Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-21

NALL VI Nv W. 'NAAAi'6 ''h 49,
lH&$R$I to assist in that way the meeting@
~ of the Nebraska State fair
which was then located in this city, the
knights of Ak-Sar-Ben has come to be one
cf the most important festival societies in
the United States. ranking with the MarGi
Gras festival societies of New Orleans ard
Mobile and surprising them i'm many re
spects, for the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben are
bound down by no traditions and are free
to vary the nature of their displays in a
manner which is impossible 20 Rex, Proteus
or Comus, which by many years Of adhe-
renee to one line of display are now exp 'cted
to follow that line and no innovation woulG
be tolerated. BY innovation in parades and
other forms of entertainment the Omaha
society has preserved its freedom of action
and is as free today to introduce novelties
as it was the day it was first organized.
1t was the retail dealers organization
which conceived the idea of the carnival.
1t has been the wholesale dealer which has
porpetuated ii, and today it is looked upon
10y the jobber as one OF his most effective
Instruments for the purpose of increasing
MIS- sales and bringing him into friendly re
lations with his customers. The novel fea-
ture of the knights of Ak-Sar-Ben is the
annual limitations, which, beginning early
III INC mn = 'lNllN' "ii'Ai u WIN - w.
before the parade and ball. 1t is these
limitations which bring the people together
and which give the order its reputation in
the larger cities of the country. A parade,
be it never so meritorious, is but for a day
or night. Those who see it will be pleased,
will marvel and will speak of it, but a series
of meetings extending over several months
affords opportunity for many to enjoy 1t,
and as the plan Of admitting visitors to the
city free of charge upon the request Of a
local member of the order was early adopted
there are few travellers who make this city
who have not made it a point to reach here
on Monday night so they could join friends
at the den. There are men from New York,
Chicago and other cities who visit the den
annually and consider it as much a part of
their business in Omaha to be present once
at least at each annual initiation as ii is to
visit the trade.
The knights of Ak-Sar-Ben is a corpora
ton duly chartered by the state. Its stock
holders are the Board of Governors, which
is the governing power Of the order, ami
who have complete charge of the festival
and the work at the den. To keep the
board fresh in ideas it has been the practice
for a number of the members to retire at
the end Of each season, and fresh blood
would be added, which, in its second year,
would have much of the responsibility
placed upon it. For four years, beginning
with 1898, r. s. Wilcox was president Of
the board. In 1899 he was succeeded by
Thomas A. Fry. who has held the place
Since that time, and with one exception
This office has been changed less frequently
than any other. In 1895 Dudley Smith was
vice president. He was succeeded BY
Thomas A. Fry in 1897 and two years later
walter s. Jardine was elected to that pos
tion upon the elevation of Mr.. Fry to tn
presidency. This year he was succeeded
bv Fred Metz. w LYLE Dickey was the
trst secretary. He retired at the end Of
the first year and was succeeded by elem
ent Chase. The next year H, Vance Lane
WAS elected to that position, and in 1898
Nwos succeeded by A. II, Noyes, who con
tinued there until his removal from tn,
city in 1901, when Mel Uhl was elected and
has served since that time.
Through all Of the years the difficult posi-
tion Of treasurer has been held by on
man, whose devotion to the interests e
~" order has been exceeded by none and
whose enthusiasm has been perennial
Members of the Board Of Governors may
come and may go. Ideas may change and the
scope Of the order change, as II did three
years ago, but the backbone OF the board
the man who has not only planned to Sc
cure the sinews of war, but who has been
practically the actuary Of the public part
OF tn" work, has never changed. To the
NINA Of the average knight who has ben
III the order year after year the strength