Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-26
WooDMEN REMOVAL TALK.

The publication in an Indianapolis
paper OF a movement among Woodmen
OF the state looking TO the transfer of
the location OF the head Office from Rock
Island to Indianapolis has naturally
occasioned considerable alarm in Rock
Island. regardless of the issues in
which the members of the order. local
Iy speaking at least, stand divided. and
there Is talk OF meetings to
bring TO bear upon the county con-
yention TO be held in Rock Island
April I, the adoption of some action
as will not only hold Illinois in line
OF resistance against any design loking
TO the removal of the head Office out OF
the state, but exert every possible infiu-
ence among the other states in the
same direction. Conceding. as The
Argus does, that all Rock Island county
Woodmen are loyal TO Rock Island and
will fight as quickly for the interests
Of the city as any other class OF men,
il ought not to be a difficult task to
have a consistent course OF action map
ped out and adopted.
According to the Indiana source of
information, the effort TO move the So
ciey outside OF the state Is based on
the taxation question. IL has not been
decided as yet whether the funds OF
the society are taxable in Illinois, and
even IL the supreme court should so
decide. there Is a simpler and more
economical way to avoid paying the
tax than TO abandon the present build
ing. erect a new one in a state where
funds of fraternsl societies OF this
sort are not taxable. than go TO the
trouble and expense of removing en-
pIoyes and equipment
II is recalled that the proposition TO
compel taxation of the funds OF the
society in this county failed. the board
Of review deciding adversely TO Il. The
taxing body in the home county of the
head banker in Illinois. however. took
a different view of the matter and the
question was thrown into the courts.
II the funds of the society are tax
able at the home of the head banker
why not elect at the coming head camp
a banker who lives in a state where
funds OF this character are not taxed?
That would obviate the difficulty as il
is now presented, and by the way. the
head banker has not always resided
in Illinois. and there Is no likelihood
that the new one will be an Illinois
man.
The Modern woodmen have a plant
here worth. roughly, half a million dol
lars. Removal would involve the aban-
doning OF this establishment and the
erection OF a new one costing at least
as much and probably more. A mil
1r.I1
cost of the change. Certainly the men,
bership, which would have TO pass upon
any matter of this kind, would ponder
a long time over the sacrifice of that
sum OF money. particularly when the
organization Is operating under rates
which are conceded 10 be inadequate,
despite the fact that there have been
honest differences of opinion as to
what extent they should be advanced,
and all funds collected will be needed
from now on TO meet legitimate and
unavoidable expenses.
That Indianapolis would like to Sc
cure the head Office may readily be
believed, and no doubt woodmen Of
that city and OF Indiana are alive to
the advantages OF having the estab-
lishment in their territory, but even
they. on sober second thought, Will
hardly be over-anxious TO involve the
society in another big fight and the
ruinous expense removal would entail,
while members in other states assur-
edly can be counted upon TO line I'D
against a change.
There are those alive who 'remem-
Der the difficulties that attended the
removal from one adjoining county to
another in a single state.