Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-15
HEADS STATE FOE.


Pe9iuehcg' hlthouBh there Is no law of
succession In the state aerIe as there Is in
the grand body, is the position that brings
a member into the higher office OF presf-
dent, for II has always been customary with
the Nebraska state Eagles to advance the
vice president each year with election to the
highest office.
Three or four OF the aeries out in the
state came to the convention pledged to
their favorite sons and tried to work up
booms for them, but after a little cam
paigning they found that sentiment fav-
ored giving Benson's mayor the position.
and they jumped into the Tracy band
wagon.
The unwritten law Of succession was fol-
lowed out when Vice President julie Al
thaus Of Omaha was elected without oppo-
sition to the presidency. His was the only
name proposed by the convention and It
was amid many cheers that he was ad-
vancsd to the higher office.
Ryder Given Boost.
j. ]. Ryder, who has been president of
the Nebraska aerie for the last year, and
who is secretary Of the national conven-
ton committee, was made past worthy
president with the hearty approval OF every
delegate present.
secretary ]. NJ. Tanner had no opposi-
ton for reelection and was selected by a
unanimous vote. The members declared
he had made an excellent officer and they
would not consider his suggestion that he
withdraw in favor Of some Eagle who
had not yet held office.
The officers were installed at the close
Of the regular meeting in a short
which was conducted by Lee Eavans of
Aerie No. 104 OF Council Bluffs.
The fTaaavrar's rarort rvbt,h a., a..
sence Of state Treasurer l.. F. ]. Jaeger
Of Chadron was read by Secretary Tan
ner. had a balance Of 500 in the treas
ury.
President ]. J. Ryder was absent from
the convention, owing to his duties at the
national aerie, and Vice President julie
Althaus was the presiding officer.
The delegates decided to make Ne
braska a leader in the fight for a home
for c~onsumptive Eagles. They will try
to get the present national convention to
take action, but failing in that, they will
continue their efforts and win work up
a force to bring favorable action at the
1910 aerie.
Hope for Tuberculosis Home.
Hope, however. is expressed that the
PRESENT session of the grand aerie will pass
a resolution giving the grand .~officers
power to levy a tax for building the
home -, :,
Since the grand officers came to Omaha
the leading men among the Nebraska |
Eagles In. the fight. for the home have
solicited aid from these men and have
been assured that steps will be taken 10
bring about some action on the matter
this week. The grand officers are declared
TO have the influence to bring about such
action II they really care to use Il, and
1t is believed they will be as good as
their word in the present case.
Grand Worthy Secretary Mann has openiv
declared himself in favor Of the home and
Is believed to be a strong supporter OF
the proposition. He will use his infIu-
ence to bring the right action. He saws
the convention will, without doubt. vote
an appropriation for the tuberculosis
home.
N~ebraska's state aerie is one Of the few
subordinate bodies that has come out
openly for state autonomy. Some OF the
other states are said to favor the new
plan, but they nave been loath to make a
light.
The Nebraska delegates are disgusted
with the present plan Of permitting each
aerie In a state to be represented in the
national conventions; they believe the
state aerie ought to select the delegates
and they have started to get the national
aerie to make a change.
1t is not considered likely that such a
change will be made by the present con
vention. Too many Of the grand officers,
including Secretary Mann. are opposed
TO state autonomy, and their Influence will
be, IL is thought, too great.
In Autonomy Fight TO Stay.
Nevertheless, the Nebraska Eagles have
set themselves the task of bringing about
the change. and they are going to carry
on their fight after this year, II they lose
in the present convention. They mean to
enlist other states In the cause and make
q big fight before the 1910 meeting.
The new method OF making state laws,
favored by the Nebraska delegates to the
state aerie, would do away with the pres
ent system Of having all the past worthy
presidents meet each year to draft pro-
posed changes, and would substitute a
committee Of five Junior past worthy
presidents to do the work. The Nebraska
convention hopes to get this recommends
tion before the 1910 convention and have
the change made at that time.
The delegates were pleased with the way
In which Benson cared for them. and they
declared they were Wiling to return to
that city some time in the future.
SEVERAL YEARS LATE