Evening star., 1909-05-10
Treasurer Causes Sensation in
Birth Abraham Convention.
DEFICIT DUE TO NEGLECT
Pleads That He Merely Followed
Precedent of Others.
EXCITEMENT MARKS SESSION
Two Tickets for Officers Put in
Nomination While Pandemonium
Reigns-Election Tomorrow.

Following the startling report OF the in
surance commissioner Of New York on
the status of the finances of the 1nde-
pendent Order Of Birth Abraham. now
assembled in convention in the new Ma
sonic Temple, q sensational incident
marked the session. which was called to
order at 10 o'clock this morning by the
grand master, Max Stern, when jacob
Schoen, grand treasurer Of the order, rose
to his feet and declared that the alleged
deficit of about $4,000 In the endowment
funds was due to his own negligence.
Owing to the existence of an anti
administration faction in the convention
the sessions have been marked by an
almost chaotic. condition of affairs, and
few speakers have been able to make
| themselves heard beyond the first few
rows of delegates, of which there are
about 900. The usual developments
which arose in the course Of the ses-
sions yesterday brought fun attendance
out this morning.
The drawing card of the morning was
| the nomination Of officers and each Of
the two parties had thoroughly canvassed
their forces and marshaled them for the
fray
When>the grand treasurer took the floor
and made his dramatic statements he
seemed to startle the near-pandemonium
into silence and he was heard through in
almost absolute silence. AS he proceeded
with his statement he grew eloquent. and
instead Of meeting with disapproval as
| might have been expected. the sentiment.
seemed in his favor.
Deficits All Made Up.
He declared that it was a fact that he
had been guilty OF gross negligence in
dealing with the financial affairs Of the
| order. but he had not acted differently
from any Of his predecessors in ofiice and
none of his acts had been OF q criminal
nature.
In fact, he said. every bit of the ap-
parent deficit which the insurance COM
missioner discovered in the funds has
| now being made up. The custom of the
grand treasury of cashing checks and
making change therefor, when SUFFICIENT
funds were not back of the paper In bank.
ever. he declared had always been Gus
tom In the organization. and the deficits
only existed for short periods
Grand Treasurer Sheen said that he had
served the order faithfully for more than
thirty years. and thought he had given
equal service in proportion with other
| ofiicers In charge of the finances and
| other affairs of the organisation. In con-
cluSlon, ne tHTeW AlIIlSeII entirely upon
the mercy Of the convention. and II the
continued applause and cheers which were
accorded him after he had resumed his
seat may be taken as a guide, he will not
| receive much, II any, censure:
Per Capita Tax Settled Upon.
Every act and move made upon the
convention floor at the morning session
| was hotly contested by the members OF
| the opposing factions, that for the ad-
ministration headed by the present Mas
ter Stern. and strong opposition. The
question Of a per capita tax for mainte-
one Of the matters up. Two sums were
suggested by the two parties. The ad-
| ministration thought that the amount
| should be 40 cents per capita per an
mum. while the opposition placed the
proper amount at 80 cents. In the
voting the opposition won by an over
whelming majority. This would seem to
| indicate the probable result of the cleo
ton of officers, which will occur tomor
row.
The scene resembled an incipient riot
when the nominating of officers for the
organization for the coming year was
begun this morning. Men shouted and
yelled for their favorites and against the
candidates Of the opposing side.
| In fact, few knew who had been nomi-
ment at 1920 o'clock. At that time the
officers In nomination as far as had been
| accomplished were as follows:
Two Tickets Nominated.
For grand master. Judge Leon San
ders of New York, the candidate of the
opposition, and Samuel Scholinsky OF New
York, as the administration candidate:
For first deputy. Joseph Barodess. the