The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-18
WORKMEN IN TOWN
ANNUAL MEETING OF GRAND LODGE
CONyENEs AT MERCHANTS
TODAY
IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE
New Constitution, Change in ASSESS
ment Plan and Election of
Grand Recorder to Be
Taken Up.

Delegates to the grand lodge session of
the A. o. U. w. began to arrive in lib
eral numbers on last evenings trains and
soon found their way to the Merchants,
which has been designated headquarters
for the session. Notwithstanding the re-
port that Grand Master Workman Diment
was on the sick list, that gentleman
was one of the early arrivals in the
city and was soon in touch with the
delegates. The grand trustees also were
on hand early and took up quarters in
room 2lS, where the arriving delegates
filed their credentials.
J. Newsalt, of Owatonna, one OF the
old standbys of the order, is the chair
man of the board. and he was one OF
the busy men of the evening. Associated
with him on the board are A. Van Praag,
Of Merriam Park, and James +. Dolan,
of Window. The board figures out that
there will be at least 500 delegates on
hand when the roll is called and that
every lodge in the state will be repre-
sented
Never has the order had a more i'm
portantN session nor one InaC promises
TO develop sucn yls saDuS conLes eng for
points as Will the session of 1872. 1ne
proposition TO ADOPT a new constitution,
the proposition to change the plan or
rates OF assessment and the election OF
a grand recorder are enough 10 Ill with
JOY unSp6akabIe the heart OF the most
ardent order politicians. There will be
''scrapplng galore' before the matters
are settled.
Contrary to expectations, there was no
caucus held last night. The leaders Of
the order preferred not to prejudice the
issues or TO show their positions. In
faety when approached for an interview
they all fought shy OF the issues. '-LeJ
the session take up the issues and fight
them OUT was the way one of the most
prominent men of the order put it last
night
There are candidates in plenty for the
position of grand recorder and none of
them has a lead. 1t is simply a question
OF lining up votes and getting them.
Since the delegates arrived in town many
those who covet the best paying plum
and most responsible position within the
gift of the session.
Race IOr ttecOrdership.
st. Paul has a few, so has Minneapolis,
while the country comes to the front
prominent in the fight are Drummond,
SchWab, Nelson and Larsen, of st. Paul :;
Brackett and Mccormick, of Minneapo-
lis; Harkins, of Long Prairie; Neye, Of
Wells; Sheppard, of Duluth; S. c. Muir
ply, of West Duluth; Peter Nelson, of
Red Wing; Judge M. G. Tiff, of Glencoe;
j. H. Sprain, OF Long Lake, and M. j.
Boyd. of Wi1lmar.
announced candidates comprise some of
the best known men in the order in Min
neSota. 1t was stated last night that
Judge Tift was a strong candidate, and
one who was well known to the older del
egateS to the session. He has been
prominently identified with the work of
the grand lodge for many years, and
counts his friends by hosts, while some
work. However, it is said that all are
men of exceptional good qualifications,
and no matter who carries off the prize,
the order will secure a good official.
The sentiment was quite general that
the present grand foreman, Fred White,
of Duluth, should be promoted to the po-
sition of grand master workman, and it
seems as if that plan would carry. It
is in favor with the delegates from out
side points, and only some unforeseen
event will change the result in this re-
Spect,
The session this morning will be large
ly taken up with comforting the grand
lodge degree on about 800 delegates who
have not previously received the same,
and with receiving the report of the
committee on credentials. In the after
noon the officers reports will be in
order. There is q strong movement to
carry through motion to make the cleo
ton of officers the last order of business,
as it is desired to add an extra day to
the session, owing to the many import
ant features which will have to be dis
cuSSedr
Tonight the Merchants hotel will enter
tain the delegates of both A. D. U.- w.
and Degree Of Honor, but the event is
open only to members of the grand
lodges.
None of the delegates desired to ex-
PIE himself in positive terms on the
! question of changing the plan Of assess
ments. It is like the burnt child and
the fire. Since the leaders are silent,
the rank and file does not wish to COM
init itself openly. But the undercurrent
indicates that the proposition will be de-
feated when the vote is taken.