The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-15
Contests Over Seating of Rival Dele
cations from Several States Will
De Hard Fought.
REECE CAMP OPENS TODAY
MAI. GEN. MITCHELL WILL TAKE
COMMAND OF CITY OF TENTS.
Companies Of FOresters March the
Streets i'm vari-Colored Uniforms
Gossip of Interest.

Five thousand Modern woodmen OF
America. including 46s delegates and the
members Of standing committees. will be
seated in Tomlinson Hall tomorrow
morning when the biennial convention OF
the Head Camp is called to order. This
will be the biggest convention OF the
largest fraternal organization in the world
The delegates to the convention OF the
Head Camp this year are divided into two
factions-the administration and the anti
readjustment. The administration crowd
has on foot a movement to readjust the
insurance rates and the anti-adjustment
faction will try to defeat the movement
The contest on the rate adjustment ques-
ton will be one Of the most interesting
events of the convention.
Early in the convention will come the
contest between the two delegations from
Kansas for seats on the floor of the conven-
ton. There are two sets of delegates from
Kansas this year-the johnson delegates,
headed by ]. G. Johnson, who is leading
the fight on rate readjustment under the
plan OF the administration, and another
delegation. which calls itself regular Nei-
ther delegation has credentials. aud it will
vention, it is expected. which contingent
is to be seated. The administration faction
will work against the johnson delegates,
it Is said, because the other delegation will
vote with the administration on the rate
readjustnIent plan. IT is understood. No
matter how the convention is divided in the
delegate-seating contest, the matter is sure
to be event OF unusual interest
All day yesterday delegates and head Of
ficers and members of standing commit
tees from all parts of the country arrived
iE Indianapolis on every train. Some of the
delegations were so large that they came in
special trains Among them was the Michi-
gan delegation.
The administration forces have estab-
lished headquarters at the Hotel Claypool.
where the head officers and most Of the
prominent members OF the Head CamD gen.
orally are located. The Johnson delegation
will arrive in the city this morning and
will have headquarters at the Hotel En-
glish.
The largest delegation in the Head Camp
is from Illinois, which has eghty-nine DEL
egates. Iowa takes second place. with fifty
two delegates, and Missouri and Kansas
come In next with forty-two delegates
each. Every delegate and every head off,
Ger and all the members of standing conf
mittees will respond TO roll call when the
Head Camp Is called TO order.
CAMPS ARRIVING.
Camp Reece, the tented city I'm which
formed rank of the Woodmen of America,
will be quartered by tonight. was a scene
of considerable activity yesterday. Early
in the morning camps began arriving from
all sections of the country in which the
Modern Woodmen of Americas jurisdiction
extends. and more than twenty-five camps
arrived yesterday and last night
The Iowa and the two delegations from
two sets of delegates from Kansas and
the convention will have to decide which is
entitled to seats on the floor. The admin
istration delegates from Kansas brought
the famous Kansas Girls band, OF Wet
more, Kan. The band will lead the Kansas
special train bearing three Forester camps
from Omaha and Lincoln will arrive in
Indianapolis this evening.
The New York, New Jersey, Maine. Con-
necticut and Rhode Island delegations ar
rived early this morning and established
headquarters at the several downtown
hotels. The Michigan delegation arrived i'm
a special train over the Monon at 10 o'clock
The Illinois delegation reached here late in
the afternoon. The Missouri delegation ar
rived yesterday. The State officers came in
last night.
The Saratoga Springs. N Y, delegation.
which arrived yesterday has begun a cam
paign TO secure the convention of 1906 for
The lobby of the Hotel CIaypooI, the con-
vention headquarters swarmed yesterday
afternoon and last night with the candi-
dates for the various offices and their cam
paign managers and supporters. All the
talk last night was politics and the hotel
lobbies resembles very much night be-
fore State convention OF political party.
CANDIDATES AT WORK.
The leading candidates for the leading
offices, to be filled by the Head Camp to-
morrow morning were busy holding in
md
line" for the tug of war. This morning
the candidates will formally open head
quarters and the election contest will be
on in earnest. The arrival OF an advance
guard of Nebraska, with a full-grown
boom for Director A. r. Talbot. OF that
State. who is a candidate for Head Camp
consul. started things in a political may
at the Hotel Claypool.
Judge Fred G.. White, of Pontiac, III.
who has been a strong candidate for the
head consulship. withdrew in Mr.. Talbot's
favor yesterday afternoon. after a confer
ence with representatives from most OF
the influential States. Judge White said
that he should withdraw In Mr.. Talbot's
favor. Judge White will ask for the head
consulship at a future convention.
Another evidence of the growing strength
OF Mr.. Talbots candidacy came with the
withdrawal from the head consulship race
late yesterday afternoon OF Director K. r.
Murphy. OF Leavenworth. Kan He with
drew plainly in Mr. Talbot's favor and will
stand for reelection TO the board OF di-
rectors. Mr. Talbot still has one opponent
in the race for election TO the office OF
head consult. G.. johnson. OF Kansas who
is leading the fight on the administration
plan OF readjustng the insurance rates OF
the order. Mr.. Johnson likely will continue
In the race. A; Mr.. Talbot's headquarters,
Room "a Hotel Claypool. his campaign
manager. Ralph r. Johnson. OF Lincoln.
Neb.. said Mr.. Johnson cannot possibly set
over 100 votes in the convention. The en-
tire i69 delegates 10 the Head Camp Will
be present when the convention begins.