The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-23
TO REORGANHt
TRUE REF0RMERs
OLD OFFICERS RESIGN AND NEW
ONES WILL DE ELECTED TO
SUCCEED THEM.
HOLD STORMY MEETING
REFUSAL OF GRAND MASTER TO
NACATE CHAIR PRECIPfTATES
NEAR-RIoT-poLIC PRES
ENT LAST NIGHT

/ Reorgani7a ton OF the Grand, Foun-
/ tain Of the United Order of True Re
formers viii be set in motion to- day
when officers are chosen to succeed
those who rendered their resignation
yesterday as follows: A. w. Holmes,
grand worthy master; Rev. w. l..
Anderson, Vice-grand master. w. r.
Burrell, grand secretary
Those slated for these respective
positions are as follows: W. r. Grif-
FIN. Of Washington: Floyd Ross, of
st, Louis; ID. A. Cephas, of Rich
mond. This slate, however. is by no
means certain to go through, IL the
etormy meetings of yesterday are TO
De taken as any criterion
AT. Yesterday mornings session in
True Reformers Hall on North Sec
ond street. a riot seemed imminent
at times, owing to fractional dissenI
sions resulting from the rulings of
Grand Master Holmes and his refusal
to Vacaate the chair until early in
the afternoon, when he presented his
resignation. The other designations
followed in short order and they were
all promptly accepted.
Many Delegates Present.
Last nights session was given over
10 general discussion among the va
F4.el3s-d e4egat ta,-s.-tf -rftfrt,tser- nearly
1000, and hail from various parts OF
the country. This meeting was also
stormy a intervals but the presence
OF a squad of police doubtless helped
to suhdue the excitement. 1t is ex-
pected that the convention viii not
adjourn until some time to- morrow.
Meanwhile, II is asserted, that no
stone will he left unturned TO put the
order on a solid working basis, espe-
cially in the ficld. notwithstanding the
heavy blow dealt by those who wreck
ed the True Reformers Bank and
kindred institutions.
Rev. George +. Morris. OF New Jer-
sey. formerly Of Richmond acted as
temporary chairman yesterday. fol-
lowing the resignation OF HoJnes.
while .. a. Cephas looked after the
duties Of temporary secretary.
Il Did My Best.
In presenting his resignation.
Holmes said in part:
/ have been a member OF the
Grand Fountain for twenty-four
years, For twenty-five years l have
been officially connected with IT.
first district deputy, then chief
deputy OF Richmond division for four
teen years, then deputy general OF
the Southern grand division for five
years
Last September, when the clouds
were gathering over the Grand
Fountain, | was elected grand worthy
master. ] have done my best TO keep
the order on its feet. I have at least
Kept 1t alive and rendered possible its
career of future usefulness
10y 4
that have never had any knowledge
Of or participation in any crooked
or dishonest work.
Had No Real Power.
My election as grand master made
me the nominal president OF the bank
though | was not SO in fact. / had
no power In reality. / was thus tech
nically. but not really. president
About month before the failure Of
the bank. ! appointed committees and
did what | could to find out the true
condition of the bank. lts affairs were
So mixed up that the receivers. after
working six months on the books,
with the aid OF an expert have been
able TO come to no satisfactory con-
clusion. / am not responsible for the
default Of the bank in any way, d.
rectly or indirectly. All the transac-
tions which caused the downfall of
the bank took place before ] became
grand worthy master and without my
knowledge or participation
In Dark, He Says.
II have lived an honest and clear
life, and no accusation has ever been
brought against me. except thaacharge
that as nominal president of the bank
| permitted deposits to be received
knowing the bank to be insolvent.
did not know the condition of the
bank until the banking department
made an investigation and ordered
that we show cause why ii should
not be closed. As we could not show
cause, without further delay. il was
done.
Il have now la bored nearly a year
to save the organization for which |
have labored SO long and for which
have so much love. Charges have
been made, letters have been written,
the burden of others sins has been
placed on my shoulders and the con-
f1dence of the people in my admin
istration has been impaired