The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-16
MAY NOT LEAVE OMAHA.
Appears There Is Nothing Certain
About Woodmen of World Move.

It appears that it is not an alto
gether definite thing yet that the
Woodmen of the World really will
leave Omaha, Neb., and build in some
other city. The thing upon which the
removal is contingent is whether or
not the reserve fund viii really be
assessed in accordance with the pro-
visions of the law passed last winter
by the Cornhusker legislature.
Under the caption, Topeka Wants
Woodmen.' the Omaha Bee has the
following to say. principal in which is
an interview from Sovereign Clerk
John T. Yates:
1--WE have had solieitations-I can
not say tangible proposttions-fr from
St. Louis. Kansas City. and Topeka, =
said Sovereign Clerk J. T. Yates OF
the Woodmen Of the World regarding
reports that these cities are contesdng
for the national headquarters of the
order, now located in Omaha, but
whose removal is threatened if the
state authorities persist in the enforce
uent of the order to tax secur1t1es--
that is, the reserve fund-of fraternal
and beneficiary orders.
A Topeka paper dilates to the ex-
tent of tWO-thirds of a column upon
the matter of that city securing the
headquarters, and in the course of its
peram bulation quotes J. ". Kaiser,
state deputy of the order in Kansas,
as saying:
1--WE will leave Omaha. That has
been decided upon"
Sovereign Commander Root, the
head of the Woodmen of the World,
Is out of the city, but Sovereign Clerk
Yates, next in authority and qualified
to speak with decision, said to a. re-
porter for the Bee.
I'VE have not decided to leave Oma-
Ia, and will not decide unless the state
authorities insist on the order to tax all
our securities. We do not want to leave
Omaha or Nebraska; have no other rea-
son for even considering the matter
than that We cannot afford to pay taxes
on our reserve fund. Our leaving is
entirely contingent upon the final ac-
ton of the state I wish to say while
on the subject, in reply to some COM
petitors who have seized their oppor-
tunity, that the Woodmen of the World
is not a tax-shirker and does not seek
to evade the payment Of taxes upon
tangible property. We have always paid
them without murmur or complaint, but
what we object to solely is paying upon
our reserve found
The Topeka paper said after Mr.
Kaiser's talk the secretary Of the Com
merical club there was instructed to
write to Sovereign Clerk Yates, invit-
ing the order to go to Topeka. Mr..
Yates received the letter Wednesday
morning. In effect 1t said:
We learn you are contemplating the
removal of your headquarters because
Of excessive taxation. We want to say
the property or reserve fund of frater
nal orders. We think we can offer you
better inducements than any other city
and hope you will consider our claim
Il shall answer the letter at once
said Mr. Yates. telling them we have
not decided to move unless the state
boards order is enforced. Personally
am for Omaha, first and last and would
hate to see the order compelled to move.
OF course If we do move all cities will
be considered"
All this talk over the removal of the
headquarters had its origin in the resO-.
luton which the order adopted at its
national meeting in Chattanooga on the
appearance OF the press dispatches say
ing the state board of equalization of
Nebraska had decided to tax the securi-
ties of this and other orders. The Mil
lion club of st. Louis, Mr.. Yates says,
really did offer to make a definite and
tangible concession IL the order would
locate there and Kansas City CONNER
cial bodies preached the proposition.