The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-10-02
GREATER DAYTON ASSOCIATION
ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK CONVENTION
American Federation Patriotic Societies Meet ROmsh Intrigue Eve of
Convention at Dayton 0hoos Infamous Instance Of Papa Perdy
Yet ReVeaedMasOns Tender Temple and Rome ThWarted
Halls Closed Press Mzzled and Citizens ArOused-Pati-
otic Spirit Prevails and Great Convention Is Held
Pittsburgh Chosen for 1916 Meeting

duu convention manager OF inc
Greater Dayton Association, wrote
TO ID. J. Reynolds, president Of the
A. +. Of p. s., inumating that
Dayton would like 10 secure the
convention. On April % Mr..
Reynolds took the matter up with
Ankeney and stated that there was
possibility Of a change in plans
and asked what inducements Day
toon had TO offer and what hotel
and auditorium accommodations
could be had.
In that letter Mr.. Reynolds
WARNED Mr.. ANKENEY
against making any rash promises
and gave him every opportunity TO
know the nature Of the convention.
We quote from Mr.. Reynolds let
ter:
"we are strictly, as you will note by the
enclosed literature, patriotic and non
political organization, standing squarely
upon the principles enunciated by the
Declaration OF Independence and Consti-
tuition of the United States. II you have
any Roman Catholics on your Board Of
Directors, who arr influential. they viii
fight you 10 a stand-still 10 prevent our
organization from meeting there, as they
always do elsewhere being avowedly the
enemies Of free speech. thought proper
10 give you this word Of warning so that
you might not make any oyertures TO us
that you would afterwards have reason
10 regret"
That was a fair, square, state
ment of principle and possible cir
cumstances which might induce
friction in the Romish camp. An
keney was given an opportunity TO
let the matter drop right there if he
feared the consequences or deemed
il insdyisable to continue overtures.
To Mr.. Reynolds' letter Mr.. An
keney replied on April "a setting
forth the advantages Dayton offered
as a convention city and the induce
ments offered by the Greater Day
ton Association to secure the gath
ering. The first paragraph of
Ankeney's letter reads as follows:
"Your letter Of April % is at hand.
In all Of our dealings with convention
organizations We assume a strictly judi
cial attitude. The fact that your Fedora
ton is an anti-Catholic organization
would have no influence with US. We are
planning 10 render some service 10 a
Catholic society which is 10 meet here this
summer. We are just as willing 10 render
service 10 a non-Catholic body"
There was no suspicion Of
trouble. No evidence Of untoward
events. The proposition made by
the Greater Dayton Association was
accepted and an enthusiastic host
Of delegates began to move toward
Dayton from every direction. D..
J. Reynolds left his home in
Minneapolis confident that all in
dications were for a successful and
well organized convention.
Rome's Vicious Thrust
But Rome never sleeps. With
open eyes, keen ears and well
trained minds her obedient children
were alive, alert and active. d.
J. Reynolds was handed the follow
ing telegram on board train thirty
miles from Dayton:
septembe IL, 1915.
u. J. Reynolds, Pres.
American Federation Of Patriotic SOcic.
ties,
Minneapolis, MINI.
The Greater Dayton Association hereby
withdrsws from agreement Of July %,
1915, covering convention Of the Amer
iean Federation Of Patriotic Societies
proposed 20 be held in Dayton, Ohio,
September l6, IL, is. All proposed ar
rangements for the convention have been
abandoned. Confirmation by mail.
The Greater Dayton Association.
J. NJ. GUILD, EEccEtire Secretary.
r. W. MENTEI, CoHreHtiOR Mgr.
Another thunderbolt was hurled
by Rome. The Greater Dayton As