The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-09-20
B. M. 6. BREAKS
UP IN A ROW
Grand Master E. I'll. Nor
rfs RenOminated.
3. }. Davis of Atlanta Thrown Down
Meeting Ran Smoothly Five
Days - Election Of officers
Signal for War Georgia
Delegates Not Allowed to
Vote Grand Master
Would not Hear Roll

Delegates returning from the B. M.
G. meeting of the Odd Fellows held in
Atlanta Ca, last week tell distress
ing stories of the closing scene of that
great organization.
After having been invited to the city
of ATLANTA by the Mayor and other Of
ficials, and having been assured that
the pleasure of the city was theirs,
and after a profitable weeks delib-
erations, the final chapter in the meet
ing was one of the most disgraceful
scehes ever witnessed in a delibera-
tive body.
1t seems that all che racket was due
to a difference of opinion as to who
should be grand officers for the next
two years. Georgia was making he
roic fight for her choice son, Mr.. B.
J. Davis. Other states were opposed
to Davis and set about to organize
their forces to bring about his defeat.
It was thought in the outset that Hon.
- Morris, of Chicago, the present
Grand Master, would not stand for re-
election. In fact, at the Baltimore
meeting it was understood that an
agreement had been reached between
the Davis compact and Mr.. Morris
that in the Atlanta meeting he would
be succeeded by Mr. Ben Davis. The
tactics employed at the Baltimore
meeting are we'll known to the peo-
ple throughout the country. 1t
came near precipitating a split in the
Order; but it seemed that the old
wounds had healed and the disgrun'
tails went to me Atlanta meeting to
unhorse the Davis-Slaughter Morris
combination.
A break occurred between Mr., Nor
ris and Mr.. Davis early in the year
when the Grand Master took a triI
abroad and when it was charged by
some of the grand officers that he neg
lected to give due notice to the Dep
utv Grand Master and other officers OF
his departure. Hence, it was taken
that Mr.. Morris had broken the com
pact and the fight grew on from tha'
time. 1t seems that eX-Grand Master
Houston was whipped back in line
with the Davis faction and Morris was
eliminated. The fight grew more IN
tense as the end drew near. Georgia
was confident of victory. So confident
was she that boasts were made thai
Davis would win on the first ballot
II was said that during the meeting
the friends of Davis could not con
vince him that there was an undercur
rent working to his disadvantage
They say Davis kept up continuous
fight throughout the session, and ina
2 duai Cf ne was taeer up by nm II
rushing through petty schemes tna
he hoped to inaugurL e under his ad
ministration.
The first thing that caused dissatls
faction among the delegates was
new credential that Davis tried U
force upon the members at cost O
twenty-five cents, when the creden
tials of the local lodges have always
l}admitted members to the b. M. Z. Ih'
hext thing that was distastetul Wa'
i charge of twenty-five cents for pro
Grams. 1t was held by the delegates
that this was wrong, as 1t had no
heen the custom heretofore. the!
said a contingent fund was provided
for all purposes and that they did no
feel that they had been treated falrl!
in being forced to pay for every ntti'
thing offered them.
The fight was kept up contlnuousl!
until the election, when it developed
that the Davis forces were not 81
great as was thought; but that othe'
states had perfected combination
that we're stronger than the Georgii
combination. 1t was then that thu
nracket started. Hon. Henry Lincoln
| johnson. Recorder of Deeds OF the
limited States, determined that Crane
Master Morris should not preside a
the meeting. He took charge OF th'
gavel. it is said, and held it by force
Riot was almost precipitated. Sticks
we're drawn. knives were drawn, ant
al that saved a general fight was th'
calling in of the policemen Henr!
lincoln Johncon was presiding ant
ras refusing give up the gavel t
the Grand Master. When the police
man came in Mr.. Morris stated to hin
that he was Grand Master, but coult
not Get chance to preside, and tha
the man presiding was deput.!
whose duty it was to preside in hi
absence: that he was very much pres
ent and would like the privilege o
nresiding over his meeting. The po
iiceman quietly but positively in
formed Mr.. Johnson that inasmucl
as Morris was grand master, he woulC
have to recognize him, as it was no
the desire of the citizens of Atlant'
that the splendid meeting be broker
up in a row.
Upon taking the gavel it is SAT-
that the grand master adjourned th'
meeting: some say to meet in sixt!
davs: others say that a second meet
ing will not be held. The straight o
matters could not be learned, but /