Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-03
OMAHA WOODMEN INSURGING
VIII Launch Nation Wide Campaign
to Fight Higher Rates.
RULINGS HIT OLDER MEMBERS
In Some Instances Assessments VIII
BE Inceased as Much a. Six Hun
dred Per Cent IL Rates
Go In Effect.

Omaha Modern woodmen of America
are insWging against the rulings passed
recently by the extra session Of the head
camp in Chicago and have threatened to
launch nationwide campaign to force
at least postponemeRt of the new schedule
OF rates for one year. Professor Nathan
Bernstein Of Omaha and Lew Etter of
South Omaha are leading the insurgents
and are pointing out the unfsirness of
the attempt to collect twelve yearly as
sessments and increase the assessments
100 per cent. 4,
In many cases." said Professor Bern
stein. the rates viii be increased as
high as 600 per cent on the older MEM
bers. Those now paying SIS per month
will have to pay IS per month. This will
work undue hardship on the men who
have buiIt up the society. We're going to
see now whether the members own this
organization or whether II is play
thing Of a few head officers. II these
rates are enforced 1t will necessitate the
withdrawal OF the very men who have
built up the society.
I'VE feel II is our fraternal and civic
duty to resist. We all expected raise
and were prepared to fight it. But We
never suspected such rulings would be
made that older members would be forced
20 leave the order through inability to
meet the high assessments.
All Obligations Met.
II have been told that the society could
~ LA hn
present rates. All obligations have been
met promptly and there is now a reserve
of 100000 in cash on hand, in addition
TO the money invested in the sanitarium
for consumptives at Colorado Springs.
I'VE believe II is too much to force
our older members out. And we think
that is exactly what the scheme Is. Too
much sympathy exists between our head
officers and certain old line insurance
companies, in my opinion"
Some OF the stories that have come
to me means that hardship will follow
the enforcement of the rates. The faith
ful of the order. some OF whom have
found It very difficult to meet payments.
will be hit the hardest.
For instance: There Is a well au-
thenticated case of a husband who has
been incapacitated. His wife took in
washing and did scrubbing to keep up
his assessments. If this rate goes into
effect II means the poor house for them
VIII sweep Savings Away.
Many people are not conversant with
the affairs of the order but they will
readily sympathize with this protest
when they understand the actual con-
dItions. Many have paid their assess
ments in small sums, often as low as
Is cents. Now their savings from hard
toll and skimping are to be swept away
Were proposing to find out who Is
running the order. Head officers say
We are s2s5,0Oo.Ooo behind. but they are
suppoxng that all members should die
at once and their insurance would have
10 be paid. which is improbable. They
want to raise s9OoooOo0o by this assess
men., but we will start a statewide and
then a nationwide campaign to stave
off enforcement Of the rulings for year.
They were supposed TO go into effect the
first of this year. We are asking the
older members not 10 withdraw, hoping
that We can find a way to help them.
There are 10000 members OF the order
and they will not all give up easily. 1t
Will be big fight before these ruinous
rates are enforced and old members are
forced out"
IL L. a.