The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-10
NEW CHARGE
in l.. {. B. A.
TROUBLE
Newark Delegates to Declare
War on Present Regime.
: Political Tricks Alleged.

That the national convention of the
Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Associa-
ton, TO be held for two weeks. Begin
ming next Monday. in Springfield,
Mass, will be exciting there now APP
pears to bG no doubt. A bitter struggle
for supremacy is expected. An ex-
elusive story in the EVENING STAR
on Monday told of the trouble in the
organization, and included charges OF
extravaganza copied from a circular
of somewhat mysterious origin.
The attack 10 the circular was
directed againet supreme officers of the
powerful Catholic organization. These
officers have been in power a long time.
In this city last night members of
the New Jersey Advisory Senate dis
cussed the situation, and a majority
of this body declared their determina-
tion to go to the convention n there
endeavor to rout out the present Off
GERS md put new ones in their places.
This force to fight the retention of
the present officers will leave this city
for Springfield next Monday morning.
They will leave pledged TO support Mrs.
Mary Costello, of Brooklyn, for the SUI
preme presidency and new candidates
for other offices. That decision was
reached last night at the meeting of
the Advisory Senate, not only because
of the circular, b because. it Is al
legged, political methods have been en-
ployed by the present officers to gain
control of the delegates to the national
convention.
It was reported at the meeting that
there is a staff of deputies in the pay
of the organization who are going
about the various States where there
are branches of the L. c. r. A. at
tempting to line up the delegates for
the present staff of officers. Allega-
tons were made that, as in previous
years where branches from the West
had only a small membership n still
were represented in the convention
contrary to the constitution of the
order, these deputies are busy cleo
tioneering and doing other things that
are being condemned as political
tricks.
An example of this may be noticed
form the statement announced at the
meeting last night. 1t was to the eff
feet that two Newarkers went to
Springfield recently to make arrange
ments for hotel accommodations for
the New Jersey delegation. They were
Informed. 1t is said. by a hotelkeeper
there that he had e instructed by
one of the deputies sent out by the
organization leaders not to rent any
of his apartments to certain Newark
women. Who that ona deputy may
have been and what the purpose Of the
order was has not been brought out
as +, yet. There are several other IN
stances of this kind that have been di-
rected particularly against the New
Jersey delegation because they nave
made no secret abou being opposed to
the present staff of officers. The New
Jersey people say too, that II they
have any power at all they Will see
to it tina there will be no repetition OF
the St. PNil convention. where, 1t is
now known. there were delegates from
branches that were not in any way en-
titled to delegates.
The New Jersey delegates have been
instructed to watch carefully the list
of delegates. They are In a position
to know just how many delegates each
branch is entitled to-, and one of the
first steps In the election light Will be
to see tina these lists are absolutely
correct. At the last convention the
Eastern representatives did not sus-
pect any of the things that have been
charged in the circular, and therefore
were not on their guard. This year the
story Is different.
Since the last convention at st. Paul
in 1904. the breach in the organization
has been widening. The Eastern mem
bers managed to get one of their men,
bers elected to the board of supreme
trustees.
In that way the opponents Of the pres
emit staff managed to get a line on what
was being done. The reports that have
come to the Eastern members have IN
censed them. Deputies have been sent, 1t
is alleged. to branches in this State to in
huence the members against the Eastern
members. and to nave them pledge al
legiance to the present officers. The re-
suit has been, particularly in the case Of
one Of these deputies, who was defeated
three wears ago for the supreme trustee
ship by an Eastern woman. that disseil-
sion broke out In many places. the East
ern people saw that it was nothing more
than a mean political trick. They have the
doing OF the alleged deputies tabulated
md Mt the proper time will make them
known at the convention, they declare.
Perhaps the Eastern delegation will not
be successful In their fight against the
supreme officers, against whom the charge
of extravaganza has been made, lhey
point out that 1850 a year salary for the
supreme recorder is excessive, to say the
least. The other expenses for the national
officers are in proportion TO the office. inc
knowledge Of these facts, the Eastern dele
CATION hopes will bring the necessary
votes to dethrone those who have been
In authority SO long. 1t Is sud that even
In their own ranks a split Is imminent
After the ST. Paul convention three years
ago. a newspaper man who was close 10
the officers. was not given a contract TOT
printing for the organization. This riled
him so that he published many of the
allegations that were contained in that
circular Of mysterious origin. That mas
caused Internal dissension and II Is ex-
pected that the convention will bring about
a situation that will be unique, not to
say exciting.
Already there is a candidate mentioned
for the presidency from the organization
ranks In the hope that If there Is a dis
agreement over Mrs. Costello or Mrs. Me-
..6wan that this candidate will win enough
votes 10 assure election, but The Eastern
people are wise TO the move. The name
mentioned is that of Miss Kate Mahoney,
superintendent Of the public schools OF
Troy. now a supreme trustee. That Will
not blind the locals. for they have de-
tcrmined 10 remain loyal 20 the last ditch
10 Mrs. Costello. after they have given
their reasons TO the convention for their
.-ttion to the present stan of officers.