Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-07

organizer and corresponding secretary
of the Sangamon County Protest com
mittee.
agant the practice of the head offices
of the society which has permitted
more than two millions of dollars OF
the moneys of the society to be dis
tributed throughout the banks of the
country. all at two per cent per annum
interest except the sum of $4,000 de-
posted in the Canadian Bank of Com
merce at Winnipeg. Canada, which
draws the extraordinary rate of inter
est of three per cent per annum. II
any reason can be given for scatter
ing the money in sums of $500 and
upwards in banks at two per cent in
terest, other than to curry favor in
those banks and localities where the
money is deposited or TO furnish per-
sonal profit TO those interested in tie
banks where deposited, we welcome
the explanation.
We denounce as unreasonable and
unbusiness-like the management of
the affairs of the society, which dur
ing the year 1913, increased the ac-
cumulations of the benefit fund $685.
SSS.19 and increased the bond holdings
of the society only s1S,SO456, the bal
ance being held on no interest ut all,
or the inadequate rate of two per cent
per annum.
Score Business Methods.
We denounce as unjustifable and
the management of
. Ia frE Oh
the book valne OF the bonds
in which the officers IF the society
have invested its benefit fund to be
1921, 55I.27 more than the market val
ne of those bonds. This is as unjusti-
fable as the acts of the same officers
in carrying s2.412, 1890 of the benefit
funds of the society in banks scattered
the country on interest at
two per cent per annum
We denounce as extravagant and IN.
the expenditure frrm tie
fund in the year 1873 twhen
no head camp was heidi of S177,57O. =
in excess of the per capita tax collect
ed for that year.
With 90S.432 benefit certificates in
force December 81, 1913, the expenses
for the year 1913, exclusive of death
benefits paid. were $1,227, 297.22, or
s1.46 per member.
In the year 1900 with membership |
IF 537.S5S the cost of management was |
y409,975.91, or a per capita expense of /,
&c in 1900 against s1.46 per member
n 1913.
We demand return to economy.
We believe the salaries allowed to /
he officers of the society should be |
to the duties required of |
hose officers and that their services |
hould be devoted to the benefit OF |
his society. The conduct of officers
4 this society in accepting and hold
ng office in and promoting competing
ompanies subjects those officers TO
ust and severe criticism.
The appointees of the society should
e limited TO the needs of the society
nd their salaries should correspond
D the services rendered for the ben u
fit of the society.
We believe that publicity to the
lembers is the greatest safeguard
gainst unreasonable and illegal ex-
enditures of the general fund and we
ondemn the action of the Head Con-
al in suspending the provisions of
ection 2O4 of the bylaws which re-
ulres the monthly publication of the
Expenditures from the general fund.
nd we condemn the action of the ex-
cutive council in acquiescing in such
ispension- We demand a strict en-
'rcement or the provisions OF section
"a OF the bylaws requiring a detailed
lonthly publication OF all expenses of
10 Society and it's officers and the
FINISHING the same to all members on
squest.
Belongs to Members.
The society of the VI. w. A. belongs
It's members and for years prior to
'lz prospered as a great fraternal
'ciety. The officers of the society
ere elected for the purpose OF carry
g on the society on the plan and for
Ie purpose on which and for which II
as organized, and the abandonment
that trust by the officers so elected.
I'd their seeming efforts TO overthrow
q society they were elected to pre-
rye, with the known result that IL
1uld exclude from the society MANY Il
40 had for years supported IL, and Z,
10 relied on IL for insurance I'm their d
! age, places those officers under the
yerest criticism OF all justice loving p
m. =,
We will meet in friendly discussion a
consideration of the affairs OF the II
w. A all who may honestly diner IN
their views concerning the policies a,
be pursued for the greatest good to C.
society, but only the severest cen ST