Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-02-14

To Joseph Root, now sovereign
commander Of the Woodmen Of tn
World, a schismatic branch of tn
Modern Woodmen society, is due tn
honor of introducing Modern Wood
men Of America to the people of tn
United States. To others is due tn
credit Of making the society a con
stellation of first magnitude in thu
galaxy OF stars occupying the frater
nal beneficiary iirmament;but was Mr.
Root undoubtedly the originator o
Woodcraft. The fact that later h
was charged with exploiting tn
society's treasury for his personal pro
fit, does not take from him this honor
The society, Modern Woodmen o
America, dated for its beginning bacl
to the year 1880. Mr.. Root, who re
sided at Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa
had been identified with two frater
nal benefit societies whose field wa
the Hawkeye state. His actual ex
perience was that one-state societies
could not, owing to their circum
scribed field, develop any great pro
portions, if they selected Their member
ship with ordinary life insurance care
He believed that an organization
could be devised that, If confined
within reasonable territorial limits
say several of the middle and north
western states-would be a success
because IL conld carefully select it
members and still have millions o.
possible supporters.
Mr.. Root became ambitious to de
monstrate the value Of his theory, anC
first sought to interest the socitieI
with which he was officially connect
ed; but the state jurisdiction idea hat
too strong a hold on the membership
They rejected his suggestion to en-
large their field. Then he determined
to establish a new society which would
reflect his views.
One Sunday in July, 1882, while
listening to the delivery of a sermon
by Rev. Sidney Crawford, in The
First Congregational church at Lyons
Iowa, he heard the reverend gentle
man speak of "Woodmen clearing
away the forest" ut was like the
appearance of a rainbow Of beauty
and promise after a summer shower
The Woodmen! The name was sug
gestive Of a useful employment. II
suggested sturdy health, vigor ant
life. 1t was a new name for a frater
nal organization and, therefore
Modern 1t was indigenous to the
soil Of the land, 80 what could be more
appropriate than to add of America.
Thus the name was decided, Modern
Woodmen of America" This is Mr.
Roots explanation, but Others have
since claimed that the name was
simply an adaptation of the "Order Of
Wood-Splitters, a society which ex'
listed in France In the 18th century.
At all events, the society is here, has
more members than any other society
in the United States, and gained oveI
10000 members and l ,796 local lodges
or Camps" as they are called, during
the year 1900.
DR.. McKinnie's retirement was fol
lowed by the resignation Of Head
Clerk IL. M. Kennedy on December s
1889. L. L. Fish served as Clerk pre-
tenn until Frank Q. Brayton was ap
pointed to the Office on January l
1889, but he also resigned On January
8, 1890, and A. F. Morrison succeeded
him. There were several other resig
nations and removals Of minor heat
officers, and meantime the entire mem
bership had individually become in
volved in the contention. The news
paper press of Chicago, st. Paul, Min
neapolis, Springfield, Des Moines an(
Kansas City, and the country press
wherever a Woodman Camp was 10
Gated, took a part. In fact, the people
of the entire west became interested
The society suffered tremendously
of course. The people distrustet
everything bearing the name of Wood
craft. Some gains in membership
we're made, but the seeds of dlsinte
grafton were fl%ourishing and the deatf
Of the society became only a question
of time.
The visit of the Illinois State Au
ditor to the WoOdmen head office il
November 1889, and his subsequent
report, added quick fuel to the flames
The Auditors report was a blisterinl
indictment of the Root administra
tion. He reported that
"The books and accounts of thu
business Of said association have beel
kept in an irregular and unbusiness
like manner; that certain books o
financial transactions have been mu
tilated; that moneys from the benea
fund have been wrongfully used for tn
payment of expenses; that Head Con
sui J.. G. Root has collected larg
amounts Of moneys belonging to tn
said society and wrongful!y Withhold
said funds from the ~society's treas
urer; that on the fifth Gay Of Novem
Der Head Consul Root had refused {
to furnish to the Illinois State exam
ners the books and papers of the Sc
ciety for an examination; that whe
they were at last produced some wer
mutilated by having pages cut ou1
that Head Consul Root was defraudin
the society in the sale of supplies; tina
Root and other officers of the aSSocii
tion did, on or about the Sth day
February, 1889, cause to be paid a falls
and fraudulent claim Of 5000, pre-
tended to be on the death Of job
Bernum, a pretended member Of sal
society, when in truth and in fac
there was no such person a membC
of such society, and no such perso
died, and the claim was frauduler
and wholly fictitious; that Head Coz
IWANTFD At 0NCF