The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-03-29
TO THE WooDMEN OF FLORIDA

a food of misleading, deceptive and |
matter is being sent broad |
cast among Woodmen in an effort to |
uphold and justify the outrageous
rate increases to begin on Jan. 1st, /
There is no truthful explanation that !
can be made of this coId-blOoded IN /
Justice, so resort must be had 10 ny
pocrisy and deception. There IS no
honest defense for this wilful breach
Of faith with our members, 50 the SIT
uation must be confused by a con-
tinuous TRADE of abuse, Islander and
vituperation Of all members who OPP
lose the outrage. The cold facts are
that unless you pay the increase rate
there will be lien with five per cent
interest added charged against your
policy, and you will also be deprived
Of your old age benefit while you
live, and your monument after you
die. Your policy may promise to pay
your widow specific stated sum at
your death, and also promise that
monument will be erected over your
grave. But unless you pay these new
rates, your widow will not get the
amount promised, and there will be 20
| Woodman monument over your grave
unless your folks put it there at their
expense. The bare bald truth shows
that under the new rate laws and con-
ditions imposed our members will be
robbed of rights expressly guaran-
teed to them in black and white in
their policies. Read what it prom
ised you in it. Then get the new rate
laws and conditions and read them
and decide for yourself. A terrific
wave of indignation has swept over
our membership against these unjust
rates. More than twenty states are
now banded together in the fight
against them, and court proceedings
have been instituted to enjoin the
collection of the new rates. No eff
fort is to be spared to defeat if pos
sible these iniquitous rates conceived
in deception, born of hypocrisy and
given the breath of life by chicanery
and trickery.
For years Woodcraft has been a
thorn in the side of old line insurance
companies, and they have fought the
, order in season and out. They have
lost no change to weaken its inf1u-
ence. Now could it be possible that
many members are right in their opin-
: ion in thinking that the new rates are
J the result of scheme Matched up tc
; wreck Woodcraft, weaken it down
J and get it out of the way as a com
petitor of old line companies? Every
old line company is highly pleased
with our new rates. There's a rea
son. Think it over. Or could it be
: possible, as many members think, that
these unjust rates are the result of 2
conspiracy to drive out the bulk OF
cur members, reduce the membership
: to handful, then liquidate the bust
ness of the society. and divide the
funds among the favored few who re
main. Study the true facts and see
what you decide.
j This committee is helping make this
fight for you. We are fighting t.
make secure rights promised your
| loved ones named in your policies. /
, is fight for the faithful fulfilmen
of every obligation named in you
| policy. 1t is fight for fairness, jus
tice and honesty. We call on ever!
Florida Woodman to stand by us ant
help in this struggle. We call on eve
ry camp to do it's full duty in supper
, OF this battle for the sacred cause o
, true fraternalism. Read this letter !,
: your camp. Yours fraternally,
The Executive Committee.