Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-13
VAN CALDER HITS
WEBB IN A REPLY
Says Former Advertising Mana
ger of Woodmen Organ Is
Nursing a Crouch.
GRIEVANCE is IMAGINARY
Editor of Orders Publication Shows
Business of Department. Con-
Quoted Regularly.

A part of the context of a complaint
made to the state insurance department
by F. S. Webb, former advertising man.
ager for the Modern Woodman, official
organ of the Modern Woodmen of
America, was printed in the Chicago
Inter-O Ocean. The Inter-Ocean sets
forth that, in his complaint, Webb
charges F. o. VanGalder, editor of the
Modern Woodman, with Withholding
Webb's monthly itemized statements
of the advertising business done, by
which it is alleged the insurance de-
partment was deceived and induced to
direct at Webb its criticisms of GER
tain measures censured following an
examination in 1906 and 1907.
Webb says he was made a scapegoat
for the offense of others, and makes
numerous other charges against Van
Calder. among them being misappro-
priation of transportation, and lax
methods of keeping records.
Asked for a statement regarding the
Webb charges. Mr.. VanGalder said:
Denial in Subsequent Report.
THE insurance report referred to by
Webb was the result of a misunder-
standing, and suggestions of improper
management made were denied in a
subsequent report by an insurance ex-
aminer. When the examiners came
here in 1906 they went to the head
clerks office, where the advertising
money was turned over The reason
they found no records there was be-
cause after submitting the files for in
spection at the head clerks office, 1 al
ways took them back to my office and
filed them there.
Employees in the clerks office knew
that the items were on file there, but
the examiner was evidently not inform
ed that such was the case, as he did
not ask to see them when he visited
my office After that visit the criti-
cism mentioned by Webb was made:
when the departments attention was
called to- its error, the same was cor.
rected.
other Reports as Proof
Subsequent reports made by Ne
braska and South Dakota commission
ers are proof that everything was found
o. K. Webb always thought the re-
f1ected on him.
'Webb's statements about his re-
moval are not true. In May the year
before he left the Woodmen the board
told Webb that, unless the advertising
business improved before July of the
next year, he would be removed Bust
ness did not improve as desired. and
when l learned in Chicago on one occa-
sion that Webb would be removed, |
requested that l be allowed to notify
him l did so, and Webb telegraphed
his resignation to the head clerks Of
flee before he received notice of his
removal. That telegram is on file in
the head clerks office.
DepIores Webb's Attitude.
webb is treating me shabbily be-
cause l refused to o. K his bill for
commission after he resigned. He does
this despite the fact that l had be-
friended him and tipped off to him
the fact that the board contemplated
his removal"
Mr.. VanGalder continued. explaining
Webbs allegation that transportation
was disposed of illegitimately by the
editor: "Webbs' crouch is an old one.
He is an excitable. sick man and spends
his time brooding over his troubles
Truth to tell, I held him in his position
until the directors said my friendship
for Webb was costing the society mon
ey. The directors thought another
man could do better, and Webb's sue
cessor fulfilled expectations, but per-
haps that was because the standing of
fraternal papers as advertising medi-
ums went above par