Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-11
AlMUHDER MIL.
A Pennsylvania Institution More
Baneful Than the MOllie Maguires
tn THAR WOrst DMvs. -l

A Pennsylvania Institution More
BanefuI Than the MOllie Maguires
I'm Their Worst Days.
Mr. George Thornton, of New York, |
writes as follows to the Insurance |
Chronicle "Have Just read your article |
of October 28th, entitled, "a Horrible
Traffic, Which the Law Should be Invoked
to Suppress, and am led to give you some
additional facts on the Same subject. The
plans now adopted for procuring sppli-
cations in the State OF Pennsylvania by
CO. operative societies are appalling, and
call for the immediate attention of the
proper authorities in that great common
wealth. On the 9th ult l sat in the Office
of country hotel, in Dauphin county,
conversing with the landlord and making
inquiries. He, as is usual with his class,
was thoroughly posted on the history of
that entire region. During the conver3a-
ton his sou came in and handed him
letter. After reading 1t he looked up and
remarked, what great business this life
insurance H." ! asked him what he
meant. After little hesitation he replied,
"Well | will read you this letter !"
Dear --- have just got old Mr.. and
Mrs. -- insured. He is "A and she 10.
Will you Join me III paying assessments If
YOU will write me immediately and l will get
the assignments fixed. The old lady will
never go out doors again.
"After reading thus far he waa called
away, and l had no opportunity TO talk
with him further.
1.-THE cashier OF the only national bank
in the village had just drawn" SO 900 on
the death of an old person who had been
insured six weeks.
"a gentleman of intelligence, principal
of high school in the sama county, in
formed me that he had just returned from
the mining district in that locality, and
the miners were crazed on speculative in
surance, getting policies on the lives OF
relatives and others, without regard to age
or condition. Twenty-Five per cent. Of
their monthly earnings were used in the
payment of assessments. So great WAS
the drain upon their wages that they could
not pay the shopkeepers their bills in full,
and the inyariable res onse to requeat
to pay up was this 1T is impossible, as
we must keep up; the assessments for
insurance. 1t has cost us too much to
let that go now ; The desperation of
people in this strait can be imagined.
They have gone in to make good
draw, and the investment must bring a
return soon. Every day policies are being
issued by the hundred, where the bene-
ficiary has no insurabe interest. The
scheme is entirely speculative. have
also partic ulars of an old man who was
insured by Spectator, the only consider
alton being an agreement made between
the two that the old man should receive
three bushels Of aoheat a year. A gentle
man in Union county showed me two
applications, tillod out, signed and party
examined, one for $4,000, the other
$4,000. The applicant was an old man,
whose 'sands were near run out"
Another party had $4,000 on the same
life. My informant seemed to have hest
tated about handing in the applications he
had. Two or three weeks after the appli-
cations were completed the old man wan
dered into railroad depot with his head
battered. He fell on the floor, was picked
up, but never recovered consciousness.
within two miles Of Scranton lives a
man, representing &C operative, who had
father, mother, wife and son-all living.
He had policy upon each of their Ives.
The three first namtd oil died during the
year, and the Hon was shot during street
fight in the night few weeks ago.
Should it be NECESSARY, NAMES and
locality Can be given in eac' case
Respectfully, GEORGE THORNTON"