The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-02-21
GOVERNOR CALLS
IT REpREHENSIbLE
Criticises Secretary Gilbert
Stevenson of the Masonic
Aid Association.
POSTAL CARD POLITICS
Chief Executive Explains the Mat
ters at Which Stevenson Is Said
to Have Taken Umbrase-
State Is Misrep.csented.

Plerre, S. D., Feb. 17.-Secretary
stevenson of the Masonic Aid associa-
ton is sending out a postal card to
each member demanding payment OF
dues with the penalty of a lapse of
membership in case of failure. In his
cara he attempts to mix politics with
the matter, and several who have re-
celved these notices have called the at
tehtlon or Governor Herreid, who says:
My attention has been called to the
reprehensible efforts of Gilbert F..
stevenson, secretary of the Western
Masons' Mutual Life association. in
trying to mix politics, Masonry and
business. He is sending out to the
members of the association the follow
lEg postal card:
1ankton, S. D., Feb. 1, 19O2.-This
IS 10 notify you hat if your January
assessment, $4.35 and 81 fine Imposed
oy the state of South Dakota for hav-
ing contributed to the relief of the
widows and orphans Of Masons who
oeiohg to this association, a total of
Ss.5o, is no paid by February IS, 1902,
your membership will be lapsed.
Gilbert f. Stevenson,
. Secretary
Siiiaps d pT1eI explanation is prop
er. About ten years ago this insurance
company commenced an action in the
supreme court against L. c.. TAYLOR,
state auditor. to compel him to issue a
certlllcate of authority to do business
unuer the laws of the state, Mr.. Tay-
ior having refused because the assoc
clatlon mad not paid the 9 per cent tax
on the gross amount of it's assessments
INTO the state treasury, as reuuire bv
Jaw.
'Ihe supreme court decided against
the association and held that it must
Ne regarded as q mutual benefit asso-
clauon, n not a secret, benevolent.
or fraternal society which pays sick Or
death benefits to the widows and or
phans or heirs or relative of deceased
members, and does not come within
the proViso of section SO Of the insur-
ance laws of South Dakota.
Mr.. Stevenson accordingly paid the
. per cent tax and was given a certif-
cate. This association is not of the
sam class as the Workmen or Wood
men societies. Besides, its case has
been before the supreme court and
settled.
When the present insurance com
missioner, H. c.. Shober, demanded the
2 per cent tax, according to the law as
interpreted by the supreme court, Mr..
stevenson again refused to pay. MI.
Shober hen submitted the matter to
the attorney general, and acting upon
his advice again demanded the tax. To
send out postal cards designing the IL
cense fee required by law a fine i'm
posed by the state of South Dakota for
having contributed to the relief of the
widows and orphans of Masons,' is en-
tirely Intentionally misleading and will
be so regarded by every fair-minded
man and every n familiar with Ma
sonic teachings.
1T is the. business of the administra-
tive officers to enforce the laws of this
state, as interpreted by the legal de-
partment and the supreme court, and
I take this opportunity of saying to
Mr.. Stevenson that Notwithstanding
his, numerous political threats this adj
ministration will endeavor to enforce
the laws, which if unjust, can be
amended only by legislative action"