The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-20
HEADCAMP OPENS
Modern w Oodmen of America in
I4th Biennial Convention.
1000 Camps and 100000
Members Represented.
SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.
Are Condemned in Report of the
Head Consul.
ID =. -, -. ,,,rgo T,4o,.woI ~ 2 av.
SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.
Recommends Interval of 8 or
4 Years Between Meetings.

Milwaukee, June 2O.-The head
camp of Modern Woodmen of Amer
lea opened it's fourteenth biennial con-
vention at the Davidson theater today
with between 500 and 700 delegates,
representing over 1900 camps and
nearly 100000 members, present.
Mayor David S. Rose welcomed the
delegates to the city. Responses We're
made by Head Consul A. r. Talbot
for the Modern Woodmen and Head
Clerk Charles w. HAYES. of Rock
Island, Ill, for the head Office.
The convention then proceeded with
the presentation of reports.
The report of Head Consul A. r.
Talbot was devoted to review of the
work during the biennial term. Speak
ing of the Capitalization of the work
of the medical department, he favored
the discontinuance of state head
physicians, all applications to go to
the supreme medical directors at the
head Office. The expenses of his Office
for 1903 were S11,6S3s and for 1904,
$24, S19, total $36,503. Appeals on be-
half of 210 distressed members were
received and the contributions We're
$21,949. He spoke in favor of the
Foresters' department and recon-
mended the amendment of the bylaws
prohibiting local camps Foresters
teams from holding Sunday picnics or
excursions under the auspices of the
society with a penalty for isobedience
or expulsion or revocation of charter.
He commended the order of Junior
Woodmen as beneficial to the boys. He
favored an interval of three or four
years between the meetings of the
head camp, in the interests of econ
omy. During the biennial the new
members numbered 1868, and 1882
new camps were chartered. The so
ciety, he said now includes 1853 per
cent of all those eligible for member
ship in the states in which it is organ
lied.
Head Clerks Report.
The report of Head Clerk c. w.
HAYES contained the following:
The insurance in force at the close
of the biennial term aggregated ST.
1876, 678,500. The society paid 705E
death claims, amounting to $12,
sos, as against $3.50 claims amount
ing to $10,736,435 during the term
preceding.
The receipts of the benefit fund to-
tailed So, 567,703, as against $780,
9SS during the preceding biennial.
The balance at the close of the term
general fund were $1,674,299, as
against $1,5O3,011 during the preced-
ing term, the balance being $3.50 1894
The lapsed (benehciaD membership
during the two years was $117,415 and
the lapsed insurance S176.4625OO.
The average per capita payment 10
the benefit fund was S12615, as
against so cents during the preced-
ing term. The increase was due to the
new rates becoming effective January
l, 1904, when the rates of the mem
bers were increased from rs per cent
to rs per cent at the various ages
There were 1891 deaths from acct
dent and SEA deaths from suicide Of
the latter 248 were armers-30.85 per
cent of the total number. The farm
ers also led in accidental deaths=SS5
The report of the board of auditors
was next presented