Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-27
W00DMEN FATE
UP TO MEMBERS
lin REFERENDUM
Special Head Camp Votes for 80
Per Cent Increase in Insur-
aAce Rates.
EFFECTIVE AFTER APPROVAL
Only FrafernaI Society to Avoid
Special Assessments to Pay
Its War Losses.
Especial to The Argus

Chicago, March 27.-Adequate
rates for new members and an in
crease of about so per cent on the
rates of present members were
adopted by the Modern Woodmer
head camp at the session yesterday
afternoon. The question will be
submitted to the membership for
approval before becoming effec-
tive
The head camp adjourned at noon
%0day after making certain amend
ments to the bylaws to conform to
the new rates and to provide for en-
forcement- The head officers are
holding conference this afternoon
The vote on the adoption of the
rates yesterday was 384 for and sc
against. Those voting against an
increase did so because they were
instructed to do so before leaving
home. Practically all admitted
that they were personally con-
WINGED that change was necessary
Table No. was approved to ap-
ply to members received hereafter,
while table No. was accepted for
present members, applying at the
age Of entry. The Illinois delega-
ton held a caucus yesterday and
voted unanimously for table No. 2,
an increase Of so per cent, for new
members, and a maximum rate of
So for old members.
When It came to the vote on rates
before the head camp most of the
Illinois delegates favored the
change. Such opposition as there
was came mainly from widely sep
SRrated parts of the Jurisdiction.
The head camp was the most har-
mpnious ever held. Except on the
vote on rates there was no di-
vision.
Action taken by the head camp
was first adopted in committee of
the whole and later formally ap-
proved in regular session. The I'M
derstanding is that if it is APPROX
ed by the members the new rates
will become effective July 1.
Head officers will waive the for
mality Of a petition for the change
in rates and will submit the ques-
ton to the membership at once.
Since the society is organized
under the laws of Illinois the ref
erendum must be conducted under
the auspices of the state election
board, which will prescribe the
method to be followed. Camp
clerks will be In personal charge
in camps and the vote, it is under
stood, will be limited to the mem
bers present at the meeting when
the referendum is taken.
When the new rates go into eff
feet the assessments to the patri-
OTIS fund for war death claims will
be discontinued
Remove Bar to Soldiers.
Soldiers and sailors heretofore
have been held under the society's
bylaws as engaged IN extra haz-
ardous occupations. The head
camp voted yesterday to remove
tHs restriction. It was pointed
out that the Modern Woodmen is
the only fraternaI society. which
had paid the death claims of SOL
deirs and sailors without levying
special assessments. 1t was voted
TO transfer the 100000 surplus
in the special war claims fund to
the general fund until the present
emergency, brought on by the cpl
demic of influenza and pneumonia,
is past.
Another session today was neces-
sary to make certain changes in
the bylaws to conform to the new
tables of rates and to provide for
enforcement.
A change was made in the by
laws so that members lapsing will
have six months in which to Sc
cure reinstatement at the same
rate they originally paid, a certif-
icate of good health, of course be-
ing required.
Table for Old Members.
Rates for old members under ia
1hle No. 4, applying on policies of
$500 and $1,000, are given below,
rates for $1,000, $4,000 and $4,000
being easily determined by multi
plication: