The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-17
A. O. U. W. CONVENTION.
Twelfth Session of the Legion of Sc
lect Knights at Leavenworth.

Ieavenworth, Oct. 1.-THE twelfth
session of the Grand Legion of Kansas,
Select knights, Ancient Order of United
WOrkmen, will commence its labOrS in
this city tomorrow morning, preceding
with a parade through the streets and
prize drill at Fort Leavenworth Mon
day afternoon.
The Grand Legion has 175 sub-legions
working under it's jurisdiction, covering
the states of Kansas, Colorado, Missouri,
Montana and Washington, and Okla
hOma territory. There is a membership
of $500, and one of the features of the
order is insurance on the classified plan,
as in the Workmen.
A number of Grand Legion officers
are already on the ground. Among
those now present are Ben D. Lilard,
grand commander, ottawa, and E. M
Forde, grand recorder, Emporia- The
other officers of the Grand Legion are;
S. w. Kinkaid, grand vice commander,
BeIOit: George F. Almond, grand lieu
tenant commander, Kingman; L. H.
NettIeton, grand treasurer, Ottawa; O.
Swanson, grand standard bearer, To-
peka; R. r. Fleck, grand senior war
den, Kansas City; N. B. ChateLe, grand
junior warden, Galena, and l. b. Bur
kett, outside Waterman.
Important recommendations will be
submitted by Grand Commander Lillard
as follows: That the order shall here
after be known as the Independent
Order of Select Knights that the let
ters, "A o. u W." and the words
Ancient Order United Workmen" be
eliminated from the constitution ana
ritual: that everything pertaining to
the select Knights" degree be stricken
out; that the initiation fee be made 50
for the two degrees, except at institu-
ton of a new legion, provided, the
grand commander may grant a legion
permission to waive initiation fee for a
limited time; and that there be a WalV-
er of vaccination.
Grand Recorder F'orde reports the is
suance of 853 beneficiary certificates for
the past twelve months. There was col
lected for beneficiary funds $685. 40.
The receipts for the general fund were
Sc. 447.89, making a total OF $l4,fO134-
The total expenses including Kansas
Workman were $7,727. Sc. Balance IN
hand September 81, 561.24.
Grand Recorder Forde announces that
he must sever his official connection
with the Grand Legion, which he has
served for seventeen years in the same
capacity. A year ago he came to the
Grand Legion determined not to permit
his name to be used as a candidate Tor
reelection, but the body having adopted
the new plan of insurance, 1T seemed
TO him like an abandonment of the or
der to leave. The growing. work and
responsibility resting on MIN IN the
office of grand recorder of the A. .. u.
w. absolutely requires that, in Justlce
to himself, as well as to the SeIecC
Knights his name be not again conSld@
cred Now that he has started the or
der fairly on the new plan, so that a
new man can take up the work without
serious detriment to the order, ne IeelS
at liberty to ask to be permitted to re-
Grand Commander Lillard, having
served three years, also declines to be a
candidate for reelection. Inere are
two candidates for his place. WI1naIn
Cross of Kansas City and Or' IL ~
Howard of Topeka
No one has yet been spoken of for
recorder as far as could be ascerta1ned-