The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-09
HEAD 0F Workman HERE
HEADQUARTERS IN THIS
CITY
wILLMAR IS VERY SORRY
Kandiyohi Metropolis Had Enjoyed
the EmoIuments for Long Time
and Was 10th to Part
Herewith.

st. Paul is now the location of the
Headquarters of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen of the state of Mime
sofa. 1t became such last Monday, as
the result of an official act of the last
grand lodge meeting. which was held in
this city last March For a number or
years change in the location of this
Office has been contemplated and st. Paul
has not failed to court the acquisition
which she now possesses, and her sister,
the Mill City, just over the way, has also
exercised a most active vigilance in an
endeavor to land the Office. Hence the
removal of the headquarters to this city
represents a victory for the Saint over
his competitors, chief among which was
Minneapolis The decision of the grand
lodge was that st. Paul was the most de-
sirahle place for the office and offered
the most advantages to it's interests and
this decision was final.
Obviously, the location of an Office of
this kind doing a business for the order
amounting to 100000 annually. meant
big thing for a town the size of Willmar,
and it was quite natural that the people
of that little city were persistent in their
efforts to retain the central Office. But
Willmar lacked so many essentials which
the center of so large and important an
organization needs, that il became neces-
Sary to make a change. The fact that
tons for ten years past urged on its citi-
zens to a strenuous fight looking to the
prevention of the change, but when the
grand lodge met, WilImar had only two
representatives from the order there, and
they were powerless to influence the
action Of that body.
Although in vain, Wtllmar's claims
were practical from Willmar's standpoint.
The locati of the Office there meant $50
;Tlf-
and a considerable sum to the banks,
besides a collateral revenue in other
directions. The total membership of the
order in this state is now over $500
and the annual dues or collections
amount to $780, GEO. These matters are
worthy of consideration by town the
size of Willmar; consequently it is nc
wonder that Minneapolis made such a
desperate fight for the enterprise.
Mr. OIof Olson, who is the grand re-
| corder for this fraternal organization in
this state, stated to a c. l o b reporter
| that ST. Paul has more lodges than any
| other city in Minnesota, and that the
| large majority of the membership is
south of this city and within short dis
| lance Of it. Besides the Twin Cities hold
! 5000 of the 25. 600 members in the state
These facts taken into consideration, ii
! becomes evident that the capital city is
the logical place for the central office
and that its removal to this city was
the part of wisdom by the grand lodge
| Another very pertinent argument why
the Office should have been transferred tt
ST. Paul. is the fact that this is the loca-
ton of the treasurer Of that order, City
Comptroller McCardy, who has held thi:
position ever since the organization was
| planted in Minnesota.
The same Office force, with Recorder
Olof Olson at the head, has been trans
ferred with the Office from Willmar Il
this city, and it is doubtful whether
with the better facilities which this cit.
offers for the handling of the work, j
| will be necessary to increase that force.