Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-10-11
St9tcE|kS Talk
Back To Wilson
AdhGreltS


and misleading statements which
have appeared in the Ngro Press
of the Country in regard to the at
titude of the Virginia Elks to the
Grand Lodge Improved Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks of the
World as represented and controll-
ed by Messrs. j. Finley Wilson, Per-
nv w. Howard, VIM. C. Houston and
their associated high salaried office
holders and in order to allay any ap-
prehension or suspicion that may
exist that Virginia's Defense against
the aggression, coercion and oppres-
sion of this office holding Clan is
inspired by any personal grievance
or Interior motives, conference Oh
Virginia Elks was held at the home
of Greater Suffolk Lodge, No. 2oo
in Suffolk, Virginia, Sunday, Octo-
her 5, 1880. This conference was
called by w. F. Shivers, Preslden.
of the Virginia State Association OF
Elks, the recognized leader of Vlr-
ginia Elks. The call was extended 70
all Elks in Virginia regardless OF
their political persuasion Tor shy
pathies. The conference was large
" attended among those present De-
ing many persons prominent and n
fluential among Elks in Virginia
Particular reference was made to an
alleged statement of Atty. Walter
II. Land of Norfolk, Va, appearing
in the Negro Press of recent GATE
to the effect that the revolt against
the Wilson regime was not repres-
sentative the spirit and SYM
pathies of a majority of the mem,
bers of the Order in Virginia, put
was being inspired and led by JAS
T. Carter, former Grand Treasurer
of the Order for selfish and person
al purposes. The greatest latitude
was allowed every person present
to express his views and to register
his opinion by his vote. The Con
ference authorized by an unanimous
vote the following statement to DE
given the press:
Virginia Elks disclaim the author
ity of any individual to speak for
the Elks of Virginia, unless empoW-
cred so to do by representative mem
hers of the Order assembled in con-
ference for that purpose. Atty.
Walter H. Land does not represent
the Elks of Virginia, and any state
ment coming from him voices the
wishes of the people for whom ne
is working in the role of a member
Of the Civil Liberties Commission
He cannot even speak for the Elk
lodge of which he is a member. ne
has never taken any part nor MADE
anv contribution to the upbulldlnIlg
of Eureka Lodge No. 5 of Norfolk
Va. in the past fifteen years, hav-
ing only been recently recently re-
instated in the lodge presumably to
serve the Wilson Administration
He is not a Past Exalted Ruler and
has never been elected delegate te
renresent Eureka Lodge in any
Grand Lodge meeting. The last
election in which he ran or a dele
cate resulted in his receiving four
votes out of more than two hundreo
votes cast in the election.
There has never been in the mine
of a single person connected WIFI
the Virginia State Association OF
EIks and intention or desire tc
cause a split in the Order. The sole
motive for procuring Virginia
Charter was to protect Elk Lodges
in Virginia which opposed the pay
ment of an illegal and unnecessar!
tax. These lodges were threatened
with suspension and disruption BY
Mr.. Wilson.
This conference AYERS that it il
its fixed conviction that the onl!
excuse for the levying of this illeg
al tax by Mr.. Wilson and his associ
ates was the necessity to replenlsf
the Grand Lodge Treasury delpetee
and almost destroyed by the extrava
gance and mismanagement OF TIM
Wilson administration in order t!
meet the 100000 annual payroll
Virginia Elks are simply defend
ing themselves and defying tn
rights of Messrs. Wilson, Howard
and Houston to destroy them ant
the results of years of loyal service
and labor. Mr. Wilson carried Viz
einia Elks into the courts ant
must assume full responsibility To-
whatever happens as result O
that precipitate action on his part
This conference solemniy affirm
that the Virginia Defense agains
Wilson and wisconsin is not TN
fight of Carter or any other indivl
dual. Carter like all other loyal VIZ
ginians has been called to serve
righteous cause and that is, the re
storation and salvation Of the orde'