The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-03
BOSTON WANTS
 ELKS REUNION
New England Metropolis to Contest With Portland
 For Honor
Three Cornered Contest For Grand Exalted Ruler--Atlantic City Ready to Receive 10O,- 900 Antlers


 poses to make a strenuous fight for the 1912 convention of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.s This eleventh hour announcement which reached Elks' headquarters here to- day, insures a battle royal between the New England metropolis and it's enthusiastic supporters and the hus- ting cohorts from Portland, Oregon a fight of the East against the West.
 Portland has raised a fund of $125,- O0O' to secure and to entertain the Grand Lodge Reunion a year hence. Five hundred of the foremost bus ness men of the big Pacific coast town are coming across the country in one of the most palatial private trains that ever turned a wheel, prepared to spend money with lavish hand in or der that the ambition of it's residents may be realized.
 Samples of the soil, the flora and the products of the favored far-Wes- tern State will be transported here to constitute an exhibit that will be as tempting, it is promised as has ever been set up for like purpose.
 BOsTON's CLAIM.
 And Boston? Why Boston proposes to fight with every legitimate weapon that may be applied. The Bostonians will come here with the enthusiastic support of thousands of clannish New England brethren. Boston it will be claimed was strong candidate for the big convention a year ago, but withdrew graciously when Atlantic City promised to prove to Elkdom that 1t was possible to have a con- vention and house it's members with out having hotel rates boosted to out rageous proportions. The fight prom ises to be battle royal.
 Equally strenuous from present in- dications, will be the contest for the Grand Exalted Rulership. It is three-cornered melee of ballots with Col. John F. Sullivan of New Orleans. Charles R. Rasbury of Dallas and Ar thur Moreland of New York, equally confident of victory Rasbury's boom is already awheel with two special trains bearing his followers to the Southwest. Sullivan's forces will be on their way in another twentyfour hours. Moreland will come here at the head of New York lodge, first in seniority and wealth in the order.
 Portland's boomers are already en route also, racing the California spe- cials over the continent. The possi-
 
 with them a black-horse nominee from the Pacific slope has added fuel to the friendly struggle
 BUNTING SWATHED TOWN.
 Meanwhile Atlantic City is working feverishly to have everything in per- feet trim for the greatest host of Elks that has ever gathered for the annual roundup Bunting covers block after block of business houses along Allan tic avenue and the hotels are literally swathed in bunting. Decorators are working night and day to complete their contracts. Elks insignias are seen everywhere and one of the big gest of the beach bathing establish mentS has laid in a supply of bright purple bathing costumes especially for the antlered fraternity.
 Grand Secretary Robinson is en route from Dubuque and will establish on Wednesday. Grand Exalted Ruler Hermann and his staff will arrive the following day. Delegations will begin to pour into the resort on Fri day and continue to arrive in in- creasing numbers until after the Grand Lodge is formally welcomed by Gov ernOr Wilson on Monday.
 Elks not representatives are to be admitted to the floor of the Grand lodge this year for the first time Thousands of those who comprise the herd have never seen the Grand lodge in session. Other thousands have never been nearer to the Grand lodge as body, than the gallery. This year they will be permitted to occupy so many seats upon the floor of the convention hall as are not re- quired for the delegates, and the in- novation is expected to stir greater interest in the work of the Grand 1nIc md to fn,, ,,ix 1r~x, for membership in that body.
 EVEN JEHUs LINED UP
 Even the jehus here have been be- sought to adopt the slogan: "Fair Deal for Elks". Hotel men have pledg- ed themselves not to raise their rates. Now the Hackmens association has been asked to bind it's members to practice none of the tricks for which the cabbies of every cline are mo- torious, and the word has gone forth that every jehu who attempts to col lect more than the legal rate of 25 cents a passenger to any part of the city will not only be prosecuted but expelled from the cabbies' organiza- tion as well
 A complete field hospital outfit, with every army requisite, with army offi- cers who are Elks without exception and a corps of pretty nurses clad in khaki in charge will be sent here by road from New York especially for Elks' week service. The whole outfit is in charge of Gen. F. E. Davis. The expedition with three automobile am- balances to carry tentage and other supplies and a caravan of automobiles for Gen. Davis, his staff and the nurses, will leave for the First Bat tery Armory in New York at p. m on the Sth and reach Atlantic City the following day.
 It has been announced by acting Secretary Eaton in charge of the Ho- tel Agency at Elks' Hall that nearly 5O000 Elks have been booked and that Atlantic City has quarters for the 5OoOO others who are expected. VI n