The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-12
The WOODMEN ROW.
PSome Details About the Secession That
Resulted in Injunction.

| Resulted IN lnJunctlOn.
Members of the Modern Woodmen
| of America, in Kansas, who were in
strumental in calling a convention in
Hutchinson which was held recently
and at which time plans were made to
| sece0e from the head camp of the or
ganiZation, have been restrained from
continuing the plans temporary re-
straining order was granted Saturday
| by Judge Ralph G. Campbell of the
United states distriC- court at Fort
Scott. Men who were Interested in
making the plans for the members of
Kansas to withdraw from the jurisdic-
ton OF the head camp, and the officers
who were elected to manage the affairs
OF the new organization, were named
as defendants in the suit. Charles A.
LockEane of Topeka, who has been in
charge of the work of the parental
organization in Kansas. brought the
suit in the name of the organization
and was represented by Attorneys Fer
ry, Doran and Dean of Topeka. The
temporary restraining order which
was granted will remain IN effect until
Saturday, July "a, when Judge John
c. Pollock will hear the arguments on
motion to make the injunction perma-
nent. He will hear these arguments
in the United States circuit court in
Kansas City.
The officers, promoters and members
of the alleged organization are re-
strained from soliciting funds or mem
Fraternal Woodmen; from attempt
ing to procure charter. from at
tempting to secure. a permit to do
business from the state insurance COM
missioner, from using the names of
officers or literature from the head
camp of the Modern Woodmen of
America. from using funds, good Will
of the order and from committing any
other act which will be detrimental to
the Modern Woodmen of America.
At the convention of the head camp
of the Modern Woodmen of America
held several months ago, plans were
adopted to increase the, rates of in
surance. This oecaSioned some diSSat-
isfaction among the membership in
Kansas which. numbers about $4,000,
and campaign was started that plans
be made to secede from the head
camp. A convention was held in
Hutchinson, July so. Plans were made
to withdraw from the Jurisdiction of
the head camp, officers were elected,
committees were appointed and other
preliminary work was mapped out.
The officers and committees have
ing rules and regulations, making a |
schedule of insurance rates and all
other work necessary for the govern |
ment and manipulation of the order in !
Kansas. Mr.. Locl<nane in the name of |
the original organization began pro- |
ceeding to prevent the completion of |
these plans and the temporary injun = |
ton resulted.
The Modern Woodmen of America |
was organized under the laws of the !
state of Illinois in 1888 and the Of
fices of the head camp are maintained |
in Peoria at this time. The state has
camps in 80 states, a
number of territories under the con-
troll of the United States of America |
and in some of the provinces of Can
ada.
The proposed increases of rates for
insurance are effective January 1,
I1n i1,er IN, I |
organization are charged with having
confederated and conspired together
under the pretext of opposing the in
terests of the head camp in manner
as to fraudulently and unlawfully ap-
propriate to themselves and the al
legged new organization the name,
titles, insignia and designating the
laws rules and regulations of the head
camp to the benefit of the alleged new
It is also contended that with a
membership of $4,000 in Kansas, that
The head camp has paid out more than
$40, 100000 in death benefits and all
due to the relatives or bene-
of the deceased members in
Kansas have been paid. On account
Of the members of Kansas having
participated in the benefits of such
payments, the plaintiff contends that
[ is unlawful for them to withdraw
rom the Jurisdiction of the head
camp.
A majority of the members of the t
Modern Woodmen in Kansas, are IN ]
'avor of withdrawing from the juris- I
fiction of the head camp. A similar
oattle was fought. out in the court t
Turing the last few years, when the t
grand lodge of the Ancient Order of !
United Worknen withdrew from the
Jurisdiction of the supreme lodge.
The members of the latter organiza-
ion, withdrew from the supreme Or
,anization because they objected to
contributing to the support of grand
edges in other states. 1t was con-
ended, at that time, that the mem
)ership in Kansas, was sufficiently
arge enough to pay death losses with
n the state at a reduced expense
c the members but that the death c
osses in some of the other states was t
o great that the payments required
we're burdensome. A
The secession of the Workmen took n
lace five or six years ago and was not t
inaIly disposed of until a few months G
go. The Kansas organization was re-
uired to pay a large amount of mon r
Y to the supreme lodge on this oc- Il
aston but not as much as the supreme ii
odge commended was due.
Two Killed by Gas. -
Des Moines Aug. 12.-Mrs. Madge
,corarS apd bor 12vear old son Eugene