Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-30
BANQUET TO The WOODNEN
Commercial Club Entertains Executive
Council of Woodmen Of the World
TAXATION OF RESERVE FUND DISCUSSED
Speakers Assure Guests Desire Was
to Retain Headquarters and
FavOrs Treating the
order Fairly.

Cluo ldst evening 10 the sovereign OHCeTS
and executive council Of the Sovereign
camp Of the Order of the Woodmen of
the World, now in session in this city, was
largely attended by representative business
and professional men OF Omaha, and was
withal notable gathering.
The important feature of the occasion
was the discussion following relative to the
possibility Of the removal of the Wood
men of the World headquarters from
Omaha on account of the avowed determin-
alton Of the state officers to tax the $780,
900 securities representing the reserve fund
of the order, and which matter is now
pending in the supreme court of the state.
The special guests of the evening were
Sovereign Commander Joseph Cullen Root,
Sovereign Clerk John c. Yates and c. c.
Farmer Of Mount Carroll, ILL., N. b. Maxey
OF Muskogee, l. T.. c. X. Irwin of Milwau-
kee, wis. L. O. Rawson of Cleveland, o.,
II. f. Simrall Of Mississippi, e. B. Lewis
of North Carolina, w. A. Fraser Of Dallas,
Tex. J. E. Fitzgerald of Kansas City, Mo,
B. w. Jewell If Omaha, T. f. Patterson
of Chattanooga, Tenn, and Morris shep-
perd of Texas.
Euclid Martin of Omaha was toastmaster
of the evening. In his Introductory re-
marks he stated that 1T was evidently
shown to the guests of the evening that by
the presence of these representative citi-
zens here that we want the Woodmen of
the World headquarters to stay with us.
All over the country now prevails consid-
erable agitation on the taxation question
and two or three years ago this city was
deluged with another spasm of taxation
reform, which was finally amicably ad-
justed, and I fear that II you conclude to
leave us on account of the prevailing agi-
tation and go elsewhere that you may be
jumping out of the frying pan into the
fire. And l anticipate that II the law is
interpreted rightly that there will be small
reason for you to worry"
Value to Omaha.
II. c. Bronze was introduced as the first
speaker. He said:
Gentlemen of the executive council as
guests of the Commercial club of Omaha
this evening, YOU see before you something
of the spirit of the club on this question
that is now interesting all of us. we want
you TO remain with us and for the informa-
ton of those who may not know or realize
Omaha, have gathered the following facts
from the sovereign Office today, which will
show to Omaha how profitable It will be
to retain this institution with u.s. Ii now
has nearly 100000 of securities deposited
In this city; $4,000 is received in this city
every month from the different members Of
the order. OF this amount rs per cent is
paid out monthly in death losses. The
this city in the sovereign offices is $1,000
and for salaries to officials S23, 400 is paid out
annually. | can safely say that the eXecu-
tive council when II meets here does not
carry away any of It's salary There is pa hi
out for printing 5000 every month; $25, 600
Woodmen Circle or Forest Headquarters
which are also located here, employs some
psss SuP % This THIS his SspR 9. 9f m the order
aries, $4,000 for postage and eXpressage and
$1,000 for printing This institution, which
zero basis has by conservative and honest
management reached its present magnitude
| dlnate organizat tons all over the United
States, who daily and monthly hear of
Omaha through their dealings with the
parent organization. Its business is desr-
able and ought 20 be retained here We
propose, to deal with the organization fairly
and Will do all We can to see that it is
as any other state can. There are of course
different methods applied in different states
regarding insurance companies. and we will
treat you as fairly as any other state can
afford TO treat you. Better than that we
] this matter will be settled fairly and Justly.
I,Tn uhe people OF Omaha are proud of the
Moodmen OF the World and of the work Of
| Mr. Root and Mr.. Yates and their great
| live
Law of Public Opinion.
| G. w. Wattles was the next speaker and
said in part:
| lieve that there is law greater than any
other law, and that is the law of public
= opinion. Public opinion makes a law of
greater influence than that eNpounded by
judge or enacted by a legislature There
l is no fund so sacred as the savings Of
/ men who put aside a few dollars every
month TO keep their families from the
poor house when they can no longer helm
| them. This reserve fund does not belong
10 To- tnese m men men OF the soyereign camp OF
that must be distributed 10 the policyhold-
I ers everywhere throughout this country.
| This surplus is invested in securities and
is deposited in our banks and thus adds
! to the prosperity OF our city and its busi-
ness interests. Because this fund lis gath
exact tribute from it, 1t does not belonS
to the people of this state, no more than
does the reserve funds deposited in our
banks from the smaller banks throughout
the state belong TO us. AS soon as the
public understands the exact relation of
this fund as a taxable proposition they
will not agree to tax II. We are not coins
to sit idly by here and see a WRONG
done. do not believe that there is q
policy who would advocate the principle M
taxing this reserve fund. Such a taX
would take Just that much from the saw
ings of every policyholder. This trust
fund is In the hands OF honora ble men am
will be faithfully cared for. and I believe
every citizen OF Omaha will Join in q
World the Injustice or taxing this f,1nf
and this protest effectively made will he
the solution or this question.
Expects n Square Deal.
Il Edward Rosewater said:
On the shield OF the seal of the stata NJ
Nebraska Is the motto, Equality before m,
law" The motto of our honored nresiden,
Is, "A square deal for every man All ma
should be demanded of any peonle ts
square deal. There has been Consider HI.
tax agitation In this state and I am nsr
maps. one OF the worst agitators and a,
not feel like apologizing for what I bav,
done. / do not want TO see any institutioy
driven out of Omaha, and | do moi thiDi
there Is any reason to be frightened In mi,
instance. II II comes TO the worst the tota
amount OF tax you may have to pay will h,
only about 5000, and this could be raise,
by special assessment of about 9 cents or
each member OF the order in the state
am In favor OF the brOadest leniency OF IN,
state in this matter. because this fund rem
resents the savings Of the great mass q
toilers ] believe that Il would be better I,
give a premium for these savings than I,
/ all others pay their just share OF taxation
The railroads are not the only Offenders
think the supreme court will act fairly II
this matter and will deal justly by All con
! cerned.
Congressman John L. Kennedy spok
, briefly upon the general subject Of insur
ance and thought that nothing that has We
been done in the recent insurance lnvestiga
tions will deter men from insuring thei
lives. The agitation will, however. result
. he thought In compelling congressional a M