The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-05
Kansas WOrkmen Pay $4,000
to Supreme Lodge.
Row With National Organization
Ended at Last.
MAKE GOOD BARGAIN
State Officers Save Local Lodges
Large Sum.
Suit Followed Grand Lodges
Action in 1909.

The suit of the Supreme Lodge of
the Ancient Order of United Workmen
against the Grand Lodge Of the same
order of Kansas which was filed in
1909 was settled late Thursday when the
Kansas Workmen paid to the Supreme
Lodge the sum of $4,000 This
amount includes all attorneys fees,
court costs and all other costs of ev-
cry character. The agreement was
made some time ago.
The suit was filed against the or
ganization in Kansas by the Supreme
Lodge in 1902 Immediately following
the withdrawal of the organization in
Kansas from the supreme or national
organization. It was contended that
ed TO the supreme organization to the
amount of $173,0 600, which included
$163, 900 due the relief fund and $10,-
600 due the general fund.
Similar suits have been filed and
have been settled in some of the 9TH
er states which withdrew from the
Jurisdiction of the supreme lodge
Among these states is Nebraska, where
the supreme lodge was given a judg
ment against the grand lodge of Ne
braska for the sum of $4,000.
The grand lodge of Kansas and all
other states in the country where the
lodge is organized were formerly
members of the supreme lodge. The
organizations in a number of the
states were unable to pay their death
losses with the rates of membership
which prevailed universally at that
time The other states, which could
do so. were required to assess their
members to make up the deficit
Kansas Lodges Strong.
The Kansas organization was one
of the stronger ones and after years
Of toll and hard work in assisting in
the support of the weak organizatio
IN some of the other states. withdrew
from the supreme lodge that it might
not be required to pay out money for
the support of the weaker states. Ne
hraska and Minnesota are among the
other state organizations which adopt
At the grand lodge meeting of the kan
sas organization which was held in Feb
ruary, 1909 II was DECIDED to withdraw
from the supreme lodge The supreme
lodge officers retaIated and filed suit for
the sum Of $4,000, which they claimed
was due them The officers Of the Kan
Eas organization realized that the Kansas
was indebted to the supreme
lodge but we're unable to get an accurate
accounting. Thus they permitted the suit
to be filed that the question of how much
money belonged to the supreme lodge
should be determined.
and attorneys representing the supreme
lodge and some of the supreme lodge Off
GERS have been in Topeka for some time
to settle this matter. Today the Kansas
paid $4,000 to the supreme
lodge and the deal was closed
Good Settlement Made.
BY affecting this compromise the con-
is settled for less than one-half
Of the amount which the supreme lodge
claimed was due The suit was filed for
s1es 900 and settled for $s0,0o0 thus a saw
ing Of SIS. 600. The Nebraska grand lodge |
has paid the supreme lodge $4,000 on a |
udgment rendered by the courts. A sim /
liar suit in Minnesota Is now pending |
but will likely be compromised within a /
short time.
Among the OFFICERS and prominent mem /
bers of the grand lodge OF Kansas who /
were here are Dr. J. W. Graybin of New /
ton, who Is grand master workman of the /
"a 81 Ctrlder
Scott past grand master workman The |
members OF the investment committee /
which is composed of NJ B. Light Of Win /
Held. G. H Lamb of Yates Center, and /
Harry Lopez of wellington Edgar Ben
,ett OF Washington. chairman of the law
committee was also here
This settlement viii AFFECT the entire
membership of the A O. U w. in Kansas.
TVb1s is more than $1,000.