must acquiesce in the action of the Supreme
Conclave. 1t may be said in conclusion
that the new rates have not been adopted
without due previous consideration and
discussion, as they with others were pre-
sented for action at the Supreme session
held at Buffalo in 1899. Their final
adoption at this session was not done with
haste or without the freest discussion by
every one interested. The greater part Of
two days were given to the consideration
and discussion of this important subject,
and it now rests largely with the present
membership to make this new legislation a
complete success.
The hours of sessions were fixed from
$50 a. m. to IL M, and from to p. m,
but they were frequently extended. Only
one night session was held, being on Friday
night, and lasting until one o'clock Sat-
urday morning. Your representative was
present at every session of the Supreme
Conclave. The final session was held on
Saturday forenoon, and final adjournment
took place on Saturday afternoon at one
o'clock
There was in attendance from our section
of New Jersey the following named mem
bers Jesse w. English, d. S. A.; Joseph
Noblitt, s. W; Rev. ]. J. Davies and
Nathan S. Lloyd, Mullica Hill; A. E.
Davis, Camden; J. S. Reeves, Millville; J.
Harry Smith, Pennsgrove, and member
from Cape May, whose name do not now
recall.
The representative from Provident Con-
claye left Woodbury. on Saturday morning,
June B, taking train from Philadelphia to
New York, where he embarked on the
steamship City of Macon, for twenty-four
hours ocean voyage, by the outside ocean
route, sailing from New York harbor at
$50 p. M, with a daylight view Of New
York harbor and shipping, and night
view Of the u S. Signal Station on Fire
Island and Fire Island Lightship Early
next morning Vineyard Sound Lightship
was reached, and the course of the voyage
was then through Vineyard Sound, passing
the noted summer resorts, Cottage City and
Vineyard Haven, Horse Shoe Buoy, Hand
kerchief Lightship, Shovel Full Lightship
and Pollock Rip Lightship were passed,
and in the afternoon the trip was up the
coast Of Cape Cod, with full daylight view
of the entrance of Boston harbor, with all
its life and shipping historic Fort Warren
and Minot's Lighthouse, and numbeEless
other attractions to please the eye and
instruct the mind. This trip was made
specially enjoyable by forming the ac-
quaintance of brother Heptasoph who was
iourneying to the session of the Conclave
also His name was George w. Wander