The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-05
Frank Bowers, Grand Keeper of Rec
by Harry Wade, of Lafayette.
THE GRAND LODGE TOMORROW
THREE SUPREME REPRESENTA-
TIyES TO BE ELECTED.
Annual Convention of the Rathbone
Sisters Will Also BE Held Here
This Week.

The thirty-fifth annual Grand Lodge of
the knights of Pythias of Indiana will be
opened tomorrow morning in the Odd Fell
lows hall at Pennsylvania and Washington
streets. The sessions will be continued I'M
til Wednesday night Tomorrow will be
taken up largely with the election of Of
ficers, while legislative matters will be con-
sdered Wednesday.
The feature of the Grand Lodge this
year will be the fight for the office Of
grand keeper of records and seal, the only
salaried office in the order. Frank Bow
ers, Of this city, formerly of New Castle, is
candidate for reelection, and Harry
Wade, of Lafayette, is his opponent.
Mr.. Bowers has held the office for sew
enteen years in spite of several vigorous
fights to retire him, but the fght against
him this year will be the best organized
that has ever been made and Mr.. Wade
and his friends are more than hope
full of success. They advance the argu-
ment that seventeen years is about as long
one man should ask for the only salar-
led position within the gift of the Grand
Lodge and they have rallied a formidable
following on that slogan. Secretary of State
Daniel Z. Storms, of Lafayette is one of
est supporters, and he is assisted by a
number of others of the prominent mem
bers of the order.
MR.. BOWERS'S CLAIM.
Mr.. Bowers relies largely on the claim
that an inexperienced man could not fill
his place and on the effective machine"
which he has been able to build up by rea-
son of his long tenure of the Office which
brings him in close touch with all the sub
ordinate lodges and the men who will be
here as representatives or past chancellors
There will be about 500 votes in the Grand
Lodge. Mr.. Bowers has jeopardized his
chances, however, according TO the claims
of the opposition, by becoming a candidate
for the secretaryship of the Republican
state committee. When Will III. Whitaker
retired from the secretaryship a few
months ago Mr.. Bowers at once began lay
ing his plans to secure the place. He has
enlisted the support of his friends in all
parts of the State, and while he has not
announced his candidacy IL is generally
known that he is after the place. Mr.. Wade
and his friends believe that this has ma
terially increased their chances of success,
as they claim that the knights of PVT mas
will not look with favor on Mr.. Bowors's
seeking a good position outside the order
at the same time he is asking re-election as
grand keeper of records and seal.
Mr.. Wade arrived in the city yeStt rday
and met "a number of the men who as
sisting him in his race.
The headquarters of the Grand Lodge
officers will be at the Denison Hotel. Chas.
A. Tyndall of Shelbyville, the retiring
grand chancellor, was at the Denisol. a few
hours yesterday, arranging for his quar-
tiers. Mr.. Tyndalfs administration las been
one of the most successful In the history
of the order, il is said. as over 3, 90 MEM
bers have been added TO the alrei dy large
membership during his incumbency.
There will be no contest for the offices in
the Grand Lodge aside from that for grand
keeper of records and seal MerI II E. Will
son, of Elkhart, the grand vice chancellor.
will succeed Mr.. Tyndall, aid George
Powell, of Indianapolis, will succeed Mr..
Wilson.
SUPREME REPRESENTfT IVES.
Three supreme representative are TO be
elected at this Grand Lodge, a. the terms of
James +. Watson, of Rush lille. d. B.
Shideler. Of Indianapolis, ard James M.
Hatfield, of Huntington, have expired. 1t
is understood that they are al candidates
for reelection, and Otto Kolb. of Evans
ville past grand chancellor, II. ~ become
a candidate for one of the three / aces. A.
c. Hawkins and Union B. Hunt are the
holdOver supreme representatives.
Tracy r. Bangs, of Grand Forks, n. d.,
the supreme chancellor of the order, will
arrive in the city some time to-day or this
evening and will deliver an address before
the Grand Lodge tomorrow. Mr.. Bangs was
formerly United States district attorney for
North Dakota under President Cleveland.
Charles T.. Shively. of Richmond. supreme
vice chancellor. who will succeed Mr. Bangs
next year, will arrive to-day TO attend the
Grand Lodge.
The annual convention of the Rathbcne
Sisters, the wOmens auxiliary of the
Knights of Pythias, will be held while the
Grand Lodge is in session.