Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-19
BIGGEST "REREL" CONVENTION
EVER HELD IN IOWA NOW
IN SESSION.
START INQUIRY INTO
PROPOSED RATE RAISE
Woodmen Intend to RESIST New A..
sessrent Increase - Charge That
snti-:r...rna! Insurance Interests
Are Back Of Grand Lodge Officials
Other States Taking Similar Action.

1
Des MONIES, April 1s.-The biggest
insurgency" convention ever met in
Iowa commenced at 10 o'clock today
The thousand delegates are "insurg-
ing" against the regular program for
reorganizing the Modern Woodnen or
America by adoption Of an extensive
program for raising more revenue to
carry on the work OF the order and
provide a monster reserve fund for in
vestment. The convention was called
by a committee Of Woodmen author
ICED so to do at a recent convention In
Minneapolis attended by 3s1 members,
who decided there should be an inquiry
into the whole project.
Charles w. Lyon. of this city, former
assistant attorney general and one OF
the law examiners for Iowa, took an
active part in the organization at Min
neapolis of the National Woodmen As
eembly, and is at the head OF the law
committee appointed to resist in all
lawful ways the change of rates.
Purpose Of Insurgents.
It is the plan and purpose of these
insurgents to resist the movement
for an increase Of rates, to insist that
present rates are ample. that there is
no sufficient argument for the imposi-
ton Of added burdens on the member
ship, that the proposed rates would.
unless there was a remarkable falling
off in membership, raise an unused
fund Of from $50 to 200 million dollars
before a cent of it would be needed to
pay death losses. They claim, also. that
If the new rates, which are referred to
as the Chicago rates because Of adop-
ton at a head camp in Chicago. are
put in effect from so to IS per cent Of
the present membership will withdraw,
therefore that in resisting these rates
they are in fact taking action neces-
sary to save the order from complete
destruction.
Inasmuch as there are upwards of
1900, 900 members the magnitude of the
material interest involved 10 worth
considering.
New Rates Adopted.
The new rates are based on what Is
known as the Mobile bill, adopted at
a conference of insurance people at
Mobile, Ala, being rates supposed to be
sufficient to place any fraternal or
der on permanent basis. The increase
over present rates is considerable and
the number Of assessments would be
increased. The new rates were sehed
uled to go into effect Jan. /, 1918. IN
less there is some satisfactory adjust
ment Of the matter prior to that time
the law committee named at Mime
apolis is authorized to go into court
and take steps TO prevent the imposi-
ton of the rates, and it is alleged
there can be no doubt the change can
be prevented in this way.
Other States Act.
Conventions similar to this one have
been held or called in other states, but
there is peculiar significance in this
one for Iowa because Of the fact that
Mr.. Lyon, who is conspicuous in the
whole movement lives here, also F. R.
Korns, formerly head banker, or treas
urer, Of the order and now a director
and one Of the most active proponents
Of the Mobile rates. During the past
six weeks Mr.. korns and others rep
resenting the head camp officials have
visited many camps In Iowa to urge
acceptance of the rates. and likewise
Mr.. Lyon has done some missionary
work in opposition. The order is in
corporated under Illinois laws.
Local camps were invited to send not
more than three delegates to this con-
vention. 1t is believed a large pro-
portion Of the camps in the state will
be represented.
While the fight has been made to
prevent any change at present in the
rates II Is understood that high Of
dcials are considering offering to the
Insurgents a plan for a referendum
to the ernbersfT1p and thus to fight
1t out from the ground up.
There is now upwards Of nine mil
lion dollars in what is known az
benefit reserve fund" which Is at the
disposal Of the head officers and out
at interest.
Anti-Fraternai Interests Accused.
For one thing 1t Is virtually charged
that the rates Of the Mobile bill were
prepared by insurance interests antag-
onistic to fraternalism and for the pur-
pose of Gripping all fraternal orders.
Several OF the states have provided by
law that the rates Of the Mobile bin,
or similar rates, shall prevail in all
fraternal organizations In the states.
Such a bill has been strongly urged
in the Iowa legislature and has pro-
voked the most heated arguments
It is stated that trouble has already
been experienced in some Of the camps
OF the state by the refusal OF mem
bers to pay any more assessments,
anticipating the imposition Of the
higher rates and planning to drop out
The insurgents have been advising all
mem bers to remain and settle the Diff
ferences within the order. The action
taken by the convention here Will
probably be a protest against the
change and appointment of committees
authorized to act.