9
A Great National Service.
How Lite Insurance has Discharged its .Duty
to The Nation.
By JOHN B. LUNGER, New York City.
Through tho lovo of Justice, tho
tho gonitis and tho vnlor of tho Amer
ican people thoy have recently In
scribed a most glorious pngo In tho
rocord of human progross. In a noble
Bplrlt of unsoinshnoss and micrifleo
thoy have glvon gonorously of tholr
blood and treasure to liiHiiro tho ln
togrlty of tholr country und tho life,
liberty and hupplnos of tho genera
tions to come.
Amoricans aro Justly proud of this
sublime achievement In tho sorvico of
humanity. And It Is obvious that thoy
stand ready to lend a patient oar to
a friendly message from any Ameri
can Institution which through Its
teachings and service In pcaco and In
war has contributed to tho grand ro
sult. Llfo liiHtiranco Is such an Institu
tion, and If I may vonturo to suggost
brlofly tho salient 'points of Its inofl
sago.that should roach ovory Ameri
can homo at this tlmo It would bo
along tho following lines:
To The American Fooplo
A JIcnhiiko of Service.
Tho days of posl-wur readjustment
aro here. You will now undortnko,
not only to restore tho normal balance
but to mako such adaptations In me
thods, habits and opinions as may bo
nocossary to meet tho changed condi
tions, In somo directions you aro
starting anow In tho eternal soarch
for truth, Justico and understanding.
Will ou not permit ono of thoso di
rections to bo toward a clearer com
prehension of llfo lnsuranco not In
Us dotnll, but as an Institution? It cach day to socuro these now promises
seeks no special prlvllogo, no oncom- t0 Havo nnd tho first deposit of In
Iums for.tho performance of Its plain . swiranco saving, thereon
duty. It simply asks for a correct pub-1 Do you know of any other orcanl
llc understanding of tho nature nnil,rntlon that Is doing ns much or more
extent of Its Horyico to Soc oty nnd to encourage prudence, economy and
to tho nation, to tho ond that It may th0 protection of the -Stato through
meet with fair ludgmcnts from public, tho protection of the homo' You do
opinion nnd public authorities. This not becauso there 1b nono othor
public knowledge will bo of especial, T . . .
valuo to you In tho no-callod readjust-1 111 A l,nss
mont porlod when confusion of mind Tno institution of llfo Insurance Is
resulting from agitation, hasto, and n a distinct class by Itself. If Justice
tho bacillus of Bolshevism at times, l,B donc' '01' WM nwor confuse It or
dlvort our law-givers from tho path dnsslfy It with othor corporation, or
ot wisdom. j Institutions whon considering nuos-
It Is not enough that each of you'1'0"8 "' national service, of taxation
should know of tho bononts of life ot legislation, or of public policy. And
lnsuranco to tho Individual. That you yo.Lwo "nd 11 taxed to tho extent of
willingly concedo. You should npproc-' millions of dollar mostly on the
Into tho great part It Is taking In tlfb , theory Hint It Is nn ordinary commer
mlghty drama of our national llfo. It ,clal. ",l8inoss, doalgnud purely for
it not sufficient thnt you should rccog-1 ,,ront- "avo ovory reason to ad
nlzo ltH holp In tho nmlorlul progress 'nlro s,,stn" your great instltu
of our country. You should also know Utm-( "fo Insurance. Thn brains and
of Its contribution to tho mornlo of ?n?.rRy. of Ub managers havo not only
tho nation and to tho oxnlted spirit m,11l nrmly hnit aro constantly ox
of solf-sacrinco for tho honoilt of pos-1 ,)Iinil'nB ,ta service to tho Individual
tority which you havo so gloriously nn(J tl10 nntlon. Krror.s In practlco
demonstrated in tho groat wnr. i nmI, ,n management have been elimln
'Tlio Amorlwin Spirit. ated ns fast ns discovered .Stoadlly
You havo obsorved llfo Insurance '"t'ously nafoly, tills groat savings
doVOlOD Into a nntinnnl BArvInn Inall- institution lins boon nrooto.l .wi
tutlAn of tho first magnitude. Through1
its teachings of thrift it has become-
your financial" bulwark against ad-1
vmniiy, mni mroiign uio accumulation
nn imporiant oconomlc prop of tho """'"'"-n viuiout Ininnjnnont of sol
natlon. It not only protects the holp- vcni7, or the Increasing of rates. Jt
loss, but It rollovos anxloty, dovolop's ,,aB tho 1,U)8t offoctiyo'Sta'tb sunorVI
Btamlna and aelf-ropect, and builds Bl0 ot "' vrlvntb ontorpriso. It has
character. It has sharpened our sen- n,lvnccd until today It stand, forth
so of JiiBtlco and service to tho wonk "ncliallnnged as to Its security or
nnd unfortunate, und holpod Bhnpo ,,C'0MCV nr honesty 0f management So
our national character accordingly. ro,lml wml B(,,,l Its foundation that
It has oncouragod and alde,i In tho ovo" tl10 8,1Hck f tho worlds greatest
dovolopmont of tho American spirit ?J'nr C0llItI ,10t slmko it. It iH not
oE solf-rollance, oC courage in tho Uloroforo' surprising that yoii have
battlo of llfo, nnd of dovotlon to fam-' l;nmo to rpKnr,i a llfo lnsuranco 'pollcv
lly and homo which lie at tho founda- ln n reBPonslhlo company as safo nr.d
Hon of our national greatness. 1 pertnln of payment a n govornmont
Clearly you have irlvnn llfn liici.,r . DOIKI.
nnco your gooj will and confidence! ,Tll0B aro fncts well-worth knowing
bocnuso It has earned it nnd desorv-,nboA't n. Krcnt nd popular American
od It. But It deserves more than this
u Hnouiu nave your active moral sup
port In Its efforts to advance You
.should bo rendy and willing to com
mend It and U necessary to dofond It
against tho mlsconcoptlons ot tho un
informed. Thua you will bol
i li . - vi--,
tho nation, nii.i to nostorliv.
Lot us brlofly note some ot the more
rtpecltlc reasons for asking thlH uir
anlmoiiH moral support. Lot us stand
back far onough to get a hotter por-
fclltJAlt I f il.ni
v.,.,v,..,i.-, uint you may see tho nature
nnd magnltudo ot this groat humanlz-1
Ing orgnnlznt on In n ir.,
tlons. " V"- "'"""-
inPmw U 2t,lnd8 1,10 mosl colossal
Inrtlttulon for savings and inutiinl
protection of all hist
monument to the unsolflsh thrift of
you. tho Amorlcan poople. Tho Ameri
can compnnloa aro moro than twice
?n. hPBm "S nll.U, oU,or ,lf0 Insurance
, ,l.utI"n ot tho world combined.
?.u built thorn. You own thorn. It Is
mpor ant that you know at least tho
. Jmportnnt features of tholr structure.
A Jllglily Savings Institution.
vllpnr In mind that llfo lnsuranco is
nn, Institution of savings nn,i protec
tion and not nn ordln
' selling, profit-making, commercial on-
lulling, mo rocoipts rrom all sourcos
must bo roturuod to tho loposltora or
tholr bononclarlo minus tho cost of
operation. You havo as a rosult of
jour lnsuranco savings ovor six bil
lions of dollars of lito lnsuranco.
From this mighty rosorvolr of nssots
thoro flows a novw-ondlng goldon
Htronm Into tho homos of our count rv.
aggregating two million dollnrs por
day.
TllO SO-Cnlled dlvldotnln in nnllnv.
im us usoiuinoss to the cltlzon, to'"1"10 organization, Its funds, nnd Its
holders aro simply Uio return or ro
fund of saving,, not noodod for ox
lionsos or for protootlng your con
tracts, T,ho surplus Is tho sum held ovor
. nnij nbovo all llabllltios to guard
against Impairing contingencies. Thl,
Js tho cushion that absorbs tho hock
of unforsoon Iosbos or financial do
mandu duo to -war, opldomtcs, deprec
iation of values, ota It need is shown
by tho rocent opldemlc of Inlluonza
nnd pnoumonla which has resulted In
doath claims of not less than fifty
millions of dollars.
The companies which conduct these
vast operations aro not commercial
In spirit or organization. Nor do thoy
roprosent vast accumulations of capi
tal ns is so often charged by tho unin
formed. Thoy aro in truth vast accu
mulations of people combining to
gether for mutual advantage and pro
tection. The number,, of outstanding
policies of such people havo increased
from twoiityflvo millions to fifty mil
lions In the past ton years alone. If
tho assets of the companies wero di
vided amongst tho policy-holder, tho
average cash value of each "policy out
standing would bo in tho ordinary
companies only $.'!93, and in the In
dustrial companies, only $.16.
Life lnsuranco diffors from othor
savings institution. In a very Im
portant particular. It dooB not wait for
tho spirit to move people to Havo and
to deposit tholr savings. It maintains
M, vast army of thrift missionaries who
arc constantly ongagnd in personal
visits and appeals to tho people In the
intorcsts of rational economy to Have
for tho rainy day nnd to deposit their,
lnsuranco savings. Yosterday and to
day nn,i every day this year approx
imately 1,000 promises to Bavo for or
dinary lnsuranco and 2C.000 promises
for Industrial lnsuranco will bo sign
ed by our people a a rosult of tho of
forts of those tireless crusadors for
homo protection. An idea of tho labor
Involved in this Borvlco can bo gained
Imntclv 90.000 mill i,,,iiv!,i..i
irom too ran mat it takes ajprox
lool,ort t,iro".Bh u'p stormy, hazardous
?1arI' 'PnrB of its oxtstonco. It has
, n successfully guided through tho
""'V i'-nrn. scnnuais, panics, nnd
...si union, nioy are enslly obtained,
easily understood nnd should bo a
pnH of tho ordinary education of
,n,i i .. . .
stand ng-not T. y o lnsuranco iP
fioir-lmt o ' tho slmnlo fTdnmnntn
of tlm or JniVn?inT",:"'Vln0" "
- . :. ""uuuuun
nntlonnl sorvico
able. This lack of .understanding Is
round not. only among th0 uneducated
elomont. but among buslnoss men. od
ucntors nnd especlijllv among Inw-
iiHiKors wnoro it orton loads to Inius-
,lco
Wrng Notions forrecled.
An Instnnco may bo cited whore
this misunderstanding becomos hnrm
ful, Tho bonds of two Importnnt com
inlttQOfl of Congress havo referred ln
a deprecatory way to what thoy torm
od tho "vast wealth of llfo lnsuranco
companies." Thoy also havo advocated
tho return to tho policyholders of tho
surplus or omorgency resorvo.
Tho fact that llfo lnsuranco com
panies own no wealth was unknown to
thorn, nnd thnt tho groat hulk of tho
assets are resorvos required by law
and hold to protect donnaUm.- n,i
which nro returned I film rnnruA .In
tho owners or bonoflclnrlos. seemed to
bo nows to thorn! Thoy did not renllzo
thnt. If these nssots woro returned to
uoposuors tnoy would nvorngo, as al
ronuy biiowii, only nbout $393 for or
dinary pol'cles and nbout $3G for
dustrlal policies. Thoy seomod who'iv
unnwaro that thoso small avorage In
dividual savings of tho holdors of
ovor fifty million 'pollcl.ic. woro po--formlng
tho extraordinary nation"'
nuiit;.) 111 Bururiug tno current pa
montB on ovnr twonty-soven billion j Whon It was found necossnry to mako Teased from war servlco will unwiso
dollars of UTo lnsuranco protection t' solicitation drlvo to lnduco the sol- lrdp or lapso this lnsuranco. Evory
tho American peoplo, Tholr crltlclsi" dlors to accopt it In largo numbers, ' cltlzon, thoroforo, who wishes to on
Hoomod to point lo tho bollof that lite .Hfo lnsuranco mon wore called upon'courago unselfish thrift, who wishes
lnsuranco assets piled un in vaults In
Idlo cash and that surplus has no pro
toctlvo or valuable function.
Absurd as thU seems yot thoro nro
a vast numbor of poqrjlo who do not
know thnt ovory dollar ot Hfo lnsur
anco assets not neoded In operation of
tho ontorpriso Is promptly put to work
In "properly socured lonn to fnrmors
and othor proporty owners, to rail-
roads, public utilities and othor enter- ever, as a matter of information, to
prlsea, and to the local, stato and na- invito attention to tho orroneouB lm
tional governments to bo used in pub- presslons that havo boon allowed to
lie improvements. Therefore, your in- go out In news itoms regarding some
aura nee savings whllo insuring your phasos of this subject of govornment
lives are- also performing a great na-
Llonal rvlce in agisting in tho, de- Tho Improssion was created at the
yolopment of tho commerce anflVro- outset that tho life lnsuranco corn
sources ot tho nation. Tho interest of panics wore, for competitive reasons.
American policyholders ln rallrtfnds opposed to government lnsuranco of
alone aggregates ono and a half AM- soldiers and sailors ,and also tho Im
lion dollnrs through invostmont of In- presslon that tho govornment has dls
snracee funds In railroad securities, covered a now method of insurinc
It li important that you should
know those things for you will find
rnsny occasions to use them to the ad-
vnntago of yourself nnd your country
. The men who have been building and
rlnvnlnnluiy ilm Attintfnn Itmf OaM Irt.i nf
life insurance have prepared It to meet Iiwuniiic "l Substitute for Tensions
rtierossftlly tho stress of almost any Another erroneous Impresslon which
'nforseon emergency howovnr and- many editors and a large number of
don or erlous It mav be. Witness Its peoplo havo gained i that tho Gov
'abllity. and Its greai service to the eminent llfo insurance plan was adop
tion under the street of tho world ted to replaco the old war-pension
wrr. Hero Is a golden opportunity for svstom. This entirely incorrect notion
-fit. Am-rlc-an people whboliove In jB still being given as Indicated by a
S-fety First, to compare the wisdom recent artlclo from Washington pub-r-r
the life Insurance companies in ijsho,i throughout tho country. Tho
maintainor a surpb or safety fund fact is that tho old pension system is
" jruard the rosorvn rmtnst oxtra- replaced by a plan of compensation
--rtfnnry emergonclec with tho suit- for doath and injuries and not by life
-e-tlon of Uip two lawmakers alroady insurance. This is found in Article
'ofArrcd to that this surplus bo do- m 0f an Amendmont to tho Act es-
e-e nnti (nsiriume,! ro mo policy-
b ciders.
Mooting Great War Emergencies.
The great war found tho companies
piopared to perform a most valuable
nauonalsvice; one i.nrtaiu form
of which was to meet new nnd extra
cniinnry iinancini burdens.
Vlrtii.illi. ..11 initulniwlllin
on American men could bo carried into
tho war without an extra premium ' , , ,1 , 11 ulsunct-
rhargo. Tho companies, therefore. ond whol,y ,n n(1(lltin '"tbo new pen
i tcod to pay out largo sums In oxcobs Bl0n "r compensation allowances .For
war mortality not provided for In oxamW: A wWow without children
peaco rates. would receivo under this pension or
Tho Influenza epidemic paused compensation section $25 per month
deaths which, based on Washington imt" her ,eath or remarriage. (If
estimates may numb&r more than 350.- thore bo 0110 ch,ld ?3R- two ?47.50.
000 lives, and calling for vsjst oxpen- lhr1 $52-50, four $57.50.) If her
dlturos for unexpected death claims. u"Hhnnd ,md cnrrled tho maximum of
Another war strain placed upon llfo 10'000 of gernmont life Insurance,
companies Is th0 temporary deprocla- a,'o would receive this sum In month
tlon ln the value of assets in first-class Instalments for a period of twenty
securities, a shrinkago which must be VT!irs' tho instalments amounting,
met when necessary to soli any of with credits of interest, to $57.50 per
them. month. Tints tho widow, if she re
in addition tho companies wore malnod single, would havo a combin
obllged to moot Increased operating 0(1 monthly Income of $82.50 per
expenses, nnd also to meet tho un- month for twenty years and thereaf
wrltton obligation of increasing an- tcr $25 per month for the remainder
nually tiro volume of insurance protcc- ot 'ier Hfo- In event of hor remar
Hon to tho public with forces greatly riaBo at any time the $25 would cease
reduced and shattered by withdrawals ,)Ut 4,10 $57.50 would be payable
for military service. , monthly for .'twenty year .in any
When our Government and the" AJ- event.
Hen appealed for vast loans to help Another fact thnt is so often ob
wln the war the life companlo, wore acured In public utterances as to bo
-ailed upon to mako quick and extra-' noticeable, is the provision in the
ordinary finnncial rtjustmont's. This 'aw that money shall be taken from
summons was mot by tho purchase of tl10 'public treasury to pay tho excess
Liberty Loan bonds to tho extent of lnsuranco mortality due to war over
c89 millions of dollars, and before weinnd above that provided by the peaco
entw-od tho wnr of approximately 100 j rate, which the Govornment charges
-'illlon of Canndinn, Engllsm and. tho soldiers. It is possible that the
French loans. I dissemination of those erroneous inr-
Thoro aro no less thnn 100.000 1
neoplo engaged In Hfo Insurance work i
in various sections of tho United
States. A cnll wns made for tho ser
vices of this patriotic army oMlf'o In
surance employees nnd agents to
lenvo tholr work and help solicit for
war loans and wjir charities. 'Thu's
tho greatest flold army of thrift crli
sadors in tho world was organized
under tho leadership of tho companies
nnd or tho Nntlonnl and local Lift' Un-
(Inrwrltnr A acrvnln Mono fn l mtrlm
solicitation in ovory citv. town nnd
hamlet in tho lnnd, and oven In tho
i i . .. I
Isolated homos In tho rural districts.
In consequence of this nctlvlty snles
bonds, aggregatlne not less than
sr.00. 000,000 were mndo nn(i substan
tial amounts woro raisod for the Red
Pross Y. M. O. A.. K. of C, Jewish , causes in theso forces havo been only
Wolfnro Bonrd and allied orgnnlza- S.000, wo have a total of at least 82,-tlons.-
1 000 deatha slnco tho lan went into
From information rocolvod from the effect in 1917. About 95 por cent of
lending companies, I havo estimated .these deaths represent lnsuranco
that officers, clerks and agents to tho claims on tho government averaging
lumber of 8,500 enlisted for service $8,734 each. This would indicato to
in tho ranks. Over 190 aro serving ln tal ultlmnto claims of C80 million dol
Red Cross, nnd in other war-welfaro , lars. Deducting from this tho premi
organlzations. Iums paid by tho soldiers aim" sailors
A full measure of credit should bo i which wo may generously estimato at
given for tho vnluablo sorvico render-1 200 million dollars, we have an ap
od by tho agents of tho great Indus- parent excess wnr lnsuranco mortality
trinl companies, tho Metropolitan.! to ho paid from tho public treasury
Prudential arid John Hancock, which) of 480 millions.
unuoriooK lo sou war savings Stamns.
ho'r,d"f'trla' Policyholders. The'tod recognition of tho services of our
Melro,pn,,tli!, ,a,0" , mH nlrc?ndy sold, heroic dofondors. and it must bo
ovor 100 ,""on ' gratifying to oven- patriotic American
In short, tho llfo lnsuranco com-1 that Congress Jias dealt so generously
panics have given tho Government Wth them ln this matter of com'pen
every posslhlo asslstanco with men,' satlon and Insurance,
money and credit. They hayo ini- f You should understand, howovor.
and put into effect many plans to as- that no now method has been found by
-1st in tho great drives and a very tho Government to lower tho cost of
ZZt Zff V1lOnfflC0,;S nnd r0P-!lifo insurance, but that the low pre-
rlVO lav Ishlv of l oir HnT,V,V', l'1 ',!lm ChttT1 OUr S0,dlerB Ba"-
gien laMshlv of tholr time an, thoir ors Ih mn.i0 n0aSibn hv tin. nitrimin
monov. as othor, havo done, to servo' " S?B m,- i..!.,6. ?"trJ?"
the Government and tho nation in tho
irreat war. This was a patriotic duty
Which thov worn ln,l in .W V. Va
thoy nsk no esneclal cro.m Vnr
thoy
ask no especial credit for por -
nR It, .
forming
Asslstod Govornmont War.lMsk l'lnn.
Vmir llfn InRllVntin pnmnnnlaa nn
gnvo tho Govornmont tho knowledge1 Insurance mon and others now !
and oxporionco whorowith it estao- nn imortunity to render an additional
llshed Its lnsuranco plan for our sol- 8orvlco to our soldiers and sailors by
dlors nnd sailors a. national servlco nilvi8lB them when thoy leave tho
of no Binnll magnltudo. It is well Hint servlco to retain tholr govornmont in
you should know thnt when govern- "raiico and ns soon ns tholr clrcum
mont lnsuranco for tho fighting forces 8tances will pormlt to chnngo thoir
wuh uiiKKUHii'ii I which lft in miiiitimi
to tho now pension or compensation
bonoflts), tho companies woro prepar-
ed to porrorm this pntriotic service m" l"r 1110 ponou 01 nvo yonrs anor
at cost, it gnaranteod against loss and tho offIclnl declaration of peaco. Tho
that when tho Govornmont decided to mnngemont of tho Wnr Risk Bureau at
ostnbllsh nn Insurance bureau of Its" Washington in Us efforts to glvo our
own to enrry out this great task tho soldiers and sailors tho fullost meas
lnsuranco compnnlos promptly camo '"'ro of protection undor tho law aro
to Its assistance I entitled to this nsslstnnco nnd support
Thoy publicly commended tho 'rom you for tho reason, which Is well
riplondtd gonoroslty ot tho Govern-1 hnown to lnsuranco mon, that a vast
mont nnd .irrged tho mon to nceent it. numbor of thoso youncr men whon ro-
to assist ln the work nnd they resnnn-
dod promptly nnd successfully.
Tho beneficent institution of llfo In-
suranco as It now exists is so groat
mid so woll fortified ln public con-
fldenco ns a rosult of tho oxtont, valuo
ond dignity of Its servlco to humnnlty
nnd to tho Amorlcnn peoplo that In-
correct public statements cannot sor-
lously nffoct It. It may ho woll, how-
Insurance for our Boldicrs and sailors
Hvos that could materially reduco tho
cost to tho public. Such statements or 1
mferonoos aro not merely misleading,!
Mi absolutely without any foundation
, fact.
tablishlng a War Risk Bureau, ap
proved October 0, 1917, and grants
"compensation for death nnd dfsnbll-
" b,'a ..V , r
I..." lt.l.t.lt f n 1. 1
' . " " " V1 ,
!noro, thV"!VS "".
and dependents of thoso who die in
the service. Llfo lnsuranco benefits
"r, Provided In Article IV ln the same
nressions 1 duo to carelessness, but
the fact Is that they have to a certain
degrep misled public opinion, as anv
ono can prove by questioning n few
average citizens as to tholr under
standing of thoso matters. Clearly It
I- to tho Interests of tlio public that
hose misunderstandings should bo
corrected.
ficnciroslty of Nation,
Tho War Dopartmont has stato'"
'that tho mortality among our flcht
L"B. forces abroad from all causes was
Dll.UUU. UI1 .nvnm ISP tli thn Aaalat-
.iw. vi,. iav kpuiu V
ant Secretary of Treasury announced
that 18,000 deaths had occurre,! in tho
forcoa within tho United States from
tho Influenza epidemic alone. As-
Fiiunlng that the deaths from normal
This i a. inntrnlflcnnt mul wnll-morl.
w " r 7
Kovui nuiont WOUIU OI COlirso DO
' .ollp.od to charge adequate rates,
' 'TV' "V aea.uaio raie
tho llfo lnsuranco companIoH
as
are
I obliged to do.
Soldiers', Hold Fast lo jour Insurance
i I" "' '"""".".J luim iiiHuriiiiuu to.
the pormanent or lovol premium form,
a Privilege which thoy onjoy under tho
to bog that jlonondontR of our soldiers
and sallorrprotocted and who believes
thnt llfo lnsuranco 1b an important
, nnd necossnry factor In promoting tho
comfort and happiness of tho nation,
should Join In an effort to lnduco our
domohlllzed fighting forces to hold
fast to thplr government lnsuranco
which tho peoplo havo so gonorously
provided for them.
Oorcrnnient Ownership Opposed i
Wo occasionally hear disausscd tho;
possibility of tho Govornmont taking!
over tho Institution of llfo Insurance.
This, howovor, seems so illogical and
remote a possibility as to scarcely
call for sorious consideration, but if
it should eventually bo done, tho same
provision for reaching Into tho public
treasury must bo made If tho Govern
ment is to give tho public tho same
highly efficient service (including a
great and necessary army of skilled
thrift missionaries) that America's
,rrent institution of life insurance is
now giving. This is true because no
eovornmont nlnn to Insure thonirMlp
ZSl,! JSl " SnSSJS'
howovor ably or honestly managed,
can possibly glvo this same quality
of service at a low a cost as it is now
being furnished by the companies.
To my mind It Is Impossible to mnn
age any buslnoss organization under
political direction as efficiently and
cheaply as It can bo conducted under"
private management where skill nnd
experlenco is employed without fav
oritism and whoro discipline effort
and owprll do corps can be kept at n
much moro effective level thnn Is pos
sible among politically selected or
controlled Industrial forces.
Tho present proposal of a policy of
government ownership of certain en
terprises, na Indicated, for Instance, by
tho resolution recently Introduced In
Mie United States Sonnte, which at
tempted to doflne Its scope, can only
ho characterized as s.tate socialism. It
is at lonst tho entering wedgo which
If allowed to develop can only loaj to
ho complete overthrow of reproscnta
've democracy. It will turn our coun
try Into a bulrcaucracv far moro op
r"nivo nnd destructive to human
""c-ess tlinn the nurocrncv which has
Hist heon overthrown. It would, to a
prreat oxtont. crush tho splendid
American rfpirlt of enterprise, and In
dividual ambition to mount tho rounds
of tho ladder, becauso under such cir
cumstances a largo part of our popu
lation wovlld become government em
ployees moro cogq in the wheels of
" "oai ploUtloal mnclUno-servinir
under masters selected for political
reasons.
T know ot no reform needed ln our
ransportatlon system or anv of our
other nublic oervice or large com
"inrclnl onternrlses that cannot be
"rrrpctpfl bv 'nrlvnte management un
lor "nvornmont regulation nnd con--o1.
Tf. for Instance, it is argued that
'10 Government, with sunremo nowor.
't rot ablo pronerh to reeulnte or
-lipprviop onr roUroad. how can It bo
nrfru".! that it i qualified to psumo
iip far rrav-or resnonslbilltio3 of
heir nehial mnnsir-pmpnt'
Rovprnment. ownprai,),) jq rv;relv a
fp'i FIn rpniPdv. It. is unnecessary
nn-'Amrican. InNnv li'imble iudir-
-o-.t flin Amprlrnri 'noonlo ivH not
f1"nt ' pq nqtnhllojie'l "nllr-V.
Itonicmlier TIicso Tiling.
In conclusion I would ureo overv
ono of you, American people, to real
ize tho great variety and universal
character of the service life lnsur
anco is rendering tho country, it
reaches virtually every nook nnd
Cranny of the nation where a human
habitation is found. It is indeed dif
ficult to get o.u,t of sight of evidences
of its service when once familiar with
them. You tako a Journey; and thru
loans and Investments of reserves
and othor funds you find Insurance
savings serving tho nation in tho con
struction of tho railroad train in
which you ride and in tho track and
bridges beneath it and ln the great
terminal,, which it enters. Yoi gee
them developing farms, and In the
cities nnd towns which you pass,
great business structures, trolley
lines, electric light systems and other
important enterprises. You also see
llfo ine.",rnnco savings and service in
the construction work you may ob
serve in public highways, In court
houses, school houses and other 'pub
lic buildings. You seo thcmiin tho ship
vards. in the arsenals. In the army
camps and In all kinds of local, stato.
nnd nationnl governmental enter
prises for which bonds are Issued.
You seo them In thousands nnon
thousands of comfortable little homes
wnicii you pass and which havo been
saved or htfilt by llfo insurance money
loaned, or paid In death claims. You
seo them in our schools and colleges
where a great scattered army of
tho youth of tho land aro being edu
cated with lnsuranco money provid
ed by prudent fathers who havo pass
ed on. And you see In evory-day llfo
evidence of tho great service of llfo
lnsuranco to our 'pooplo in the cheer
ful, honoful. contented look and huoy
rn rnlrlt of the nation at largo.
ThU nrMrlo mibllshiMl bv ihe
T K. SKHASTIAV STATE AflKXrT,
ronrexontlnu'
'!'Hi: VTWKSOTV iri'TFAT, LIFE
TXSritAXf'E ('(WAXY,
ono of AFiierlrn's bosf nnd soundesl
coniHnlcs.
: :o: :
MAXWELL NEWS.
(From tho Tolepost.)
Mrs. Paris AI. Speory, of this plnco,
wno nan a sovoro attack, of tho flu
and was recovering, lost tho uso of
hor right arm last Thursday, tho sldo
or nor race also bolng slightly drawn.
Bonn Brlggs, who enlisted at tho
beginning of hostilities with Amorlca
i rotAirned homo Sunday. Whilo ho spent
two or throe months ln France, ho
was not ln action. Ho is looking ilrst
raio.
A lottor rocolvod by John Snider
rrom Jorry Btatou his lower log wns
badly shot up and ho may bo sent to
Bomo woetorn hospital. IIo wont nvnr
tho top sovon tlmos nnd tho last, was.
imnKou, most or m, comrades bolng
Kiiiuu or woumiou. jorry made them
pay doarly for tho damago rendored
mm, wo undorstnnd.
narry I'aul, son of Mr. an Mrs
Klingo. of Boxoldor Canyon, south of
maxweii. uioa Friday,-Jnn. 24, 1919,
;i p. m.. rrom inlluonza.
::r.::
l'oopio enslly constipated dread
winter no fruits, no vegetables to
help tho stomach. Your best relief,
your greatest frlonds. is ilollistor'R
Rocky Mountain Tea. cuarantned tn
positively relievo constipation or your
money Dacn. isoid Oy John O. Patter
son, Druggist.
i i ii 1 1 hi ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 im i JiMHiuj jHiiwnns
THE LITTLE WIZARD 1
By MADGE WESTON.
rilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllli7
(CopjrrlKlit. 1U1S, Wntrrn .St.)wr lulun.i
Rlennor lenned bnck lu her chnlr
nnd considered the problem. Though
Klennor's lips were pressed together
firmly, there wns nbout hor long-lnshcd
eyes nn' expression of childlike appeal.
Out of nil the chuos of chnnge, some
sort of homo must be saved for Eliza
beth, nnd how to niiike thnt hoiile wns
Eleanor's problem. She hud kept the
country homo ns long us their small
legacy would nllow, and It hud been
the fact of Elizabeth's helplessness
which prevented the elder sister from
going to seek work In the city.
Beth had always been u frail little
crenture. with no positive nllment, nnd
no strength of constitution. The light
est household tusks wero nil thnt had
Pillion to her share. Checrfijlly willing
wns tho little sister, but pathetically
Incapable. Eleanor bad shouldered nat
urally the hardest pnrt, the seamy side
of living. Its mnterlul cares were borne
In silence; anxiety nlso upon nny sub
ject wns apt to put the child Into a
depression which was hard to dispel.
The old home must be sold for what
It would bring, and ln the meantime,
she, Eleanor, must go to the city to
seek u position which Inter would sup
ply their needs. Ellznboth could visit
with one of their old neighbors until
Elennor should send for her. But with
sweet obstinacy tho little sister ob
jected. "I will go when you go," she said.
Reasoning wns useless. "The room
which will hold you will hold mo ulso,"
Elizabeth Insisted.
So to the dingy room which Eleanor
found she brought as many comforts
ns she conveniently, could from the
pleasant homo which hnd been theirs.
She was promptly successful ln find
ing, through the Influence of one of her
father's friends, a position which
would grow In ndvuntuge with her own
efficiency.
It was comforting, returning at eve
ning from nn indifferent world, to find
Elizabeth waiting always In the lighted
transformed room of the city boarding
house. The old piano, which Eleanor
hnd saved from the selling gave to tho
little sister many hours of pleasure. It
wns usually seated before this instru
ment that Elennor found her, the little
hands touching with loving harmony
the yellowed keys.
"What do you do to nmuso yourself
all day, dear?" Eleanor asked one eve
ning. "TJiese four narrow walls in
close so little."
Beth with one of her gay laughs
dropped down resting her head against
her sister's knees.
"These four walls," she replied, "in
close my whole world thnt is your
self, Nell, nnd my music. For when
you are not here I nm dreaming of all
that you hnvo been to me, nud of nil
that I would wish for you in the fu
ture." The girl raised her face slowly.
"And when my wishing grows too
grent for my heart to hold I volcb It
nil In music. Walt " She ran to tho
pliuio und dashed off n brilliant intro
duction. "Listen," said Beth. 'This is your
love song."
Eleanor's tired face brightened.
"You ure n wlznrd, Beth," she said.
"You can drive dull care away."
It wns the appearance of, the man
which disturbed Nell's serenity and
brought her to her disquieting fears.
She hud found him In tho cozy room
upon her return one evening. lie
was Imaging over Elizabeth at her
piano with nn iiir of very evident nd
orntlon. Rebellion nt his Intrusion possessed
the elder sister. Who was he to en
ter intojilie quiet of their home with
bis daring admiration?
Elizabeth explained the stranger's
presence enslly.
"A neighbor of ours who lives In the
big room across the hall, Nell," she in
troduced. "Mr. Shaw Is his nnme nnd
Mrs. Brandon brought him In to meet
me."
--"At my request," the man added
smilingly, but Nell did not smile.
Elizabeth's eyes wero sparkling, her
cheeks were flushed with some new ex
citement. Long had she guarded the frail llttlo
6lster lest love finding Elizabeth might
puss on to her hurt. True love cones
not always ; her churge must suffer no
grief.
Leonnrd Shaw's personality was one
to Inspire confidence, his manner one
of frank charm. Nell's heurt sank
within her as she found him oftcner
ut her sister's side. Sometimes ho
would wnlk down the block ln order to
meet Elennor und return with her.
To tho elder sister these evening
hours brought n nilxture of pain nnd
pleasure. Then at last she faced tho
truth: Her resentment against Eliza
beth's evident approaching happiness
was not apprehension for her sister's
welfare, rather was it a regretful cry
from all her years of sacrifice. Was
she growing selfish now? ' Hnd she
not always chosen for Elizabeth "the
better pnrt?"
"Dear," cried Elizabeth. "Leonard
Shaw was at the piano tonight," and
Beth bent nbovo her sister, speaking
In breathless whispers. "1 can keep
the secret no longer. Mr. Show Is the
writer of popular songs. He heard me
singing and that is why he asked Mrs.
Brandon to bring him In. My songs
are popular, too, Nell; do you under
stand? Mr. Shaw can sell them for
lots of money ho knows. So my wish
for you is coming true, even tho lovo
part," Beth turned mischievously to
wnrd the unconscious muslclnn. "He
udoros you Nell I Oh! You needn't
stnrc. I know. Don't you toll me
yourself that I am a wlznrd?"
