Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-22
Several Subordinate Lodges
Called on to Explain Attack
on State Officers
"lNNER CIRCLE" RULE ALLEGED
Lodges Issue Circular Rejecting on
Administration Of Grand Chancellor
Bilby, Bon SaIinser, ct al. - Salnger
Accused Of Assuming to be Dictator
Lodges May Take Sides.
to rimes-Republ,can.

Special to ,Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 22.-It has leaked
out here that there is trouble in the
Pythian grand lodge Of Iowa and that
the trouble extends to several sub
ordinate lodges. Some Of those who
have been prominent in Pythian af-
fairs for years and have exerted more
or less influence In saying who should
hold the various high offices, have
been attacked, and factionalism prom
Uses to enter into the next Campaign
for control.
According to a local newspaper, six
Of the largest subordinate lodges of
the state were summoned, thru their
officers, to appear yesterday before
Grand Chancellor Billy in Des Molnes
to show why they should not have
their charters revoked for issuing cir
culars attacking Bilby and others. The
circular issued expressed its decided
opposition to so-called gag rule" and
ring. domination"
All yesterday the grand chancellor,
Mayor Bilby, of Knoxville. sat in ex-
ecutive session at the Slavery hotel,
where Arthur Springer Of WapeEo APP
from Vinton, Belle PLANE, Hampton,
Mason City and two other towns in
northeastern Iowa. He presented his
case to Grand Chancellor Bilby and
contended that the official did not have
Jurisdiction to cite any lodge to him.
The mehiters Of the lodges, he de-
clared, we've amenable only to the
lodge and the grand lodge, and il the
issuing of circulars was a fault it
was the duty OF the grand tribune,
made up of three members chosen by
the grand lodge, to determine the
facts.
The circulars in question were is
sued just few weeks ago, when C. w.
+. Snyder of Belle Plaine. started the
campaign against what he declared
| was gag rule" and political ring
domination" "Out with Salinger rule"
down with the dictation Of Pythian
affairs from gang organized for
merely selfish motives" and rally to
the support of decency in the man
agement of the affairs of the order in
Iowa." are few of the expressions
which this circular are alleged to have
contained. Signing 1t are the six lodges
and attached thereto are the seals
of the six different lodges.
The attack was a blow against Ben
Salnger Of Carroll, prominent in
fN,. 1oI
many years. According to rumor of
the hotel Hobbies, the fight is the be-
ginning of a plan to break the power
of Salinger, who is said to have die
tated the election of Mayor Bilby Of
Knoxville as grand chancellor. CO.
operating with Salinger are such well
known men as C. c. Dowell Of Des
Moines, Bernard Murphy of Vinton,
Past Grand Chancellor Hunter Of
| Newton and other men prominent in
the affairs of the state. Arraigned
against them are Carl Kuhenle of Den
ison, Frank Porterfield of Atlantic, NJ
]. Tobin Of Vinton, ]. ]. Hemingway of
Hampton, J. ]. Clark Of Mason City
and others.
The fight has been precipitated by
the action Of Chancellor Bilby. Among
his friends are those who claim that
Ku11enle Of sDenison IS the power that
secured Snyder to engineer the Belle
Plaine ct al. circular.
In June the big state grand lodge
will meet in Oskaloosa and the DEL
t'egates to the lodge will determine
what the outcome will be- Two strongly
organized forces will be in alignment
against each other, and the outcome,
because Of the prominence Of the men
who are Interested, will be of more
than passing moment