The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-03-02
Holmes Reelected
Salaries reduced, offices abolishe ed
and official organ placed under
control Of one man, are some Of
the means used to save OrganiZa-
ton.
- Especial to The Advocate }


last Tuesday and ending at a late
hour Thursday night.
For the last 13 years gag rule has
been feature of meetings of the
grand fountain, and men and women
OF intelligence were not allowed to
assert themselves in such meetings,
but the@beSt element of the race was
largely in evidence. at this meeting,
because Of the character of A. w.
holmes, the present head of the Or
der, and not a more representative
body of colored people ever met in
this city that deliberated so sanely
as the delegates attending the ses-
scion. The session was a harmon
lous one, despite the condition of
the fraternity, and exhibited the Ne
groe's ability to legislate for large
financial movements.
Men and women prominent in the
National Negro Business League
were the factors that largely con-
trlbuted to conserving the interests
OF the organization. Presidents Of
local leaguesc were on all of the i'm
portant committees. The personal
of the committees were men and wo-
men who have achieved success.
"a. w. Holmes, w. G. M, caused
great elation when he made his
report and showed that despite the
troubles that had overtaken the Or
ganization, and he being placed at
the head at a time when matters
were In chaotic state, $4,000 had
ibeen collected since last October and
hundreds of claims paid.
The report showed that the order
is the greatest Negro fraterna1 move
ment in the world. The report of
w. P. Burrell, w. G. S., was a COM
prehensive and exhaustive one. He
spoke of the warning that he had
sounded for number Of years at
the sessions of the grand fountain,
which was rejected by these bodies,
and substantiated his statements by
the minutes of these meetings. r.
i. H1ll,grand worthy treasurer made
his report and then resigned the no.
sitlon. 1t was revealed at this ses-.
sion that w. L. Taylor was a tyrant
II his subordinates did not conform
to his ignorant orders. This was ev-
ldence by those making reports.
The Gar never had more power
than Taylor. He had law enacted
that he could remove from the grand
officers down to the janitors anv
time he felt so disposed. The fact
was exhibited at the meeting that
the eXorbitant salary received bv
Iaylor was not legitimate to the ex-
tent it may become a feature for fu-
ture deliberations. Thomas TAYLOR,
ms son, who was prominent in the
Old Folks home affair, is the cyno-
sure of the eyes Of those who will
make him make good all financial
shortage during his administration
|Such men as Prof. r. B. McRary, of
Lexlngton,-N NC, capitalist; t;-Adol--
phus Humbles,o Lynchburg, reunited
to be worth over 100000; DR.. Jas.
b. Dudley, president A. G. M. Col
lege for the Colored race, and DR.. J.
e.. Dellinger, of Greensboro, N. c.:
DR.. John Merriweather, a wealthy
and conservative professional and
business man and Drs.W f. Graham
anl w. u. Johnson with other suc-
cessful business men are carefully
looking after the interests Of the or
der and the rehabilitation Of the
order will ultimately be the out
come Of these thorough investiga-
tions and judicious legislations.
AS to the ultimate restoration of
the orginazition to its former plane
the delegates had no tangible know
ledge until Colonel Joseph Button,
missioner of insurance for Wis
g1n1a, and his actuary, Clarence
Davenport, visited the grand foun-
tain. They did not try to coerce the
delegates into a position that would
em0arass them, but they registered
the fact that the white people were
IN sympathy with the organization
and would not attempt to frustrate
any plan, but would contribute to
the efforts Of the Legislative body to
| save the institution. Colonel But
ton in part, said: Il have q great in
terest in you people because your
organization has done more for the
uDlift Of the Negro than any other
fraternity in your race. 1t panied
me when it got into its present DO
s1tIon, and ] pledge any legitimate
support that can give you. From
the progress that you are making
under present conditions you need
| not become DISCOURAGED T am euro