The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-11
Woodmen's National Conven-
ton Opens Aggressively.
NEW RITUAL INCIDENT
Head Consul Wished His Work Re
viewed by Outsiders.
DELEGATES OBJECTED AT ONCE
They Insist That a Delegate Com
mittee Shall Do the
Work.

The twelfth biennial session of the head
lamp, Modern Woodmen of America,
opened this morning in the St. Paul audi
torium, with the full complement of 629
delegates present. The morning was
taken up with addresses of welcome and
preliminary business, the reports of Off
GERS being presented this afternoon.
The only ripple of interest this morn
ing came when Head Consul Northcott
announced that his revision of the ritual
was ready to submit. He asked that
committee be created to consider it and
report. AS part of the cut and dried
program, Delegate Swanson of Missouri,
presented resolution creating commit
tee of ten, to be selected from members
Of the order outside the delegates, who
should receive the same pay as delegates.
The head camp was in no humor for
this. The head consul's .'cinch" campaign
for reelection has assured him his posi-
tion for another two years, but it has
stirred up some feeling against him.
There was a chorus of protests against
this resolution, and a delegate from Ill-
nois moved to lay it on the table. A
viva voce vote plainly carried the motion.
but the head consul called for a rising
vote. The resolution to lay on the table
was carried. Later, after a howl from
Nebraska, which had elected another del
egate and wanted him seated Edgar
Howard, the Indian statesman, moved the
appointment of a committee on ritual to
consist of ten delegates. An amendment
10 include two outsiders on the committee
was lost, and Howards resolution was
carried with a cheer. 1t was a distinct
turn down for the head consul.
Opening Delayed.
The delegates were a little slow in ar
irving at the hall. While they were coll
lecting about their state banners on the
main floor of the auditorium, the For
esters' band of Minneapolis and the Girls
band of Wentworth, Kan, poured forth
stirring strains from the gallery back Of
the stage.
Head Consul Northcott raped the head
camp to order at 10:30, and declared it's
twelfth annunal session officially opened.
Rev. James L. Churm of Waupun, Wis,
head chaplain, then invoked the divine
blessing on the session. The Woodmens
quartet of Shelbyville, Ind, sang, and
Governor Van SAINT was introduced to ex-
tend the welcome of the state Of Mime
sofa. He said:
Van SAINT Speaks.
Head consul and neighbors both royal and
common, greet you on behalf of the great
commonwealth of Minnesota, with a welcome
as broad as the state. Illinois, the banner
state of the order, gave to the union three
of its noblest men, Lincoln, Grant and Logan
and gave $50 0G0 men to the union army. But
Minnesota is far greater in area and will
eventually sustain a greater population Our
broad acres raise wheat TO feed the world
but the output of our dairies last year ex-
ceeded in value the wheat crop, so that we
are now entitled to be called the bread-and-
butter state. We rival Pennsylvania in our
iron product, and can keep it up for 100 years.
We have broad rivers and 1000 sylvan lakes.
1 belong to this magnificent order and am
proud of my membership. In behalf of $4,000
Woodmen OF Minnesota l give you a neigh
borly welcome.
Patriotism is the need of the hour, and it
will always be to the credit of this order
that when the Spanish war broke out the
young men were told that if they enlisted,
their policies would be paid in case they were
killed in battle.
In conclusion the governor welcomed
the ladies and said he was only sorry that
MS arms were not long enough 10 Gm-
brace them all in his welcome.
NOrthcOtt's Speech.
Mayor Robert A. Smith extended the
welcome of st. Paul, and after another
song by the quartet. Head Consul North
colt replied to the address with a high
tribute to Minnesota and the twin cities,
concluding by extolling the order and
its cardinal principle of brotherly love.
He declared the order the greatest fra
ternal beneficiary order in the world. The
order comes with no question about its
finances, and no question about its
growth, when it adds 600 members to
its ranks every month. Neither is there
any serious question about the admins
tration of the order. 1t is a representa-
tive government, and in the end every
thing is determined by the votes of its
members. 1t is the right kind of gov
ernment, but its members must learn to
abide by it. He continued significantly:
If you are ambitious of distinction, go at
1t openly, like man. Be fair, honest and
upright. Go out and hustle for what you
want. You have a right to do il, but do
it openly and above board.
All is we'll in our head camp, and during
its sessions we will be guided by the fraternal
spirit.
On resolution of Frink of Iowa, the head
consul was authorized to appoint the fol-
1OWlQS committees, OF ten Q6l6SaI6S 6ac0.
Resolutions, rules, order of business, sala-
ries and compensation, head officers re-
ports, and elections.
Tom Williamson, of Urbana, ILL.,, the
reading clerk, announced the committees
as follows:
The, Committees.
Order of Business-B. NJ. Chipr rerfeld. chair
man, Illinois; E. c. H. Squires, Missouri; j.
J. Stewart, Iowa; S. c. Rea, Minnesota; E. A.
Walrath, Nebraska; 1. H. L. Dodd Michigan
A. B. Spickler, Illinois; F. A. Duxbury, Min
nesota, T. J. Mathews, Wisconsin, DR.. J. o.
Chambers, Kansas.
Rules. H Mitchell, chairman, Miss ouri /;
DR.. w. J. Truitt, Illinois; H. H. Fellows,
Iowa; j. w. Barnett, Nebraska: L. c. Bree-
den, Kansas; E. H. Swasey, Iowa; A J. An
derson, Illinois; w. T. Sprake North Da-
kota; J. A. Marchard, Ohio; R. A Martin,
Missouri.
Resolutions W. Clark, chairman,
Kansas; ]. J. Thompson, Illinois; F. B. In
gals. Iowa; G. c. Whitman, Missouri; W. E.
Wire, Illinois; c. L. Reed Nebraska w F.
Parish, Michigan; g. T. DUNCAN Indiana; F.
B. Wickersham, Pennsylvania; A. Pierce
Tomkins, Wisconsin
Head Officers Reports-Frank E Scott.
chairman, Iowa; w. A. Panneck, Illinois; C.