The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-29
FRASER IS THE
MAN TO BLAME
His Betrayal of the Confidence of the
w. o. w. Did More Harm than
the Increase of Rates
Chas. K. Sage, Head Consul for Flor
ida, in the Woodmen Voice
Ocala. Fla. April Is, 1920.

Ocala. Fla, April 10, 1920.
Confidence is the outgrowth of
friendship and the betrayal of this
confidence by Sovereign Commander
Fraser has harmed our great society
in Florida more than the raise of
rates.
1t is natural we should be restless
when we have no confidence in the
mar at the head.
Sovereign Commander Fraser at
tended the Head Camp, jurisdiction CT
Florida, which met at Ocala in April
and presided great part of the time.
During this convention he gave us to
understand that the society was as
solid as the rock of Gibraltar, that
our emergency fund had been unin-
paired by influenza and the war and
that everything was in a fourishing
and satisfactory condition. All dele
gates were much enthused by the
glowing account of our sovereign COM
mander and anticipated most pros
porous period for our society. Not a
hint was dropped of an anticipated
change in rates.
A man that will deliberately mis-
lead men in this manner is unfit to
be a member of fraternal society.
far less be at the head of it.
Sovereign Fraser well knew at the
time he was visiting the Head Camp
convention that this change in rates
would be introduced at the Sovereign
Camp convention in Chicago. Why
this secrecy?
AS all who attended the Chicago
convention well know, the change in
rates. was shot at US like a bomb.
Some delegates endeavored to ask Mr..
Abe Landis; the actuary who was
reading his report, questions concern
ing the rates but were promptly sat
down on by the sovereign commander,
who stated that Mr.. Landis must not
be interrupted, that he Mr.. Landis)
would be back later, prepared to an
swer any questions. / attended every
session of the convention, but from
that hour to this / have not seen Mr..
Landis. No time was given for study
or analysis of the proposed rates. IL
i am not mistaken the next morning
the convention went into q commit
tee of the WHOLE" and vote by roll
call was taken on the proposed rates.
The first delegate to have the honor
of voting "no' against this infamous
proposition was Sovereign w. w.
Anderson, of Jacksonville, Fla. On
down the line every delegate from
Florida voted "no." The proposition
was carried largely through the inf1u-
ence of men in the employ of the
Sovereign Camp who were, no doubt,
afraid of their jobs.
Every state should from now on see
that no delegate is elected to the Sow
ereign Camp who is state manager,
deputy, or in the employ of the Soy
ereign Camp in any capacity We
must elect men who Will represent the
rank and file and to whom fraternal-
ism means something.
Consider well, sovereigns. and when
you elect delegates next year see that
they are fraternalists; that they will
work for the betterment of the fra
ternity and not for the personal ag-
grandizement of favored few.
| am proud of the Florida member
ship; they are with US body and soul.
They have responded to every call and
are firm in the belief that we will win
our fight, for justice and right are on
our side.
The Marion County Woodmen Asso-
citation held an enthusiastic meeting
at Lowell few nights ago with be-
tween 125 and $50 sovereigns of w.
o. w. and w. C. present. / read them
portions from the "Voice" which fill
ed them with renewed hope for sue
cessful termination of our fight for
justice. Every sovereign expressed
his or her determination to stick to
the last ditch and to fight "Fraserism
till h freezes over"
We would not object to a just and
equitable re-rating. if same was nee
essary, but do not believe sovereign
who has been member of the so.
ciety for twenty years should be com,
PEELED to pay practically the same
rate as a new member of the same
age. Our present rates and condi'
tions practically transforms us into
an "old line" insurance company. Viii
100000 sovereigns passively allow the
noble principles of fraternalism to be
eliminated from our society. Florids
Woodmen say "no."
Our greatest asset is that wonder
full spirit of fraternalism and brother
ly love that binds US one to another
and tends to make the world brighter
and better; to make US in fact oul
brothers keeper; to help and succol
those in sickness and distress; to car,
and protect the widow and orphan.
Sovereigns, let US not make ou
society commercial affair, but let j
continue as it has been in she past, I
grand fraternal organization.