Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-08
Get ALL CROOKS:
ADVICE OF: HAYES
Head Clerk of Modern Wood
men Commends Insurance
Inquiry Here.
RESULTS IN MUCH GOOD
Big Order in This City Has Rejected
Numerous Merger Propositions
Able to Stand Alone.

Relative to the fraternal insurance
investigation by States Attorney L.
M. Magill and the Rock Island county
grand jury, some criticism is being
made by officials of fraternal organiza-
tions. This criticism is not directed
toward the work of the states attor-
ney or grand jury. Exception is taken,
however, to the failure of some of the
Chicago newspapers to note the dis
tinction between the well conducted
societies and their officials, and the
gang which has been engaged in re-
insuring and merging small societies
and gobbling their surplus funds.
States Attorney Magill has been
quoted as making sweeping assertions
that all the Illinois societies, with The
exception of one or two, were more
or less involved in these questionable
proceedings. The states attorney re-
pudiates such statements. To Presi-
dent Thomas H. Cannon of the Ma
tional Fraternal congress, the high
chief ranger of the Catholic Order of
Foresters, Chicago, Mr.. Magill has
written a denial of the statements
credited to him.
Investigation Endorsed.
Major c. W. Halves, head clerk of
the Modern Woodmen society, discuss
ing the investigation now under way,
squarely endorses the work of the
states attorney and grand jury.
While regret the confusion that will
result, from the fact that question will
ncturaIly be raised concerning the
standing CT some of the reputable.
honestly conducted societies, yet the
I! .irnate good viii more than Offset
az s::-h temporary embarrassment
tEo iay legation should not be hin
te-el tuc should be helped by every
reputable organization in this and
ether states.
IF there IS any class of CRATER or
crock in this world more contemplate |
th2a another. l should say it is that (
man who deliberately betrays the poor /
people who look to their order for in /
SITance protection for their families. |
hope that the states attorney, and |
the grand jury will not stop until |
every one of these looters of the funds
of these beneficiary orders is uncov-
cred and indicted, or brought to an
accounting.
Not Above Criticism.
1T pleases me, in the light of these
developments, to be able to say that
the Modern Woodmen society has Il
never favorably considered a single 4
one of the many propositions that have i
been made to it to take over and re 4
insure the members of small orders
We have absolutely refused at any
time to touch such business; first, be-
cause we have always been able to
make legitimate, independent
growth, and, second, because we felt
that. as a rule, these reinsurance prop
csitions were not above criticism, and
were not fully or satisfactorily covered
by law.
we have received many inquiries
from members who have mistakenly
from the newspaper press
that the Woodmen were involved in
the pending proceedings. I shall prob
ably submit the matter to the next
of our executive council for
consideration. In order to place at
rest any possibility of misunderstood
ing on the part Of our membership or
the public, shall move that the state
insurance department be requested to
send it's examiners here to make
complete audit and investigation.
the society's board of audi
tors, and the examiners from various
state insurance departments who have
checked US, have without exception
and without qualification certified to
the accuracy and efficiency of the head
office records and system.
Every Record Accessible.
However, it seems to me wise that
we should make clear the fact that we
invite the most rigid scrutiny Of our