Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-09
SOCIETIES AROUSED.
All in Arms to Prevent the Passage of the
johnson Bill.

All in Arms to Prevent the Passage of TIN
johnson Bill.
Chicago, March s. Insurance fratern
tiles in Chicago and elsewhere through
out the state are in arms against senat,
bull No. 100, Introduced by G. Porter
johnson, and which it is claimed. Il
passed, will drive all fraternal sOcletie:
out of the state. A number of repre-
sentatives of societies left for Spring
field last night to lobby against the bill
and they will be joined by others, SO
there is determination to tight the
measure to the death. In view of the
fact that big majority of members OF
the general assembly are come cted
with one or more mutual benefit organ
iZations whose eXistenceS are threat
ened, the fate of the bill, in its pres n
shape at least, seems to be sealed.
Among the frateInities imperlled by
the bill are the Royal Arcanum. Al
cient Order OF United Wcrkmen, indie
pendent Order of Red Men, American
Legion of Honor, Grand Army OF the
Republic, knights of Honor, Nario nal
Union, knights of Pythias, Sons of st.
George, Ancient Order OF Hibernians,
Patriotic Order Sons of America, and a
score of similar societies.
The principal objection to Senator
the answers of applicants shall not be
warranties, but merely representations.
This CLAUSE, it IS claimed, would throw
open the gates to impostors and would
prevent fraternities from protecting
themselves from imposition.
The bill also requires rese rye
sufficient to cover the net cost accord
Ing to the standard of assurances
issued. This would wipe out of exist
fra lot
in the stare. 1t would be practically
impossible for them TO comply with its
provisions, and wou'd in effect cancel
the policies of more than OO,OOO people,
most of whom have paid in large sums
of money, which would be lost.
Among those who are bitterly de-
nouncinR the hill, which they designate
"sandbagging scheme" are Supreme
Scribe c. A. Warren of the Royal
League, RobertV an Sar DIS of the Roy al
Arcanum; Leo Canman, president OF
the Cook county cabinet of the Nation
al union; L. W. Saunders. secretary OF
the Independent Order of FOrresters :;
John z. Ahrens OF the Royal Arcauum,
Frank n. Gage, III. H. G. Miller and
others. MIR. Warren left for Spring
field last night, and Will be followed by
others. Speaker Craft IS a member of
the Royal Arcanum. ana 1t is hoped
the measure. The bill was introduced
into the senate Jan. %, and is now on
its third reading 1t will be taken up
this week and final vote will be had.
The friends of the mutual organiZa
tiOns have been sending bushels of let
tiers to the senators urging the m to Ce-
feat the measure.
In the Illinois SENATE.
Springfield, March 8. The sensation of
the day in legislative circles was the
attack by Senator johnson of Cock on
the insurance lobby. The Chicago
evening papers of yesterday contained
lengthy articles and interviews with O..
A. Warren, gu preme scribe of the Roy al
League, in which he denounced John
sons bill reg uiating Insurance com
panies as an Ubiquitous attempt to de-
StrOy fraternal insurance companies in
the interest of old-line companies, and
inSinuating that JOhnsOD's motive was
one of revenge against fraternal socie-
ties that refused MIN admission.
Senator johnson rose to a question
of privilege To-Day, ana alter reading
the statement denounced it as AN in
famous and outrageous lie. and one cal
cnlated to impugn his motives. He
demanded, In vindicatIOn of his own
course, that the bill be recOmmitted for
the fullest possible hearing The BILL
he said, was drawn up by Miles 5. Dsw-
son of Chicago, and approved by many
of the most promins mt members of the
Chicago bar. johnson paid his respects
TO insurance lobbyists in language not
exactly parliamentary but very vIgor-
GUS. The bill was recommitted as he
requested, and on motion of Campbell,
Warren was denied the privileges OF
the ACOr of the senate hereafter.
This evening Warren issued q card
over his signature alleging that the bill
was in the interest of old line insur..
ance companies and inimical to the in ..
terests of frsIernal societies