The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-01

There is a split over the question of
readjuStment of insurance rates. among
the members of the Modern Woodmen
of America in st. Paul.
Head Consul Northcott advised the
officials Of the fifteen camps in st. Paul
that he would be in st. Paul the night
of Sept. 80 and would at that time adj
dress the Woodmen on the subject of a
step rate" plan of insurance instead
of the fixed rate" plan, now in force.
A committee Of three from each of
the fifteen camps in st. Paul was ap-
pointed to consider the matter and the
result was that instead of approving of
the meeting the joint committee invit-
ed Consul Northcott not to come and
advised that the meeting be abandoned.
Members of the order who joined in
the sentiments expressed in the reso-
lutions say that Mr.. Northcott sent to
New York and secured the services of
Harry Franklin and three other en-
ployes of the head camp; and, ignor-
ing the resolutions of the joint COM
mittee, prepared to hold the meeting
as advertised.
The meeting came off as scheduled
at Mozart hall last night, and Head
Consul Northcott, in a two hours talk,
explained the new plan of insurance,
being assisted in his talk with numer-
Gus charts.
Line Up Opposition.
At the conclusion of the address by
Mr.. Northcott, the members of the To-
cal camps who are opposed to the new
plan submitted a resolution to the eff
feet that the Modern Woodmen of st.
Paul were decidedly opposed to the re-
adjustment plan of insurance.
The introduction of the resolution
was followed by proposition from
Mr.. Northcott in the shape of a sub
stitute resolution providing that the
question be laid over and voted upon
at the February meeting when the
delegates are selected. L. Clarity,
who made the original motion, accept
ed the substitute.
The chairman of the meeting called
for rising vote on the adoption Of
the substitute motion and declared it
carried.
Neighbor Harry Monroe then stated
that the question had not been fully
discussed, and asked that it be re-
opened. G. Bombach moved to lay the
whole subject matter on the table.
Head Consul Northcott said this
was the right thing to do as the meet
ing was not an organized body, and
thereupon withdrew his substitute.
Music by the orchestra followed, aft
er which the meeting adjourned.
Say Action Was Illegal.
Those who took part in the prepara-
ton Of the resolution by the joint COM
mittee claimed, after the meeting adj
journed, that the decision of the chair
man in declaring the substitute resolu-
ton introduced by Mr.. Northcott, as
having been adopted, was illegal in
that the negative vote was not called
for.
ut was another evidence Of gag rule
such as the parties interested in fore
ing through the new plan of insurance
have been using" said one of the prom
inent members of a local camp last
night, land unless the matter is drop
ped now it will have the effect of dis
rupting the order"
"Disrupt Nothing" Says Northcott..
Disrupt the Modern Woodmen Of
America, eh," laughingly exclaimed
Head Consul Northcott, when seen at
the Ryan hotel after the meeting.
"That sounds a good deal like the talk
some years ago about the money ques-
ton disrupting the United States.
eff the Modern Woodmen haven't
got nerve enough to stand a discussion
Of the governmental principles of the
order, why we ought to cult It's sim
ply a question Of government. That's
all.
GAS for the rising vote, which the
chair declared, carried my substitute
motion to lay the matter over, fully
three fourths of the members were on
their feet in the affirmative.
81 am sure the neighbors went away
well satisfied with the lecture and the
result Of the meeting. Many Of the
members in attendance came to me
after the lecture and said that while
they had been opposed to any readjust-
ment of the insurance plan they now
knew that something had to be done,
and they hoped that the Indianapolis
head camp would make an adequate
change in the rates"
The head consul expressed himself
as highly gratified at the courtesies
extended to him by the committee and
the Woodmen Of st. Paul, irrespective
of their personal Views on the ques ton
Of readjustment.