Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-19
Wood men
Split I2h|
F
Regulars and Insurgents
Each Elect Complete Set
of Officers at Biennial
Convention.
Fraser Regime Scored

Columbus, Neb., April lS.-(Spe-
ciaL)-Nebraska Woodmen OF the
World split into two factions at
their biennial convention here today,
each claiming to be the body lie.
gally authorized to transact business
and EACH electing complete set of
officers.
Scenes attending the split were
tumultuous. ]. H. Ellsberry of
Omaha was thrown from the stage
runway when he attempted to take
his place as chairman named by the
insurgents. He suffered bruises
and sprained knee and declined to
continue in active service.
Both Sides Claim Victory.
Both sides claimed a victory to-
night The regulars led by w.
A. Fraser of Omaha, sovereign CONF
mander, whose administration is the
object OF attack by insurgents
throughout the country, declared
that they had 1856 delegates regu-
larly enrolled. The insurgents"
claimed o6 delegates and charged
that nearly rs of the regulars" had
fraudulent credentials, issued by a
score OF camps recently organized
in Omaha with only skeleton or
ganization.
When the split came shortly be-
fore noon and the regulars" left
the hall, it appeared to outside OBJ
servers that the insurgents out
numbered the regulars" by Two to
one.
Fraser Is Attacked
Insurgents attacked the admin
istration OF w. a. Fraser and other
sovereign officers almost from the mo-
ment the convention was opened.
They charged that the head officers
have conducted lodge affairs ex-
travagantly, have mismanaged its or
ganization and have raised its in
surance rates unnecessarily and
without proper Authority.
The convention opened at 10 a.
m. in the opera house. AS soon as
preliminary formalities were COM
pleted, Earle B. Stiles OF Omaha,
state consul, who was presiding, an
nounced an Adjournment until | p.
m. At that time, he announced, only
delegates would be admitted whose
credentials had been approved by
the credentials committee.
who are on the credentials COM
mittee?" asked Charles Unit of
Omaha. head OF the insurgents"
THE committee VIII be announced
this afternoon in the regular order" :"
replied Stiles.
Insurgents Continue.
Unit then moved the appointment
of credentials committee of three.
whose names he presented STILES
ignored the motion and left the
stage.
Insurgents claimed that they had
been given no information as to
whom they should file their creden-
tials with. They decided to con-
tinue in session and nominated ]. H.
Elsberry OF Omaha as chairman.
Accounts conflict as to just what
happened when Elsberry started up
the runway to the stage. Insurgents
claim that regulars undertook to
seize him. In any case. in the melee.
Elsberry was thrown from the run
way.
Regulars" Secede.
Stiles and his followers then
marched out of the hall. The in
sIrgents remained in session, named
Charles Grau of Bennington as
chairman aud J. H. Wicina of Oma
lla as clerk.
Noon came but the insurgents
stayed in session, fearful that they
would be locked out of the hall if
they left. Sandwiches were brought
in and they continued their iabors.
At | o'clock, an emissary of the
regulars arrived He was refused
admittance, but left message, an,
nouncing that the regulars" were
in session at the Evans hotel and
that the insurgents" would be adj
mitted if they presented their Gre
dentials at the door.
The insurgents" decided 10 at
tend the regulars" meeting and
marched to the hotel. When they
arrived, they found the door shut.
They claim it was locked and that
they were refused admittance. The
| regulars" allege that they would
have been admitted if they had
given up their credentials but that
they refused.
Elect Officers.
| Insurgents elected the following
| officers Of the state organization:
/ Head ConsuI-Charles Unit, Omaha
! Head Adviser-A. A. Wertz. Grand Is
| land.
! Head Banker-c. E. Holland. Falls
City.
! Head lCierk-J. D. Wolfe
Head Escort-W. v. Purdy, Beatrice.
Head Watchman-Tom Adams, Scotts-
bluff.
Head Sentry-william o'Brien, Colum-
| bus.
| Board of Managers-Joseph wicina,
| Omaha: NJ. w. Piercy, Fullerton: NJ. "
Corp. Fairbury; r. B. Williams Kear-
ney: r. G. knowles. McCook.