Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-07
KNIGHTS or LUTHER oRcANizA
T,oN CAPTURED ~ rev. o.
[. sPuRoEoN.
CONNOLLY TO De GAMER
FROM POLITICAL sLUNDER
Special to Times -Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. REV. o. L..
Sturgeon, the fiery young Baptist
preacher, formerly Of Nashua, having
recently reached the conclusion that he
is the making Of a great statesman,
completely captured the organization
of Knights of Luther and purposes
converting it into political machine
to further his ambition to secure office
for himself. Believing that really
capable statesman should commence
somewhere near the top he picked out
for himself a place on the payroll of
the United States senate where ma
tional finance, foreign policy, anti
trust measures and the like are de-
bated; and by inducing y sufficient
number Of his admirers to attend the
convention held here for three days last
week he committed the knights Of
Luther of Iowa to support of his cam
didacy. From this time on the entire
force Of the order, according to his
plan is to be devoted to getting votes
for him.
/. is learned from reliable sources
that this result was not accomplished,
however. without prolonged struggle.
1t was pointed out to the delegates at
tending the annual convention Of the
knights Of Luther that the order was
organized strictly as patriotic order
to maintain and inculate certain ideas
of patriotism. that it was never in
tended that it should be the basis OF
a new political party or organization.
that every other order or association
that had permitted it's attaches to
swing it into political lines had been
disrupted, that the only possible effect
OF the movement planned would be to
certainly accomplish a result exactly
the contrary to that which was desired
by many OF the members.
The fact was pointed out that re-
cent issue Of the Menace which rs the
organ Of the order. advised against
permitting the personal ambitions of
members leading the Knights of Luther
into political lines and that the organ
ization should keep well to its prin-
ciples and not dip into politics in a
personal way.
Claims many Votes.
Mr.. Spurgeon took the floor of the
convention and made an impassioned
appeal for support at the polls for his
political ambition. He attacked the
candidates for the senate both alike
and insisted that he, Spurgeon, was go
ing to be elected to the senate this year
sure. AS the convention had been
fixed for that purpose the resolution
indorsing his candidacy and commit
ting the Knights to his support was
passed after he had appealed for it's
passage.
Rev. Mr. Sturgeon was a Baptist
minister at Nashua when he was taken
up by the knights and employed as
secretary and organizer and he has
been engaged continuously in making
lectures. In Denver he was assaulted
in a riot following his fierce attack on
the Catholics. 1t is said his ambition
to enter politics on his own hook fol-
lowed that event.
Leading members Of the order
pointed out that the chief purpose Of
the Spurgeon candidacy would have to
be to get votes that would otherwise
go to Cummins, as practically the en-
tire Catholic vote would be cast for
Connolly. and that II Spurgeon makes
and Roadway at all it will be very
helpful to Connolly. The situation is
one which It is said threatens split
in the order.
Spurgeon claims 10000 to 10000 votes
Of the knights of Luther solidly for
him.