Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-04


]. A. HARRrs, Editor Leader
DEAR SR-Your note of this evening, with
reference to certain reports relating to Mr.. SEN-
TER, is before me. Mr.. MYoATr is absent from
the city, having been suddenly called TO War
rem this afternoon by the sickness of a relative.
Not having had the opportunity to consult him,
of course have no authority to speak for him
with reference TO the subject matter Of your
communication. But from my knowledge of
AR. M, and of the estimation in which he holds
Mr.. SENrER, have no hesitation in saying that
believe if he were here he would fully con
cur with me in what l herein state as to ME
SENrER.
In 1851, think it was, the Washington I'm
ion Insurance Company was organized Mr.
MYoATT and myself were made members Of the
Board of Directors upon its first organization
Mr. NJ continued to be one until about year
ago l ceased to be member, 30 far as my
knowledge OF assent was concerned, in the fall
of 1857, though was reelected thst fall for
another year. Our Law firm have been the reg
ular Attorneys of the Company since its organ
iEation. As Director, my knowledge of the
details of the business of the Company, was but
| limited As Attorney my information pertain
| ed generally TO matters Of litigation. But in
| both of these ways l was conversant with the
relations in which Mr. SENTER stood to the
Company, as it's general Agent, from the time
| of its organization to the date of his resigua-
tion, which occurred some three years since
| 1t may be proper to say that Mr. SENTER was
| 4 A. Al !. e a..
that his connection with it, as such, ceased at
the same time with his agency.
During the last summer aud fall there was
some excitement, and good deal of dissatis-
faction among the members of that company,
! growing out OF an assessment levied by it upon
the policy holders Many of the members ap.
| piled to me for information with regard to this
assessment. Having been one of its directors,
1 felt it my duty to Investigate the matter and
to communicate to those interested the intorma-
ton | obtained l accordingly made thorough
examination, and became satisfied that the en-
barrassm nts of the company were attributable
to no dishonesty on the part of the officers of
the compIny; but TO a vice which is common
to nearly all our Insurance companies, and
which has proved fatal to SO many organized on
| the mutual plan--the multiplicity OF agencies,
and the flthlessness of agents.
The office held by Mr.. SENTER was of such
nature that no money whatever belonging to
the company, passed by virtue of it through his
hands AS General Agent he was an employee
simply of the Company, and received compen-
satOn for his services in accordance with one
of its bylaws established soon after its organi-
zation Beyond the amount of fcompensation so
| fixed he has never received one dime of the
company's money for such services. For ser
vices not pertaining TO his business as General
| Agent Mr. S has received by order of the
Board few hundred dollars, butt no instance
was he paid more than such services were ac
tually worth. That those services were highly
valuable to the company is sufficiently demon"
sTated by the fact that no Mutual Insurance
| Company has ever been organized in the State
OF Ohio that, in the same length OF time, did
one-fourth part of the business done by this
Company, or that was in anything like so pros
porous a condition at the expiration of a simi.
lar period, as was the Washington Union In.
surance Company at the time Mr.. SENTER's
connection with it ceased.
1t can hardly be claimed, even by political
opponent that Mr.. Senter is responsible for
the mlsdeeds, if any, with which that Company
may be chargeable since his withdrawal from
it.
Permit me then to say, that from Mr.. SENTER's
connection with this Insurance Company l can
see no reason whatever to abate one particle
from the full and unhestating confidence have
in his strict integrity; and that l shall give him
my support at the coming election with entire
confidence, not snly that he will be triumphant
| y elected, but that he will 80 discharge the du-
ties of the office to give the fullest satslac-
ton to all
Yours very truly,
f. T. BACKUs.
CLEVELAND, Saturday evening, April ., SO.