The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-11-16

80" lGhl9 AAblu tllc llAlelhdl EOUHISsS
table. He will pay without interest
eomputationsl Sls64,sO more; total, g..
1852 for $1,000. He may have a paid.
up certificate for $50, but he must retain
his membership and pay dues. per capita
tax and extension calls. His dues will
be at least 50 per year. his per capita
tax 81, or a payment Of $74 to get $50.
Or he may pay one-half and have the
unpaid half deducted from his policy at
his death, and he must pay interest on
the deduction. He has paid s4s4.72; his
future payments on assessments will be
s9S2.sO, his interest payment $500; total
$l757.52. In this the new plan will pay
$4,000, less the deduction Of SOS2.sO, Or
$LOl7.2O. No wonder they have the al,
surance OF professional actuary that
1T will be sufficient" 1t might be an
interesting question. what became Of the
other $7l02
Betrayal of Confidence.
Fourth 1t is betrayal Of confidence.
Eight years ago the subject was taken
up and discussion begun. Although at
that time the change which was effected
bore heavily upon the older members Of
the order; they accepted it in good faith
as conclusive. They are now called upon
to accept something else as conclusive.
and if they accept this, the question may
naturally arise: How long before there
will be a new reimbursement? For it is a
fact that the eylsive fast.and.loose game
which those in charge of the order are
playing with the assessment rates i
destroying the confidence Of those young,
er men of the order who are aware Of
the fact that coming years will make
them older, and when the confidence OF
the younger members is destroyed the
end will not be long delayed.
Fifth. 1t is a pitiable fact. but Il
fact, nevertheless, that this proposed
change vii compel large number of
members 50 or over to drop out. The
rate is simply prohibitory; and many
gray-hared member will look at hi.
aged wife and curse the day when he
was induced by fair promises and spec.
tacular fraternalism to lean upon SO
broken rod. For when the old man flo.
ures that he has to pay $032.40 at the
time Of life when his earning powers are
at the least, in order to obtain $1,000
and that no account is to be taken o:
the hundreds of dollars that he has nj.
ready contributed, it is not to be %on
dered at that he believes the new plat
is simply mtendcnde to say TO him, III
effect, that he is squeezed orange ana
is to be thrown away.
Too Much Star Chamber.
Sixth. The star chamber methods BY
which this plan was Struggled through
the supreme lodge and adopted after a
discussion lasting less than two days, AMI
the precipitate haste with which the high
priests Of the sanhedrim are attempting
to force it upon the members, should
raise an abc-bodied and strong.limbc4
suspicion that things are not what they
should be.
There is no rule which can compel the
order in Michigan to obey the bchcsts Of
the supreme lodge, unless those who arr
pushing tlc change can loodwink enougl,
of the membership of this state to carry
out their plan. Michigan is already 4
creditor TO the supreme body in about
$4,000. 1t would be the part of wis.
dom to make haste slowly in this matter.
We can take care of our own losses for
years to come upon the present plan, and
we protest against being forced in an
other mtricd plan which. by peculiar
ity of the division Of collections under
the new plan, will force us to pay still
more money to 90 out OF the state, and
50 increase the number OF assessments
required TO our own losses, For which
about the same amount of money is col
lcctcd from members under So years as
heretofore, from twice to three times as
much is appropriated to the general fund
as before. This leaves less TO apply 10
the state deaths, but compels Michigan
to contribute about 100000 per year 10
be sent outside.
When more money or higher assess,
mcnts are needed in Michigan, the mem
bcrship, young and old, will be found
willing to meet the emergency, until then
it is wise to look on and let somebody
else experiment, but not at our expense.
1t is for these reasons, and not for
those assigned in your article, that the
membership in Michigan are ayerse to a
change at present.
AN OLD MEMBER OF THE A. o. U. w.
IRON vuuhT vou NFFn