The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-27
GOAT OF WHITE FOR RAOER
Anti Saloon League Chief is Cleared
Of Some Charges
OTHERS ARE IGNORED BY COMMITTEE
OREGON PREACHERS REFLECT
MAN WHO TOOK $500 FROM
SENATOR BOURNE.
OTHERS ARE IGNORED BY COMMITTEE

| Rev Paul RAIDER, general superln-
tendent of the Anti-SalOon league, has
been immersed in a dazzling coat of
whitewash by the members OF the exc
cutive committee of that organization,
who have been investigating the charg-
es preferred against him by DIR. Car
j ence True Wilson, eXpresident OF the
| league, says the Oregonian.
! At the secret meeting of the executive
committee held yesterday afternoon
resolution was passed expressing conf
idence in Mr.. RAIDER, and he was re-
elected for the coming year. 1t is sig
nificant, however. that the committee
recommended that a bookkeeper, who
/! is competent, be employed to keep the
! books and to look after the accounts
of the league.
| The meeting was held at the Taylor
street Methodist Episcopal church, and
| before it was concluded all present
| were sworn to secrecy. 1t was plan
ned to make a statement covering Mr..
! RAIDER with whitewash this afternoon,
| but last night various members of the
committee when seen refused to di-
| vulge the proceedings saying that
| everything would be made public to-
day. lengthy statement is being
prepared and the only excuse given
| by the committee last night for not
making public the proceedings was
that the committee had not had time
to make up the statement.
Many Charges Ignored.
| The auditing committee, composed or
members of the executive committee
and which has been exporting the
| books of the league, made its report
! yesterday afternoon. The report ex-
| onerated Mr.. RAIDER of the charges of
| having been incompetent in the handl-
! ing of the funds Of the organization,
and it was accepted by a unanimous
vote, so it is reported by reliable au-
thority. 1t is also understood that
some of the most serious charges
against the general superintendent
We're ignored.
Having accepted the report of the
auditing committee, the members of
the executive committee proceeded to
pass a resolution indorsng Mr.. Ra-
der, and he was reelected as general
superintendent of the league. The an
nual election of officers Of the Anti
Saloon league of Oregon was held last
October, but owing to an oversight, SO
it is alleged, no superintendent of the
league was elected but Mr. RAIDER re-
manned as it's nominal head.
At the meeting yesterday afternoon
the members of the executive commit
tee showed decided tendency to hush
up the whole affair, and the action
| taken was generally expected by those
who have followed the investigation.
Several weeks ago when the charges
We're formally made against Mr. RAIDER
by DR.. Wilson, a resolution expressing
confidence in Mr.. RAIDER, offered even
before an investigation of any kind
was made. failed to receive the APP
prevail of the body by scant major
| ity. The disposition of the trustees
| was such that it was generally pre-
dicted that nothing would come of the
charges. and for that reason the con-
clusion of the executive committee is
no surprise.
Committee Was Friendly.
At the meeting of the trustees sew
eral weeks ago Dr. Wilson urged that
| a special committee be appointed to
! make an investigation, but the trus-
tees refused to allow the appointment
/ to be made DR.. Wilson pointed out
| that the members of the executive
| board, which did the embarrassing
yesterday, We're friendly to Mr..
RAIDER and thought it prudent that
! a separate committee be appointed so
that all possibility of personal friend
ship creeping into the decision be ell
minated
The charges brought against Mr.
RAIDER We're that he was utterly in
competent; that he had allowed the
league to run almost hopelessly in
debt, the obligation amounting to
about $4,000; that he had accepted a
check of $500 from United States SEN
atoF Bourne a1ter circular boosting
the candidacy of Mr.. Bourne before the
primaries had been seen in RAIDERS
office written on Anti-Saloon league
letterheadS; that he miSapprOpriated
$50 which rightfully belonged to E. S.
j. McAllister, attorney of the league.
that he had prevented the reelection
of DR.. Clarence True Wilson to the
presidency of the league by a delber-
ate falSehood; and that he faxed the
assault at Salem. alleged to have been
made upon him by thugs.