The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10

"The new rates of the Modern Wood
men are the lowest that any society in
in America can or will be allowed to do
business upon.
''The fact is that twenty-four other
fraternal societies have called conven-
tons for this year to raise the rate in
keeping with state legislation enacted
Fifty-one other societies have already in
recent years raised their rates but near
ly all of them will have to raise again.
cat Chicago the Head Camp was con-
fronted with the disastrous experiences
of other societies which procrastinated
in the raising of the rates until the old
age element had grown so large that
they had to raise them so high that
twenty-four fraternal societies in the
last ten years have been compelled to go
out of business. The American Legion
of Honor put off re-rating until it's
membership of sixty years of age had to
pay $144.00 on 81, 900 per year. It left
10000 gray haired members who had
paid for twenty-five and thirty years,
with worthless certificates on their
hands. The Knights of Honor, pow
erful organization as it has been, today
is collecting $500 per thousand per
month from its members of sixty years
Of age. In some of the Jurisdictions of
the A. 0. u. W., rate of 1894 per
month per thousand dollars is being re-
CURED. The grand old Royal Arcanum
through representation has rate of
f+c q =
years of age. In every legislative dis
trict over our country are scores of men
holding worthless policies in defunct
Mutual Life companies and fraternal
societies. The Modern Wood1nen has
seen fit while still making growth to
meet this issue before it has such an old
age element as to make a necessary
raise of rates so high as to be prohibi-
tive.
Through the unparalleled record of
the Modern Woodmen in securing mem
bership of younger years in 1910, adopt
ing 10000 members at an average age
of 20 years is an illustration.
Owe have but IL per cent of our men,
bers above so years of age, yet one-third
OF our deaths last year accrued through
this II per cent of membership. In five
years we will have fully $4,000 in these
higher ages. In ten years we will have
over one-half million of our membership
in the higher ages. In the light of the
experience of other societies which put
off until too late proper re-rating, it
would be criminal to further lead the
rank and file of our membership to go
on paying for a long term Of years, into
an institution which could never pos
sibly, upon our present rate pay their
certificates. A 25 per cent and SO 1-3
per cent increases by fraternal societies
have been the graveyard of all societies
pursuing such tactics. Common hon
esty dictates that we find the cost, and
when so found be fair with our member
ship in the adoption of such. Every
member of our society should know that
when he receives the next issue of our
official paper and studies the various
plans adopted that whatever plan he
freely chooses for January 1, 1913, all
being computed on the same adequate
table that the amount promised will be
paid as truly as a note of the Bank of
England.
For ten years the question of rates
has been a burning issue in our society.
In 1903 we went through the most ex-
tensive campaign ever known in any
society in America, resulting only in a
compromise measure. At the Buffalo