Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-17
wooDMEN DOWN TO BUSINESS
After the weIcOming Addresses the
Delegates Take Up Regular
order Of work.

INDIANAPOLIS, June 1s.-The thirteenth
session OF the head camp of the Modern
Woodmen of America began here today.
After the welcoming address, to which
Lieutenant Governor Northcott OF Illinois
responded, the convention took up the regu-
lar order of business.
At the last national convention a de-
termined effort was made to secure the
admission to the sOciety's jurisdiction Of
several large cities, including st. Louis
and San Francisco The socletys law
bars all cities having 100000 or more popu-
lation.
The committee submits an amendment
to the woodmen law providing that the
executive council may, in its discretion,
establish and maintain local camps in any
part of the excepted cities, Il upon in
vestigation 1t finds 1t safe and desirable
territory.
The committee also recommends that the
basis of representation be left as at pres
ent-one delegate for each 1900 members or
major fraction but that In no case shall
there be more than s25 delegates elected
to the national convention.
The report of Major G. w. Hawes, the
head clerk for the two years, January J.,
1901, to December 81. t902 shows that on
the latter date the Woodmen had 664,l66
| beneficial members carrying total insur-
ance of Sl,161, 2S5, 900. The net gain was
/ 1876 30S and the net gain in insurance $SS'-
0s7, 500. There was also net gain of 1853
! local camps, the total being 1854 In good
standing December 81 1902.
During the term 5,Sig death claims were
| paid. the disbursements aggregating &c.,
| 1856 4S5.
on January 1, 1903. there was a balance
| of 1903. 4S7. 10 in the benefit fund and a bal
ance of Ss45,s 20 in the general or expense
fund
The per capita expense of management
! for the year 1901 was "A cents and for the
| year 1902 SO cents.
Touching on the admission of large cities
| to the Woodmen Jurisdiction the head con-
sui says:
The chief objection to the admission OF
| large cities heretofore has been the diff
| Guilty in selecting the proper risks There
| is no question but there are lots of splendid
risks in these cities whose membership
! would be of great advantage. / fully be-
| lieve that under the direction of the execu-
tive council means could be provided for
the proper selections.
Consul Northcott gives large part of his
report to the question of rate readjustment
| submitting several tables OF rates.
The credentials committee recommended
in its report that both the contesting dele.
cations from Kansas be seated, each dele
gate at one-half vote. Johnson. the leader
Of the anti-administration forces, moved
an amendment to the report that his dele.
cation be seated to the exclusion of the
other. He spoke for the amendment, re-
viewing the differences Trueman Plantze
of Warsaw, Ill. replied for the credential.
committee.
The vote stood 12e to s12 against thu
johnson amendment and the report OF tht
credentials committee Is adopted.
The election of ofica- will be held to
morrow and the quef OF readjustmen
Of rates will be taken ~ on Thursday.
At the military camp OF the Forester
the day was devoted TO the prize drills
About half of the teams have drilled Tn,
Rock Island. Ill, team leads so far Will
a percentage of s6h. Dubuque. Ia, is sec
ond with SO.