Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-21
Executive Council Makes Com
prehensive Announcement
to the Membership.
COURT ACTION GOES ON
New Schedule viii Not Be Enforced.
However, Until Passed on by
Convention Of 1914.

The executive council Of the Mod
ern Woodmen OF America has aban-
doned all intention of putting into
force the new schedule of rates au-
thorized at head camp meeting held
In Chicago; that is the council has
decided 10 hold the increase in abey-
ance at least until the next head camp
meeting which will occur in 1914. This
action Will be taken regardless OF
what disposition the courts may make
Of the Injunction which now restraints
the society from enforcing the in
crease and which is on its way to
hearing before the supreme court OF
the state OF Illinois. The head Off
GERS OF the society fully believe that
the injunction will be dissolved and
that the legality OF the new rates
VIII be established, but they also
realize that by the time the much
mooted question has been settled. the
thousands Of camps all over the jur-
isdiction will be electing delegates TO
the. next head camp where the ques-
ton is bound to come up again. There
fore the rate increase question will
be- left for the next head camp to
pass upon.
Following is the complete state
ment formulated at the recent meet
ing Of the executive council in this
city as taken from advance proofs
which have been furnished to the
Associated Press by Head Counsel A.
r. Talbot:
To the Membership OF the Modern
Woodmen of America-Esteeme
Neighbors:
At the January session OF the ex-
ecutive council. the situation and
future welfare of the society was care
fully considered and I was directed
To- advise the membership Of the con-
clusion reached by the executive coun-
Gil relative 10 the rate readjustment
by the head camp at Chicago. Ill
RECALLS HISTORY.
You are well aware Of the action
that was taken by that head camp in
the adoption Of rates OF assessments
that were believed TO be adequate and
sufficient TO perpetuate the society and
10 assure the payment OF each and
every certificate issued by it in full.
The delegates TO the head camp which
convened in January. 1912. had been
selected as delegates TO the regular
session Of the head camp which con
yeuCd in Buffalo, n Y, in June. 1911
At the Buffalo head camp a resolu-
ton was adopted by unanimous vote
providing for an adjourned session Of
that body TO convene in Chicago, ILL.,,
the following January. From the time
the Buffalo head camp adjourned un-
iii II reconvened in Chicago. every
member OF the society knew that the
question OF revising the rates OF the
society would be the only matter con.
sidered at the adjourned session. Dur.
ing the interval between the adjourn.
I2ent at Buffalo and the meeting al
Chicago, a period of about seven
months, the members had an oppor
tunity to discuss the rate proposition
and advise their delegates as to then
wishes. When the head camp recon
vcued at Chicago. these delegates, be
lieving that the best interest and vel
fare of the society demanded a read
justment Of rates and the adoption Of
an adequate rate, so voted and the by
laws enacted by that head camp be
came the laws governing the society
and every member thereof. including
its head officers. Your head officers
observing their duty undertook il
good faith TO carry out the will o
49,
o. the delegates, by putting into fore,
and effect the bylaws adopted, includ
ing the rate revision. II is not nee
cssary to discuss what has TRANSFERRED
in the way Of abuse heaped upon you
head officers and charges made agains
them of every description because o
their attempt to enforce the will o
the head camp and the bylaws as en-
acted This is we'll known to ever,
member of the society. Some member
resorted TO the courts to prevent tn
carrying out of the action of the hea
camp and the enforcement of the as
sessment rates adopted The resul
o. this litigation has been that i
the states OF Illinois and Iowa, after
fun hearing, the society has been Ell
Joined from putting the new rates II
10 effect. and in the states OF Nebraska
Wisconsin sand Colorado temporar
writs Of injunction have been ISSUED
without a full hearing of the cases.
ILLINOIS CASE.
The case in Illinois has been al
pealed by the society to the appel.at
court and It is presumed that no ma
ter how il is decided by the appellat
court. Il will be appealed 10 an
reach the supreme court Of the stat
The appellate court does not conven
until next April, and it is hardly
hc expected that a decision will b
reached and an opinion filed in thi
court until fall II will then taB
some time to get the case into n
supreme court, and some months wi
probably elapse after it is submitte
4, that court before a decision
reached
Our society being organized und'