In Philadelphia, one Mrs. Mary C. Bletcher, artist, stopped a mail wagon, climbed to the driver's seat, clutched the reins, demanded the driver's arrest for driving a lame horse. Traffic jammed for 45 minutes. Police veterinaries declared the horse fit.

Elks

Cincinnati was the scene last week of Elkdom's 63rd convention.

"Elkdom" is the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks--a white men's organization which originated in 1867 among Manhattan entertainers as the Jolly Corks, first for sheer fun, later to do good.

There is also an Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, for Negroes. Improved Elkdom was embroiled last week in legal proceedings over where it would hold its 28th annual Grand Lodge sessions next year, white Elks in Manhattan having prevailed upon black Elks to forgo meeting there as planned.

If all Elks should attend an annual convention, the convention city would be badly crowded. Though 10,000 Elks dropped out or died in the past year, there are still more than 800,000 of them, in all walks of life.* Cincinnati felt comfortably full last week with some 5,000 of the 800,000 on hand--marching, singing, trapshooting, eating "burgoo" (Kentucky stew), watching fireworks. Purple, the Elk's color, hung everywhere. "Hello, Bill! Are you an Elk?"* was the phrase of the week.

High moments for the Elks were: 1) their decision to convene next year in Miami, Fla.; 2) their election of John Frank Malley, Boston lawyer, as Grand Exalted Ruler; 3) Grand Exalted Ruler Malley's speech of acceptance.

Grand Exalted Ruler Malley, Yale graduate (1902), onetime Massachusetts state senator, an Elk since 1904, said:

" ... We believe that the people of the U. S. see in it "Elkdom" the embodiment of all that is noble in American Manhood. Devotion to God, loyalty to country, love of our fellowmen. These are the virtues which have given us character as an organization, because we function as a powerful factor in national life, the people are inspired with new hope, that the ideals for which the forefathers sacrificed their all, will continue to guide as beacons lighting the true course.

"Our order is attuned to the times. It vibrates in harmony with the best thought in America. Those who can read the signs of the present period of national life know that atheism, bigotry, bolshevism, disrespect for law and order and arrogant interference with the liberties of the individual are the evils which right-minded citizens must combat. If the members of this order practice what they preach we constitute the organized force best prepared to battle against these un-American tendencies. . . .

"Upon the altar of Elkdom there lies an open Bible--the book of truth-God's law. No man can pass our portal of initiation until he has said 'I believe in the existence of a Supreme Being'. . . .

"The Reds and the Bolsheviks are increasing in number in this country, and are becoming bolder in spreading their vicious propaganda. ... To the Bolshevik and their ilk ... we hurl defiance. The sacrifice of our forefathers must not be in vain. . . .

"Today we are the custodians and defenders of American principles. Like the Greeks of Thermopylae, like the French and Allies at Verdun, we stand blocking the path of these invaders of our cherished rights. 'They shall not pass.' The ideals of America shall be preserved, for us, our children and our children's children.

"Grand Exalted Ruler Malley proposed that an endowment fund be raised, perhaps out of the profits of the Elks Magazine (monthly), to help Elk projects (scholarships, homes for cripples, tuberculosis hospitals, playgrounds) in many states. The Grand Lodge (Elk senate) pondered his proposal.

Charles H. Grakelow, retiring Grand Exalted Ruler, proposed that a boys' order of Elks be founded. The Grand Lodge approved the idea subject to ratification by the subordinate lodges.

Other officers elected:

Robert S. Barrett, Alexandria Va., grand esteemed leading knight.

David Schultz, Daytona, Fla., grand esteemed loyal knight.

Harry Lowenthal, Evansville, Ind., grand esteemed lecturing knight.

Fred C. Robinson, Dubuque, Iowa, grand secretary (re-elected).

Fred C. Morris, Mexico, Mo., grand treasurer (re-elected).

Dr. Ralph F. Hagen, Fargo, N. Dak., grand tiler.

E. J. Morossin, Birmingham, Ala., grand inner guard.

*Says Grand Exalted Ruler of Improved (colored) Elkdom J. Finley Wilson (of Washington): "There are 250,000 Improved Elks, including: men, women and children, located in the U. S., islands of the seas, Canada, Central and South America and Africa, with over 500% increase in finance and numerical strength during the five years of my administration.

*Standard greeting for an Elk to give a stranger. At convention time it is also an Elk exclamation.