The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-08

The resignation of Billy effective
today was an outgrowth of the recent
merger of the knights and Ladies of
Security with the National American
society. Under the terms of the
merger the name of the society was
changed to the Security Benefit asso-
citation. Biby said today that "he was
not intending to be a candidate for
reelection at the convention to be
held at san Antonio next year, and
owing to the fact that the merger car
ried the present officers of the society
in the present positions until 1928, 1
thought it best to sever my, connec-
ton with the merged organization at
this time when it is just going into
effect rather than disrupt the organ
ization within a few months"
Favors New Merger.
The retiring national treasurer said
that he was heartily in favor of the
merger of the two national fraternal
insurance societies and said that IN
his opinion the terms of the merger
formed the most equitable readjust-
ment of rates effected by any society
in the history of fraternal insurance"
He laid especial stress on the fact that
the old members of both organizations
are protected to the limit in the new
society.
1t was Biby who conceived and put
over the big home and hospital project
of the knights and Ladies of Security,
and in announcing his resignation
Billy expressed the greatest hopes for
the continuous development of the in
stitution. He pointed to the fact that
the merger terms provide for yearly
appropriation of $4,000 for the
home and hospital association. which
sum is to be expended in the building
of additional dormitories and the cree
ton and equipment of modern hos
pital on the grounds.
The home and hospital project,
when it was first preached to the
society, was greeted as a rather
Nebulous dream of bill Biby's."
Nothing daunted by the cool reception
of the idea, Biby went ahead with his
dreaming and soon had the idea ready
for public presentation. He appeared
before the Topeka Chamber of Com
merce at a specially called evening
meeting ard proceeded to sell the
business men of Topeka what Billy
himself called 1875, 900 worth of blue
sky"-the blue sky being the promise
to build a real institution in Topeka
If the business men would buy the
necessary ground.
Built Big Homo.
The Chamber of Commerce went
forth and got the money and 27O acres
of ground known as Martins hill was
bought for the home and hospital site
of the knights and Ladies of Security.
This much accomplished Billy took
the matter up with the various local
councils of the society and gained a
nickel fund of many thousands of
dollars to be used in maintaining the
home. This nickel fund was to be a
special assessment laid against the
members of the society. So many
nickel assessments were voluntarily
given that the fund was assured.
The building was begun on the first
dormitory Last spring the first dor
mitory was opened end today more
than forty persons are being cared for
at the institution and more than 100
more are seeking admission. OF the
forty present inhabitants of the in
stitution thirty-one are children.
The home and hospital at present
comprises the dormitory building. the
270 acres of ground originally given
by the business men of Topeka, and
eighty acres purchased by the society.
The home and hospital buildings and
grounds today represent an invest
ment of more than. $165.O00.
But Biby's work has not been con-
fined to society work proper. altho his
activities have been of considera BILE
benefit to the society in an advertising
way. Billy has been one of the most
active men in Topeka or Kansas in
promoting the war drives. He is at
present, state chairman of the Saliva
ton Army Campaign committee. is
head of the Red Cross publicity bu-
reau for fraternal societies. and is