The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-04-10
Emancipation Bill
Was 'Doctored'

| V0O DUCtUI GU
4 From thursdays Daily.
Little was accomplished for the
cause OF the insurgent woodmen at
last evenings rally, held in the Sons
lof Herman hall, for the purpose OF
getting signatures to the petition
+, that Is being circulated for the pur-
pose OF forming q new order Of
woodmen within the state of Min
nesota, TO be known as the North
west Plainsmen. There were some
rev signatures, but, on the whole,
the results must have been quite
disappointing TO those that are back
OF the movement 81
/ James Gilkerson of Minneapolis,
a prominent insurgent who was ex-
pected 10 address the gathering, did
not appear, and most of the speak
ing was done by Attorney Benjamin
ID. Smith OF Mankato, who is general
attorney Of the order, and who is a
champion of the Chicago rates,
against the movement OF the insur-
gents is directed. o. -... . ......r
The meeting was held on the same
day as the county convention took
place for the express purpose OF Civ
ing the delegates from all parts OF
the county a chance to attend the
evening rally. but nearly all of those
who were present at the meeting
last evening were local Woodmen,
most of the delegates from other
parts OF the county having gone
home Immediately after the conven-
ton, which was held in the after
noon. Last evenings meeting had
q good attendance, however, about
sixty being present when the gath
ering was at its height. However,
not more than half that number
remained throughout the meeting.
Thomas c. Norman Spoke.
Thomas G. Norman of Lake Cry
stall, one OF the two delegates cleo
ed at the county convention, which
was held In the afternoon, declared
that the Chicago rates were exorbi.
dant. He said the rates were adj
justed for the purpose OF freezing
ont the old members and actually
had the effect OF freezing out the
young members. He declared that
he was heartily In. favor of the pro-
posed new state order. He said the
emancipation" bill, under which the
new order was being formed. pro-
vided for 1900 signatures when IL
left the Legislature, but when Il got
to the governor, the requirement was
$4,000 signatures. How that extra
cipher was added. he did not know.
The speakers said there were al
ready $4,000 signature for the new
order, and he did not see why 5000
more could not be secured in this
state. He hoped that all the Mod
ern woodmen Of Blue Earth county
would see M 10 sign the petition
for the organization OF the North
west Plainsmen.
I Would Work for cieanout.
Mr.. Norman said that when
he went to the state convention
he would work for the cleaning
out OF the present head officers OF
the order. He said the head camp
had invested the money of the or
der very foolishly. He declared that
the head camp had invested s105,-
900 OF the money OF the order In
county bonds OF Tennessee. which
would not bring twenty cents on the
dolla; of their face value. He also
said that the head camp had loaned
half million dollars in Oklahoma
on water works and school bonds
that were not worth fifty cents on
the dollar. He said head officers
who would put out the money of the
order on such securities ought TO be
ousted. ~. s#
William Morgan said the "emanci-
patton" bill. when Il was first draf-
ted and presented In the Minnesota
Legislature. provided that the new
state order could be organized with
the signatures OF fifteen Wobdmen
He said Senator Nelson of Mime
apolis was positive that when the
bin left the senate II provided tor
TO $1,000 before II reached the gov
ernor he could not tell. but the state
insurance commissioner held the
/ farmers OF the new order to the
obligation OF securing $1,000 sigma
lures. Mr.. Morgan said there were
500 Modern woodmen in Blue Earth
county and about 200 had signed for
, the Northwest Plainsmen. He did
not see why all, or substantially all,
should not be secured.
Many Couldn't Afford Rates. :.
Albert Schippel said there we're
thousands OF Modern Woodmen who
would not afford 10 pay the Chicago
rates. II was for their benefit that
the meeting was being held The
whole purpose OF the 'insurgent"
movement was to save the wreck of
the order. II It could possibly be
saved. He urged all present TO keep
up their membership in the Modern
Woodmen, whatever was done, but
TO keep up the fight without leaving
the order. The formation OF the
new state order was for the purpose
Iof having a club to hold over the
head officers. Whatever you do do
not let your membership in the
Modern Woodmen lapse" he said
iemphatically II repeat 1t, do not
lapse! Do not lapse
! Mr. Schippel went on TO say that
reliable actuaries figured that It
cost the old line companies $10.64 on
each s1.00> worth Of insurance that
they carried. This covered salar-
1 les and all other expenses. Why the
head camp officers wished to raise
the rates 10 three times this amount
was a point on which he would like
a