The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-12-18
RESIGNED HIS POSITION
Grand Master Workman Smith Re-
Tires From the Head Of the
WOrkmen.

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader: TO the
Members of The Ancient Order of
United WOrkmen Of South Dakota
Brothers: 1t is with deep regret thatl
| this day tender my resignation as
Grand Master Workman of the An
cient Order Of United Workmen of
the jurisdiction of South Dakota.
| desire to sincerely thank the
membership Of the order for the hon
OF which you have bestowed upon me
during my five consecutive terms in
office.
[ take great pleasure in looking
back over the years of active work
for the order and during NY term in
Office the membership has increased
over four thousand and some thirty
four lodges have been organized.
| have given my undivided atten-
ton to the u%pbuilding Of the order
and have done everything within my
power to promote its interests, but l
am unable to continue longer as your
grand master under existing cOndi-
lions.
I am of the opinion tn 1t the mem
belshlp OF this jurisdiction should be |
enlightened relative to the effect Of
the laws passed by the supreme lodge |
last June.
At the meeting OF that honorable
body certain laws were passed appli-
cable TO this jurisdiction and the
same to go into force and effect 0cto-
Der !, 1908, and January l. 1904, re-
spectively.
The law going into effect in this
jurisdiction October ], 1903, is the
law relative to the guaranty fund.
The guaranty fund is a fu I'D created
to pay the old age deficiencies exist
ing January l, 1904, in all jurisdic-
tions.
The law relative to the reserve por-
ton Of the beneficiary fund will go
into effect January /, 1904, and is for
the purpose of taking care of the old
age deficiencies accruing after that
date.
This Jurisdiction must pay it's own
death losses, as it always has and ow-
ing to the creation of the above funds
it must raise in addition thereto ap-
proximately go per cent more than
that to amount in order to contrib
ute the necessary amounts to the
above funds.
AS the death rate increases and
the membership pass into the high
er ages there will be a constant in
crease OF the amount to be contrib
uted to these funds by this jurisdic-
tion from year to year.
!, The laws passed by the supreme
lodge are the laws by which each jur-
isdiction shall be governed. 1t is not
optional with the jurisdictions to
adopt these laws. but they are COM
PEELED to comply strictly with the
/ provisions thereof in order TO main
] tain their allegiance to the order.
2 In order to maintain our relationship
to the supreme lodge it is necessary
f that the amount OF said funds shall
be collected from the members o,
+ this jurisdiction and be paid to thu
e supreme lodge lightning January
: !, 1904, and should we. fail to collec'
\ and remit the amounts to be con
tributed to these funds. we be
S come suspended by the supreme
lodge as a matter Of law, thereb,
1octrn an ,in j,fc tN ,npfip pnfa i
k the benefits of these funds and repre-
d sentation in the supreme lodge, re
lieving the supreme lodge Of all liza
hility so far as the insurance of thi
y jurisdiction is concerned. At an
Z time we should desire to become re
: instated we could do so by paying al
v arrearases to the supreme lodge &C
~ cumulating during such SUSPENSION
II suspended and remain in suspension
Z. for a period Of time the arreara"e
would be Of such proportions that l
would be almost i'm possible to rails
the amount necessary to balance on
. account with the supreme lodge.
After very carefully considering th
laws passed by the supreme lodge an
- owing to the conditions existing 4
this time in this jurisdiction | ca
no longer consistently retain my pc
a sition as your grand master wOrkma
e, and endeavor to labor for the exten
o. sion Of the order. Fra~teInally sub
~ mitteG. Fred B. Smith.
Hecla, S. ID.