Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-07
WOODMEN MAKE A BIG NIGHT
Omaha Members Of n. ". A. Establish New
Record for the State.
OVER FIVE HUNDRED IN THE CLASS
Parade of streets by Thousands is
Followed by Initiation at Audi
torium, where Addresses
Are Made.

Are Made.
Five thousand members of the Modern
woodmen Of America last night witnessed
the initiatory ceremonies for a class of
over 500. the largest ever taken into the
order at one initiation In the state. Head
Consul A. r. Talbot Of IAncoln was pres
ent and delivered the principal address 10
| the class before the ceremonies began.
Mayor Dahlman was one Of the initiates
being received into Camp No. 80 Of Omaha.
wielders Of the ak. betel and wedge
poured into the city during the afternoon
on regular trains and on special trains
! from Plattsmouth. Lincoln and Blair. Be-
sides the 1000 or more members in Omaha
/ turned out in force to welcome the visitors
The local committee had made provision
! for their entertainment and everything
was done to make them feel at home.
The initiation Of the largest class ever
put through in the state is the result OF
campaign made in this district by the
/ different lodges. the work being under the
direction OF District Deputy c. H. T. Rie-
pen. Five hundred candidates were secured
| in Douglas. Washington and sarpy counties
and by invitation the lodges at Plattsmouth
and Louisville sent a class Of sixty-nve
to be given the degree at the same time
Parade in the Evening.
As soon as the special train arrived the
delegations marched with flying banners
| to Nineteenth and Farnam streets, where
| the parade was formed. The Plattsmouth
crowd made an imposing appearance on
the street. being headed by the Platts-
mouth band. The procession. over half
a mile long began to move at $50 under
the direction Of Major c. NJ. Richards.
The parade was headed by a squad Of
police and the Omaha musicians band.
Following this were uniformed drill teams
from Plattsmouth, Lincoln, Blair and vari-
Gus Omaha camps. These we're followed 10y
carriages with the speakers and prominent
visitors Among these were Mayor Dahl
man. Head Consul Talbot Head Clerk
Halves and Head Banker McNider of Ma
son city. Ia. and a number of county and
city oficials who are members Of the order.
| One carriage contained visitors from Platts-
mouth, headed by Mayor Gering.
Following the carriages were members
OF the camps in citizens clothes, headed by
the Plattsmouth band. The procession
passed through the principal streets and
then marched to the auditorium, where the
initiatory ceremonies were put on.
At the Auditorium.
Attracted by the column OF marchers
thousands Of citizens lined the streets and
watched and cheered the visitors. part
of the crowd followed the procession TO the
Auditorium and remained outside until
those who had taken part in the process
sion had passed, inside, Admission to the
Auditorium was by pass word only. All Of
the seats on the lower floor were occupied
and the gallery was fringed with specta-
tors
F. F. Bradley called the members TO
order and presided during the preliminary
program. He introduced Mayor Dahiman,
who gave the visitors a cordial welcome
10 the city. He told the Woodmen of
the big-heartedness OF Omaha people and
told them INTO make themselves at home
while here.
We're glad you came to Omaha" he
said, land we hope ycu will come again.
! The city Is yours and II you should need
! any help call me up by telephone"
]. Fl. Van Dusen responded to the
mayors address. He entertained the crowd
: with several humorous references to the
mayor. Referring to Head Consul Talbot,
he declared he was a man who knew more
: about Woodcraft than the republicans of
this county know about harmony. He
} congratulated the members of the class
! on their entrance into the order. which he
said was the best fraternity and composed
of the best men in existence. Head Con-
sui Talbot was given the Woodmen honors
by the entire audience standing, when he
rose TO sneak.
Head COnsurs Remarks.
II am especially pleased" he said, ito
welcome into the order my old friend, Jim
Dahlman, and 1 congratulate the order
and the city OF Omaha for his presence
with US tonight.
Il am glad to say that this class breaks
; the record for the state of Nebraska
Last winter at Lincoln we put through q
class OF $50 and that was then the record
for one initiation. Later on we initiated
8 another class Of $40 and that has stood
Z as the record for the state until tonight
II is fitting that the metropolitan city OF
the state should plant the banner Of
WoOdcraft twice far up the mountain.
side as any other city in the state. Omaha
should take the lead in all things" .
Mr.. Talbot's remarks were directed espe.
cially to the candidates. He declared the
! idea OF old line insurance companies haI
d been to run for the benefit OF the few
while the fraternal orders were conducted
I for the benent of the thousands of IN,
rank and file OF the membership.
InitiatOry Rites.
- mediately after the addresses were pu
on by the Grill team from Omaha cam
No. 100. The Initiatory ofhcials were: ]. o
Burgess Of Hastings. consul; w b. Ter
Eyck Of Omaha, adviser; s. D. woodley o.
Lincoln. banker; z. Pearman Of Kansas
City escort.
The members of the drill team were il
the regulation uniform OF blue trousers ant
black shirt and all carried axes. Th,
!, ceremonies did not end until after mid
!, night Many Of the out-of-town woodmeI
i remained in Myrtle hall, which had beer
= secured for the purpose, until their train
departed early this morning.
a Those in charge Of the initiation declare,
!, II wRs an unqualified success The numbe
OF candidates was somewhat larger thai
I had been expected.
/, kustlers' banquet for the members o
the committee that canvassed for name
!. will be held tonight at the Millard hotel
Those who earned hustlers' buttons by sc
curing a certain number OF new member
will be the guests. A number OF the prom
IA inent members Of the order are expected