Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-25
VOO)NEN MAY TAKE /
Plan on Foot to Secure Mercy
Hospital at Webster City
For Secret Order
SCHEME TO FINANCE Project
Members Of the Order Would Be AS
sessed s Cents Per Year Which
Would Raise Nearly $4,000 at the
Present Membership In the State
Special Election Called off.

Webster City, Nov. "a Now that
Mayor Edwards has withdrawn ms
proclamation for a special election to
be held in this city December II on the
question "Shall the City of Webster
City Accept Mercy Hospital?" it is UNI
likely that the trustees of the hospital
will ever again offer the institution to
the city, not because they do aot want
the city to have 1t, but because OF the
fact that other responsible parties will
probably ask the trustees TO give the
institution to them in trust. While no
definite action has yet been taken. the
trustees have been approached by the
members of the Modern Woodmen Of
America, and it is very likely that the
question Of who is to have this mag
niticent gift will be solved by placing 1t
in the hands of this order.
The great thing which has stood In
the way of anyone taking the in
stitution is the clause in the deed which
requires that one-fourth Of all the ac-
commodations at the hospital be given
to charity. So large an amount or
charity work is burden which can
not well be borne, as the Northwestern
Iowa conference Of the Methodist
church found out. Mayor Edwards has
called off the election for next month
at the instance Of the board OF trus-
tees of the hospital who have asked
that the matter be deferred until they
can get ruling from the court as to
the charity clause. j. l.. Kamrar, at
torney for the administrator. expects
to 20 before the court which Will con-
vene in this city next month ana ask
to. have this clause either stricken out
of the deed or modified, so 1T VIII not
place SO great burden upon the OPP
orators Of the institution.
While this matter Is being agitated
in the court, the Woodmen expect to
arrive at some plan whereby they can
ask the trustees of the hospi.a to give
them the institution. The Woodmen
are now corresponding with the head
camp and high officials of tie order 10
find out their views upon the matter.
From letters already received 1t Is be-
lieyed that the head officials will look
upon the plan with favor and that the
order will soon be able to accept the
provisions of the deed ane ask that
the trustees turn the institution over
to them.
The plan which the Woo linen have
in view for the financing Of the hospi-
tai would amply provide for all cost OF
maintaining it. If the Iowa camps OF
this order should decide to take the
institution and should assess members
&c per year for the support of 1t, they
would raise $500 per year. Should the
national camp decide to make the hos
pital a national affair - as far as the
woodmen are concerned - and should
levy an assessment Of 1c per member
they would raise $4,000 per year.
1t cost the northwest Iowa conference
$500 to run the institution the last
year that they had 1t, over and above
the receipts Of the hospital, so that
the Iowa membership Of the Woodmen
alone could furnish ample money with
which to run it, AS to whether they
will make it national or state af-
fair cannot yet be said, altho 1T
is more than likely that they would
| not desire to assess more than their
state membership for the support OF
the institution.
The woodmen expect to be able to
perfect their plans within about two
weeks and they will then present them
to the trustees and ask that these gen.
tlemen turn the institute On over to