, 1876-07-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

| TO the lEdffor Qf The Tribune.
| CHICAGO, July 29-The explanation OF John
Butler, Secretary Of the National Life, in your
paper OF the 2Sth inst, is hardly satisfactory to
| the many policy-holdcrs OF the Republic Life.
! In 1870 gentleman, who has since turned out
| to be hish-toned thief (the mention Of his
name would justify my accusation, without sub
mitting further eyidencc) called at my office in
the interest Of the Republic Life. l informed
hiu1 that had no issue Of my body and emo
one to lovc,n and did not ca1e to invest in the
Company. He portrayed to me the disgust of
relatives after my death Mt not finding ready
cash or available assets Us the major part Of my
estate. He also dwclt upon my happiness at
| death, and my peaceful transmission to the
eternal hunting grounds, if held policy in
the Republic, composed Of responsible stock
holders, etc.
Other duties ncccssitatcd the disposition of
this agent, and rs the premium on sl,0Ou
amounted to about the price of shotgun, [
elected to take the policy and save an inquest.
I paid my annual premium until 1915, at which
time said ugcnt was preparing to lump the
the Republic was Il bad Investment, and that
when my next "annual" became due / had bet
ter take pro rata paid-up policy.
In DECEMBER, 1875, premium being due,
another agent, more verbose than any had
labor satisfied hinl that wanted paid-up
policy, and as my cremation expenses would
have to be boruc by those III charge of my fad
ing mortality, asked him to insert tho usual
clause, "Loss, il any, payable to Emma L.,
as her interest might appear"
received 2 pail-up policy in the sold Re-
bcrcd 14,307. Thinking that nothing more would
have to be done until my ii la'nentcd " death, /
put the parchment in the vault. At recent
date received letter from the Company stat
ing that, if / would call at tie Office would
81 receive immediate pccuniary benefit and per-
mancnt advantage" Thinking that this good
old Company intended to cash their policy be-
fore the Resumption act went into effect, I
called. Upon showing my letter to the Cashier
was requested to step into the rear office. I
passed rows Of clerks wearing good clothes and
drawing largc salarics, wrung from the earnings
of laboring men whose backs are turned to the
tropical sun. Upon reaching my destination
met good-natured gentleman, ,--and wcll-1cd
mon with large salaries are all good natured,
that l would live tilirty-tvc years longer, and
that as the assets OF the Republic had mostly |
vanished, ii I would take $25 for my pafd-up |
policy and put it at compound interest at the |
end OF thirty-tive years would have $3.50. The |
alfablc agent stated that they would apply the
SIS on a policy III the National If l wished. I
asked him for their rates, ard found that the |
up policy III the Republic would insure me in
the National until the end Of the watermelon
season. Now, Mr.. Editor, if the National is ab-
sorbing the Republic and becoming its successor,
as matter Of justice, [ am entitled to Il paid
up policy Of $3.50 in tho National or some other
goud Company After paid the Company for
the policy in good faith it has no right to make
to get my money back. Most respectfully,
D. HARRY HAMMER