The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-13
SHALL THEY VOTE
Interesting Question Concerning Ma
tional officers K. & L. of S.

The national council knights and La
dies of Security devoted the greater
part of the afternoon discussing a reso-
luton introduced by several past pres
idents of the Topeka lodges. The milk
Of the resolution was included in the first
section which reads:
The National Council shall be com
posed Of the national officers and MEM
bers of the board of control and repre-
Sentatives from each state having duly
established councils therein; provided,
that no member of the National Council
shall be entitled to a vote upon any
question in the National Council unless
such member shall be a duly elected and
accredited representative therein from
some state or council"
This resolution is designed to keep all
national officers from having a vote in
the national council. Heretofore all ma
tional officers have been allowed a vote
and have had the same power as a dele
gate in conventions
It seems to be assured that the pres
ent officers will all be reelected although
one or two of the candidates will be
given something in the way of minor
offices to recOmpenSe them for the trou-
Bile they have been put to.
Another change that is being discuss
ed is the election of delegates by dis
tricts instead of by states as has been
the custom. This change will certainly
be made as officers and delegates are III
favor of it as being a much more equi-
ldOlC AlSluOQ OL SlCClluS QeleRdBGS-
The report of the national officers
were very encouraging and showed a
decided increase of membership during
the past two years. The financial con-
dition of the order is excellent. The re-
serve fund, which exceeds $200, 900 has
been invested in good securities and
promises to exceed $780, 600 within the
next two years. The election of officers
will not take place until tomorrow al
though several delegates have been at
q 49a racr lu7. f3eT.fa r
business as they say the constant solic-
1ting of votes makes it almost impossi-
bic to do business.
The late Tuesday session was devoted
to hearing the reports of the various
committees and officers. The motion
that they be accepted as is usually done
by vote of the council brought out
an objection by George W. Reed of the
city, and a warm fight was started.
Mr.. Clark objected on the grounds
that the reports should be submitted to
a special committee appointed for that
purpose by the chair. He claimed that
the reports were not complete enough
and said that the members had a right
to know how the affairs of the order
had been conducted and the only way
they could know would be by a report
in detail. Mr. Clark also insisted that
the committee have power to require
the officers to state what they had done
with the general fund. David Over
myer, who is a member of the law COM
mlItee, leu the nSnI against Mr.. Reed :
motion and claimed that the reports
should be accepted as read. This
brought out the fact that Overmyer ha6
received some money as attorney fol-
the order and that Mr.. Reed did moi
like it as he couldn't see what Mr.. Over
myer had done in the way of legal ser
vices.
Mr.. Reed accused Mr.. Clark of jeal.
ousy because he had not been employed
as attorney and Mr. Reed replied
That's just the trouble. I and many
| other members are anxious to know
| what Brother Overmyer has done Il
earn money from the general fund
1 have been doing some hard thinking
and am unable to ascertain what he ha.
done"
The question was debated at grea
| length but the council finally decided
| in favor of Mr.. Reeds resolution and
| the committee of five was appointed
! The reports of the national officers wer'
| made out in detail and We're submitted
to the council this morning.