The Washington times., 1919-09-12
WANT BAKER AND
TUMULTY OUSTED

De sent by William A Jones, secretary
OF the Baltimore centennial, in tht
name of the Independent Order of Ode
Fellows.
Wires have also been sent to Presi.
dent Wilson, requesting their removal
at 'the demands of millions Of men
They are signed by G. Holland Will
liams, Of Washington, in the name oi
Mr.. Jones, who, according to a report
received from Baltimore, soon aftel
word Of the kilograms reached this
city, has denied that they were au-
thorized by him.
The telegram alleged to have been
sent by the Independent Order Of Odd
Fellows as a body has reached the of.
fice Of Secretary Baker. IL was learned
today. Secretary Baker said that he
wished to make no comment on it.
The kilograms were signed by Will
liam A. Jones, chairman of the centen-
nial committee and grand secretary of
the Department of Maryland. The rea-
sons given by G. Holland Williams,
representing Mr.. Jones and the order,
were that Secretary Baker delibeF-
ately had "double-crossed" the Inde-
/ pendent Order of Odd Fellows by
changing the date of the parade of
General Pershing in Washington from
September 16 to September II, in face
of definite promise to hold it on Sep
tember 16; that he had insulted all
Odd Fellows and kindred organizations
by breaking this promise Of co-opera-
! ton; that his continued occupation
Of a high Government office after this
act Of studied unfriendIiness to mil
lions Of American citizens would be a
misfortune to the nation and to him
self.
1t was iterated and reiterated by
Mr.. Williams that, this action Of the
/ Odd Fellows was taken with malice
| toward none and with no personal
animus against Secretary Baker or
Mr.. Tumulty, but that it simply was
an act to obtain justice.
Mr.. Holland would not reveal the
causes of the request for the removal
OF Mr.. Tumulty. He just smiled and
said: "We want action and will get
1 his dismissal, that's all. The reasons
can waltz
It is urged in the kilograms sent to
the President that be return immedi-
ately to Washington and review the
| General Pershing parade. The Odd
Fellows assure him Of their heartiest
cooperation in the mission he Is on.
Planned Many Months.
Throughout the United States, in
every community where an Odd Fell
low or the friend Of an Odd Fellow
lives, 1t has been known for months"
Mr.. Williams explained, that most
elaborate plans, involving great labor
and infinite detail, had been made to
mark next week as the eliminating
event Of the 100 years Of the Inde-
a.
Months ago we asked and received the
promise of complete cooperation
from the War Department and ether
officials in Warrington for the great
parade which win be the outstanding
feature Of the Centennial celebration.
The date was set many weeks ago for
September IL and all the details made
DEFINITE for that date. Nearly all the
bands in Washington were engaged
for the event
when it became known that Cen
eral Pershing would arrive in Wash
ington next week we consulted with
Col. Robert N. Harper, chairman OF
the Washington committee for Cen
eral Pershing's parade in that city.
1t was explained fully that the thou
sands OF Odd Fellows who would be
in Baltimore that week were anxious,
as all patriotic Americans are. to see
General Pershing's parade and to do
honor to him. The request was made
to FIX the date of his parade in Wash
ington so az not to conflict with our
parade. The agreement was made.
The date for the Washington parade
was set for September 16.
Changed without Warning.
without warning, the other day,
Congressman Mondell, under instruc-
tion OF the War Department, an
nounced in the House that the date
for General Pershing's parade had
been changed to September Il, the
same date as our parade in Baltimore.
We Immediately went to Washington
to learn what had happened and to
learn the reason for breaking the
promise OF cooperation with US. We
tried in vain to get satisfaction. We
were entirely without malice and ex-
hausted every means to get the prom
Use of Colonel Harper or of Secretary
Baker. under whose orders Colonel
Harper had to act to reconsider this |
decision.
I'm the face OF this absolute refusal |
to keep their promise or to cooperate |
with US in any way, there remained |
only one course Of action. Such a |
man, who would deliberately break |
his promise to the millions Of patriotic |
and loyal Americans affiliated with |
and friendly with the Odd Fellows-or |
to any great fraternRl body-should |
not be retained in a great public posi-
tion such as Secretary Of War We
requested President Wilson to dismiss
him from the Cabinet and out of cour-
tesy suggested direct to Mr.. Baker
that he resign. And I predict that
Geenral Pershing's parade will be held |
on September Is and that Secretary
Baker will resign, in justice to the
nation, to President Wilson, and to
himself"
Wire To President.
The kilograms to the President,
which Mr.. Wilson has received, said:
with malice toward none, we, the
Independent Order Of Odd Fellows and
kindred and allied associations and
bodies, in the spirit Of patriotism, re-
quest the immediate removal OF Secre-
Lary Of War Newton D. Baker, for
failure to cooperate in the arrange
nents for the parade Of General Per-
ihing and the First division at Wash
ngton, d. c. Millions Of men demand
his answer.
WILLIAM A. JONES,
Grand Secretary.