Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-26

! w. w. EppS, James V. Curran an
Mike Garland represented Ottumw
Woodmen at the insurgent convention
of the Modern Woodmen of Americ;
held recently in Des Monies. The fol
lowing resolutions, which explain IL
detail the insurgent side Of the vot'
controversy, were passed by the con
.vention:
Text Of Resolutions.
We, the representatives Of the In
surgent Modern Woodmen, in conven
ton assembled, adopt the following
platform as expressive of our attitude
on the issues now confronting the
membership of the Modern Woodmer
of America:
(! First-That our first task Is the res
! toration of representative government,
in the Modern Woodmen, to the END
that all it's policies may be determined
by the membership and all its prob
lens by them solved.
Second-That our second Is the re-
peal of the Illegally enacted Chicago
rates.
Third We believe that all mem
bers of the M. w. A. should be on
| the same basis, and believe that only
one plan of insurance and only one
table of rates should be In use by our
society. We accept no change OF
rates unless it be first approved by
referendum vote of the membership.
We believe that the present officials OF
! the head camp have outlived their
usefulness and that the best interests
of the society demand a change IN the
officers and head camp employees OF
the organization.
Against Mobile Bill.
Fourth-We believe that the Mobile
bill, in It's present form or similar
measures, are against the interests OF
our society, and demand it's repeal
wherever enacted.
Fifth-We demand a revision of the
bylaws, decentralizing power and de-
priving the executive council of the
power to compel neighbors to leave
their local camp and submit to trial
before prejudiced tribunals
Sixth-We demand thorough in
vestigation into the financial admin
istration of the head office and the re-
ceipts and disbursements of our bene-
fit and general funds and conduct and
MANAGEMENT Of the sanitarium, and
that action be taken to recover FUNDS
not properly or legally disbursed or
alienated.
Seventh-We demand that the recall
provision now in force governing the
local camp officers be extended to In
clude the head camp officers, and that
provision be made at the next head
camp to provide for the recall of head
officers by the members.
Eighth-We believe that the terms
of office of all head officers of this
society should be limited to not ex-
coed two terms, and that no person
should be permitted to hold any two
offices in immediate succession.
Ninth We deplore the enormous
of the funds Of our society
in an attempt, by the head officers, to
foist upon the membership a rate and
a plan of insurance which has, by
every court where the question has
been presented, been declared illegal.
Tenth-We urge the possibility OF
the affairs of the society
IN more economical basis and at a
less cost per capita to the member
ship.
Eleventh-We demand that para
graphs 3, 4 and IL and Section BIB and
paragraphs 5-a and 6 of section 81 OF
The bylaws of the society be amended
In the interests Of the individual men,
0ers.
Twelfth-We approve in every de-
tail the Bradshaw injunction decision
and recommend that it be defended to
he uttermost and that the state ex-
,cut;ve committee be authorized anu
directed to devise ways and means to
30 defend It,
Favor National Convention.
Thirteenth I'VE heartily indorse
he call for a national convention OF
Modern Woodmen to meet in Spring
'ield Ill.,, May Is and 16, 1918, as we
believe such gathering of Woodmen
will tend to harmonic, crystalline and
snergize this great movement, on the
tart of the membership against the
,ction of the, Chicago head camp and
he manner in which such action was
brought about, together with the sys-
EN- which made such action possible.
We favor reorganization of the head
,ff;ce at Rock Island and restoration
# representative government within
he society. We recognize the success
# this movement as essential 10 tne !;
estoration of confidence among the
membership and the perpetuity OF this /
treat order Il
Fourteenth We commend the I'M /
elfish efforts and splendid results OBJ
aimed by our executive and law COM
nittee, and pledge our united support
morally and financially to them for
heir future efforts to place the society