The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-02
BREACH IN RANKS
OF RICHMOND POST
Prominent Members Of t. p. a.
Resigl, After Heated
Controversy.
PRESIDENT CHRISTIAN is ONE
Trouble Arose Over Unit Rule
i'll National Conventional
Norfolk.

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III National Conventional
Norfolk.
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Trouble growing out OF proceedings
at the recent State and national con
ventions OF the Travellers Protcctive|
Association has Gullninntcd In n Sc
rious breach In the ranksjof Post a, of
this city. The climax came after q
hot discussion at q recent meeting sof. |
the post, when President r, S. Chris,
tian and Messrs! r. w. Spilman and
Thomas PoindeXter offered their rcsiE-
nations, which are now in the hands
Of tho executive board. They have not
been acted upon, but will probnblyhbe|
accepted, as one of the parties toNthc
controversy said last night that he
failed to see any hope, of reconciliation.
Others. however, Z express the view
that matters may be satisfactorily ad-
justed and that the designations may
possibly be rejected or recalled.
Considerable Feeling.
1t is known that cool heads in tho
post. who had no part in the contro-
versy which led up to the break. are
working along the line of bringing
the warning forces together, but'wheth-
ers Lney Will De SuCCeSSlul- Is u rNldc-
open question at this time. Consider
able feeling is said to exist on both
sides, and at least one Of the most
prominent men who y has offered his
resignation expresses the belief that
there can be no satisfactory ADJUST
ment y
1T should be stated, however, that
the board has voted not to accept this
resignation. If the gentleman persists
in retiring. though, Of course. an ac-
|ceptance must finally come.
The trouble is alleged to have had
its origin when Post A elected its dele
gates to the recent State convention
held in Alexandria.
The post is entitled to seventy two
delegates and only twenty-one at
tended
The unit rule was adopted at the
State convention, and 1t was decided
that the entire State delegation in the
national convention held later at Nor
folk should vote as one man on all
questions.
President Christian did not attend
| the State Convention, but was made q
delegate to the national body.
1t Is said that no objections We're
urged to the unit rule until the dele
| gates We're about to start for Norfolk.
| When. the Seaside City was reached, 1t
| is alleged that the properly authorized
delegates found Messrs. Joseph Waller
1 stein. Thos. PoindeXter, Edward Ellis
and r. w. Spillman. none of whom had
attended the Alexandra convention,
| working to defeat the plans laid out at
/ Alexandria.
1t is understood that the delegates
held caucus at Norfolk, and by a ma
i jority vote, decided to promise nothing,
i but to vote as q unit at all times in
4 the interest Of Virginia.
Against Unit Rule.
4 Messrs. Christian, of this city. and
Bailey, Of Petersburg, and Hancock and
Herbert, of Norfolk, undertook to break
4 the unit rule, and the other delegates
/ protested and told the former gentle
/ men that they could resign and deliver
their credentials to their alternates.
1t was then agree by all that the
4 Virginia delegation would respect the
: unit rule, but 1t is said that on the
: election of president, Mr.. Hancock
bolted. Virginia has twenty-five dele
gates in the national body. and tho
vote was twentyfour for and one
) against Thad Howe Of Chicago, for re
election as president.
Mr.. Hancock was upbraided, and q
protest was entered on the ground that
:. he had violated his instructions.
$ Mr.. Poindexter,i who was not a dele
J gate, was unanimously chosen fifth
vice-p president, but it seems this was
( done without the knowledge of tho
Virginia delegation.
Mr. Wallerstein was named for sixth
vice president but was defeated upor
: a protest offered by the Virginia dele
t gates.
n Fleming Takes the Lead.
AS a result Of these reported cir
o cumstances trouble arose in Post A
t Mr. Hampton Fleming offered pro
9 test against the action of the Virgin
I ians who were not delegates, but pos
i AS board did not sustain him.
Mr.. Fleming, who had been dele
gate to the Norfolk convention, thel
u declared that he would lay the matte
bfeore the, Post but in the ,neantim
g another circumstance arose adding fue
to the flames. A member OF the con
l, vention from Texas came to Richmond
n and while in conversation with Mr. !
II l.. Hill, a member Of Post a, the latte
8 made unfavorable comment upon tn
:, action of Mr.. Wallerstein. 7
n Tho Texan told Mr.. Wallerstein wha
" Mr.. Hil had said, and Mr.. lWallerstei
% wrote Mr.. Hill a blistering letter.
y Mr.. Hill, in turn, sent letter t
Il the post denouncing Mr.. Wallcrstei
as a traitor, and later offered rcso
luton asking the organization to pas
one way or another on the alleged cor
he duct of Messrs. Wallerstein. Spillmal
10 Ellis and PoindeXter.
~ designations Offered.
&c President Christian then spoke. ar
"a declared that he had endeavored 4
Il, break the unit rule, and that he he
been led by a rope. He rendered h