The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-14
40. u. w. SUPREME D
ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DELEGATES
ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
Reception 10 the Members Mt the Cap-
ftoi-Statistfcs of the
Order.

The annual meeting OF the Supreme Lodge
Ancient Order United Workmen began yes
terday morning at the Statehouse in the
nah or the House OF Representatives. There
were about two hundred delegates present,
from nearly every State in the Union, some
OF whom are prominent political workers
In the States which they represent. Among
the more prominent delegates are Lii
tenant Governor Riddle. Of Kansas. J. NJ.
Miller. of Council Grove, Kan, a Repub-
mean Congressman; c. +. Vennegar, who
was United States collector OF customs at
81 Louis during the term OF President Har-
rison. and ]. W. Yantis. who was formerly
the State railroad and warehouse commits
sioner OF Illinois. The delegates are all en-
thusiastic over the courtesy paid the organi-
cation by the State government in allowing
the capitol building TO be used as the meet
ing place Of the convention.
As soon as the meeting was called TO or
der by Supreme Master Workman Sessions.
of Sioux Falls. s. d., a gavel made from
a rafter In the roof of the building where
the first meeting Of the order was held, was
presented by Supreme Overseer w. A.
Walker. Of Milwaukee. The entire morning
session was given up to a reading of the
reports OF the different officers. The SUI
preme masters report showed that there
had been a gratifying increase in the MEM
oership Of the order since the last annual
meeting. in spite OF the fact that the order
mad been passing through the process of
reorganization. The report brought UP the
question Of a total disability fund and
showed numerous reasons why such a plan
should be adopted.
Through the system of both supreme
and GRAND Iad-a.S IL ..sl
machinery for carrying on such a fund and
at the same time protect the order against
fraud. No one should be entitled TO total
disability benefits except for total and per-
manent disability, n when this is estab-
ished the grand lodge should pay the men,
Der 10 per cent. of his certificate annually"
Inc report of the supreme recorder. NJ. w.
Sackett, showed the finances OF the order
20 be in excellent condition. The receipts
LOT the. past year amounted to S575. SOSS5.
The relief fund reached 1856, 060.33 and the
war relief fund $40, 222.S7. In disbursements
ffs anadI.' Sd. ss @e eas! War so the fsnd del ifSO fq9 Cd zen general 5al
prene receiver now has on hand a balance
OF Sl5l ID The afternoon session was de-
making preparations for the business Of the
next ten days.
RECEPTION To VISITORS.
Beginning at $3.50 last night a reception
was given the visiting delegates by the local
lodges. The delegates formed in line in
front OF the Grand Hotel and marched to
the Statehouse with a brass band in the
lead and the Indianapolis, Terre Haute
and S~helbyville lodges acting as es-
corts. When the evenings programme
opened. the hall Of the House of Repre-
sentatives was packed with the members
OF both fraternities-the A. o. u. w. and
me Degree Of Homer or Women's Auxiliary.
OF ceremonies and introduced the speech
makers. After a prayer by Rev. +. c.
Woodland. Charles A Wilson, Governor
on behalf OF the State. Past Supreme Mas
ter w. S. Robson, of Lagrange. Tex, fol-
ali Of the visitors tasp were d. del W z f to f be- In 'f In.
diana he told OF the growing power Of the
organization and said that if all men and
there would cease to be such a thing as a
poorhou5e. City Attorney Kern, acting for
Mayor Iaggart; who was too III 70 appear'
ard assured the visitors that Indianapolis
Was theirs as long as they chose TO re-
Detroit. spoke in glowing terms of the at
fractions of indianapolis, saying. that the
Mississippi valley. ''The order met here
thirty years ago." he said, when the town.
like the order itself. was an infant. and we
full fraternity, to find a powerful city" The
next feature of the programme was a vocal
solo by Mrs. Ida Gray Scott, who so won
the audience with her clear soprano voice
that she was compelled to respond with an
encore.
Grand Master Workman Neal. Of Indian
apolis, addressed the assembly on Indiana
Jurisdiction" In the course of his remarks
he said that no other fraternal organiza-
ton in the State of Indiana had done so
much good as the A. o. u. W., which was
not SO great In numbers as 1t was in ac-
complishments. Poverty has been driven
almost wholly out of some communities of
the State by the workings Of the order"
he said. Other addresses were made by II.
G. Sessions, of Sioux Falls, S. D.: d.. j. A.
Houser. of Indianapolis, and Rev. j. g..
Tate. of Lincoln, Neb., and short talks on
the women's auxiliary work were given by
Mrs. Emma j. Curtner, of Hazelton, Ind,
and Mrs. Kate Blewett, OF Jamestown, N.
ID. At the conclusion of the speechmaking,
Past Grand Master Barnes, of California,
read an original poem eulogistic or the
order, after which the members Of the local
lodges presented Grand Master Neal with
a handsome gold watch and chain as a
token of esteem.
The meeting will continue this morning.
when several Important questions Will prob
ably be discussed. The women's branch of
the order will also continue its session to-
day in the Senate chamber. and will give
a reception tonight TO the A. O. u. w,
during which there will be a number OF ad-
awo.-o. randa-ed hv pr0minent members of