The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-23
SECRETARY RoUNrREE's AP-
 PEALS.

SGfS6EAA64 RVUMx6GG'0 Ak- PEALS.
 A few days ago The Advertiser in conn menting upon Secretary Rountrees pre- dicament said that the indications were that he would endeavor to prevent any | unfavorable action by the Association in convention by appealing to those mem bers. who in this or other years. may have been induced by him to violate the rules of the Association. There is proof at hand that he is already at work on that line.
 The Advertiser is in possession of infor- nation going to show that he is sending out letters making appeals to the sym pathies and prejudices of members. It is reported that he is writing about this way: T understand that the Investigat- ing Committee will find unfavorably to me and recommend my expulsion and the ex- pulsion of every member who either gave away or sold his transportation" Roun- tree urges the attendance of all those to whom he writes in that tenor, in order of course. that they may protect them selves first and himself incidentally. That looks like very shrewd move, but we doubt its sagacity. It betrays the same lack of moral perception that has characterized his entire course in this matter. Of course, such appeals are call culated to secure the attendance of all members whom he believes to be involv- ed with him in his wrong doing. But when they get there and hear the actual report of the Committee with all the evil dence 1t has secured, those members are not likely to regard themselves in the same boat with the money-making secre- tary.
 We do not speak by authority, not hav- ing seen theCommittee's report, not know | ing in fact whether 1t has been agreed upon or written. Very likely 1t will be very unfavorable to Rountree, for he pre- sented practically no defense against the charges made as to his conduct of the Canadian excursion, while there was an abundance of evidence damaging to him. But we do not believe his intimation that the Committee is going to make any report in favor of ex- polling every, member who has ever sold or given away transportation. The Committee was appointed to investigate Rountree and no body else. It could not constitutionally or reasonably make re- port on the doings of other members. ex- cept possibly incidentally as a part of the evidence against Rountres. If the Association wants to take action as to any other officer or member, 1t would have to undertake an investigation for that purpose, giving the member the chance to be heard that was given Roun- tree.
 Nor do we believe that the Association will be disposed to go into any whole sale investigation of this transportation evil It is not a sudden growth, but a development of years. Rountree sowed the seed and has steadily watered the plant. The majority of those whom he has led astray doubtless realize now as they look back that he was the moving cause, that he suggested it in
 
 everybody else was disposing of trans portation, that they might as well also; that he would help them get 1t and would | not expose them. 1t was testified at the investigation that he had requested a member to apply for transportation for mythical relatives. If this is the situa- ton, the bulk of the body will conclude that the right thing to do is to go to the fountain of the evil and purify it. There is no necessity for tracing out every in- stance and dealing with it.
 | The Advertiser hopes that every mem- Der of the Association will be present at the meeting on the S0th. President Yerby in a special call expressly urges the full lest attendance. If Rountree is urging all whom he believes favorable to him to be on hand, it is equally important that all those who have no patience with him and his methods be in attendance. We believe that the large majority of the members are disgusted with the way in which he has extorted tribute from them at every turn and twisted the annual out ing into a money making scheme. They want to rehabilitate the Association, in the interest of decency, self-respect and | legitimate business ends. They desire to , see the body take proper action to rid itself of the shame that has come upon it. These results can be brought about only by a full attendance at Birmingham and firm determination to discharge the duty of the hour. MT. Rountree may ex- pect a packed jury to assemble and to acquit him, but such will not be the case. He may have led individuals into indis- cretions, but he cannot now lead the whole Association into the serious blunder of whitewashing him.
 A MoMENLoUS PROJECT.
 An English journal, The London An suare nuotas a French anpInaar tn Suo-