Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-05
Will FIGHT TRANSFER
Vinton Lodge of Red Cross Order
Determined to Resist It's
Transfer.
Appeal to the Members for
Funds to Prosecute the
Officers.
A. M. Potter and E. c. Spinney
Condemned in the Severest
Language.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Vinton, April 5.-The members of the
are thoroughly aroused over the alleged
illegal and fraudulent transfer of the
order to the Bankers Union of the
World. The Vinton lodge, which was
the first to discover the secret transfer
and took the initiative in the investiga-
ton and began the injunction proceed
ings, proposes to fight Spinney and
Potter to the last ditch. The investi-
eating committee has made its report.
The Vinton lodge is sending copy of
this report to every member of the or
der and accompanying the report is an
appeal to the members to aid in every
possible way in defeating the transfer
and securing redress for the members.
The appeal is couched in severe Ian
guage and every member is requested
to pay so cents into a fund for prose-
cutting the injunction proceedings at
Waverly. The text of the Vinton
"Companion:--The Ancient Order of
the Red Cross now confronts crisis.
Conditions exist which call for patri-
otism. and prorapt and united action of
every member of our beloved order.
Secretly, wrongfully and unlawfully. all
Its membership, property, and rights
have been sold and bartered away to
the Bankers Union of the World. This
pretended, outrageous transfer took
place on February 81, 1901. BY it, e.
c. Spinney, president of the Bankers
Union, got possession of $4,000 of the
reserved fund and assets of our order,
and a splendid membership of 5000
members, which it cost the A. O. R. C.
$4,000 to organize. BY the deal in
question we are deprived of our rights
in a manner insulting and llumiliating
to every true American citizen. 1t was
undertaken to sell and buy us in a
body; to sell and deliver us as cattle
are sold and delivered. And to whom ?
To an institution of which 4. NJ. Potter
is supreme vice president. You know
who A. M. Potter is-an alleged de-
faulter, who was forced to resign as an
officer in our order. When trapped in
his official career of shame and piracy,
he left it with on oath upon his lips to
wreck and luin that order which he
proved himself unworthy to rule.
1.-THE Red Cross was in excellent con-
dition when this outrage was perpe-
trated. Six thousand men and women
were banded to gether by the noblest
ties that bind mankind together the
protection of our loved ones. Its MEM
bership was rapidly increasing and had
splendid prospects. Confidence had
been regained and goodfellowship ex-
listed everywhere.
bright with promise, this outrage was
conceived and attempted to be carried
out. A sworn foe, an insiduous de-
ceiver and briber, together with forced
and unjust conditions, all conspired to
ruin. destroy and rob the order. All
of this was done without our notice. our
voice or vote. Learning of some things
this lodge appointed committee to
make an investigation. A committee
of prominent members, one of whom is
the respected mayor OF our city, made
a careful investigation. Behold the tale
of outrage and wrongs which their re-
port contains, which you will find at
tached! Good lawyers and conserva-
tive men advise us that this rotten deal
will not stand in the courts If 1t is con-
tested. The question now is, what shall
we do as a body and as individuals.
Shall we like men stand together for
the protection Of our manhood and
rights; or shall we like swine. lie down,
while our honor is outraged and our
rights are ignored. The lodges in this
vicinity. and we believe that every
lodge that contains loyal companion
will say Flight this outrage to An
ish." Our lodge has already moved in
the matter ard has been TO consider
able expense. More expense will have
to be made. Will you and your lodge
stand by us with your aid /? Fifty cents
from each companion will probably re-
suit In preserving the order. It is at
least worth that much to every COM
panion to defend his rights and honor.
Whatever is done should be done before
April Is, 1902, as on that day the vital
test will be had in the district court at
Waverly. II YOU are with us, have the
officers call special meeting of your
lodge and take prompt action in this
matter, and vote that each member pay
fifty cents to aid us in this cause. An
accurate account will be kept of every
cent collected and spent, and full re-
port made to sister lodges.
address all communications to Rev.
Frank L. Loveland, pastor of the First
M. e. church. Yours for fraternal
right,
VINTON LODGE NO. 81.
''DR A. r. FELLOWS, President,
JOHN A. FAGLEY, Secretary"
In its report the committee says:
"Your committee begs leave to assure
you that our ideas of manhood. our
sense of justice, and the rights and
welfare of fraternal insurance COM
panies in Iowa demands that we fight
this transaction to the bitter end; duty
to ourselves, to our loved ones. and our
order demands that light be turned up
on this whole transaction and transfer.
Your committee would also suggest
that you and all members of the order
hold in allegiance your judgement as
to the personality of the guilty parties.
We have reason to believe that some
parties who might have been suspicion