Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-15

facts. | quote from the editorials:
LAS an act of charity it was a very
handsome thing to do, but as a breach
Of fiduciary trust it ought to arraign
every delegate upon a charge of en-
bezzlement. In whatever capacity those
Officials were acting, they certainly
We're representing policy holders in an
insurance order which had intrusted to
; them the Keeping of funds given in
trust for one purpose, VIZ: the insur-
ance expenses of the order"
II quote further:
1T is even question whether a ma :
iority of the entire membership would
have right to vote common funds to
any purpose other than insurance OBJ
Legations. since each contract with in
dividual members was made upon the
eNpress understanding that the money
paid in by him should be used for in
surance purposes. But il there is any
coubt about the right Of majority of
the policy holders to vote this money
away from the objects fer which it was
given in trust, there can he little ques.
ton as to the right of delegates elected
10 represent their state camps in insur-
aEce matters to vote funds for any
tother than insurance purposes
Now to begin with, the resolution
voted a sum. not TO exceed $4,000. not
for the general relief of Hood sufferers,
but for the immediate :elief of flood
Sufferers among members of the Mod
ern Woodmen of America The resolu-
tion is as follows
Resolved. That the executive
lcouncil be authorized to eXpend a sum
Iof money out of the general fund of
this order. not to exceed $4,000, for
| the immediate relief of food sufferers
among members of the Modern Wood
men of America. and that they be fur
| Their authorized to issue an appeal to
the entire jurisdiction for the relief of
| the flood sufferers: and further, that
| the action of the executive council in
expending $1,000 for immediate relief
be and the same is hereby approved
| This resolution was adopted unani-
mously.
This amount was voted out of the
general fund of the order and not the
benefit fund. This general fund is not
used for the purpose o. paying off
death losses. as every Woodman
knows.
The article intimates hat in voting
beyond its jurisdiction and purposes. In
answer to that / wish to quote part
Of section of chapter l of the by
laws of the order:
1.-The purposes of this society shall
be, affording Of substantial benefits to
and the promoting of fraternal rela-
tons among its members, during life.
and the furnishing of financial aid and
indemnity to the beneficaries Of bene-
fetal members CATER thu death of such
beneficial members), in accordance with
the articles of association etc.
1T is suggested that the head camp
has no jurisdiction of the matter. l
quote from section IS of chapter 16 of
the bylaws of the order, in which.
among other things, 1t is specified that
the following may be done at the regu-
lar meeting of the head camp: Trans
act such other business SIS may be by |
it deemed necessary or expedient to
carry out the purposes and objects of |
this society,"
1T seems to me that in view of the
sections quoted there can be no ques-
ton but that the head camp was car
rying out one of the primary purposes
of the order in voting the resolution
,na that tho head camp had the
right, given to it by the laws which
govern the order. to dispose of the mat
ter as above set out"
The Times Republican editor is not
a Woodman and had not read the by
laws of the order when he wrote his
article. 1t appeared to him that or
general principles, fraternal order
for insurance purposes was
securing members and collecting as
sessments for that purpose solely and,
regardless Of what might be the by
laws drafted by designing officials, the
actual contract between member and
the order was that the members money
should be used for insurance purposes
only. The decision was reached by
course of direct, common sense reason
ing. Now that the question of the by
laws has been raised and its provisions
kave been read the T.-R. is even more
firmly convinced of the business of its
criticism.
We note the clause referred to by Mr.
Davis providing for substantial bene-
fits" during life, but Mr.. Davis should
know that that clause in the bylaws
Of an insurance order refers to insur-
ance benefits such as accident, fire or
insurance. or whatever INSTR
ance the order purposes to pay to the
living member. and he knows full well
that when placed in the bylaws of the
order it referred specifically
to accident insurance benefits which the
order originally offered lis members. 1t
seems to an average business mind that
it would take a dangerous stretching of
the imagination TO interpret this term
Of substantial benefits" in an insur-
ance order to include the voting of re-
lief money to people whose crops have
been washed away by floods or whose
fortune had been lost by unforeseen
financial reverses.
Furthermore. we find in section 161
that the board Of directors of the order
IS given authority to transfer any sur
plus from the general fucd TO the in
surance benefit fund, which suggests
to us that the society intended to apply
all unused expense money on its insur-
ance liability. Nowhere can we find