Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-07-15
OFFICERS
 MUST RETIRE Grand President Holds That Their Election is
 Unconstitutional.
MUST ELECT OTHERS
State Aerie Officers Were Made Hon. Orary Past Worthy Presidents
 By Delegates.

William J. Brennan, of Pittsburgh, Pa, grand worthy president of the Eagles, has ruled that the unanimous election of Worthy President E. H. SammOn of Pine Bluff Aerie No. 2O9, Frateraal Order of Eagles, to the head of the State Aerie at the recent state convention held in this city. and the election of Walter M. Ebel, of Hot Springs, to vice presidency, is void and unconstitutional. This infOr- nation was received by State Secre- tary Meyer Solmson yesterday in letter from George IT, Grimm, forn,er president of the State Aerie, who de- clares that he will hold the office of state president until his successor is elected.
 While the election of MT. Sam. mon at the recent convention here was unanimous and created satisfac- ton among the members of all the aeries throughout the state, 1t was ruled by the presiding officer, Geo. H. Grimm, that his election was H. legal in that he held that the State Aerie had no legal authority under the bylaws and constitution of the Grand Aerie to make MT. Sammon past worthy president. This action was taken by the State Aerie in order to elevate MT. Sammon to the state presidency, it being essential that in | order to serve as state president member must first have been a past
 worthy presiden, of local aerie In view of the fact that Mfr. Sam mon will have, within the next few | months, completed his term as 1 worthy president of the Pine Bluff Aerie and would then have been eli- gible to the state presidency. the members waived the "red tape prop osition governing the election of state president, made him an honor ary past worthy president and elected him unanimously to the head of she state organization. This same ques- tion was raised in the election of MT. Ebel, of Hot Springs, who was also made past worthy president by special vote. Both MT. Ebel and MT. Sammol protested against the action of the delegates. declaring that they did not want to violate any of the laws governing the order, but the dai- egates elected them just the same. {. Now since the ruling of Grand Worthy President Brennan, it will probably become necessary for the various local aeries to vote for a state president to succeed the hold over president, George H. Grimm, of Fort Smith. It is most likely that Judge J. R. Stewart. of this city. will be elected, as he is in line for the honor and is eligible, having served as worthy president of the order. MT. Sammon was not surprised to learn of the ruling of the Grand Aerie. He said that he felt that the delegates had gone beyond their bounds of authority in electing him, and that he is ready to abide by the ruling of the highest official of the order. The ruling does not affect tue other state officers.
 In a letter to Secretary Solmson, re- ceived here yesterday, Walter M. Ebel, of Hot Springs. who is also relieved of the vice presidency, says:
 'I see that the Grand Worthy
 President just knocked those officials
 who had the degree of Past Worthy
 President conferred on them higher
 than the Congressional Committee is
 knocking the lobbyists. Sure. I gpl
 it. Did it hit you, too? But that
 don't make any difference to good
 Eagles, Old Scout. does 1t? Just
 makes me want to work the harder