The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-04-29
xEw-EAxGLED ORDERS.
The Number Growing 30 Fast
As TO Create Distrust.

When we look over the list of new Sc
cret, benevolent, marriage insurance
aud other orders which have Strung M
III the last few years, one is astonished
to know where they get the material to
maintain them. Most of those which
started early have been signally success
full, and no matter what their future may
beit cannot be denied that they have
been a great benefit to those who most
need aid. All of the early ones have so
firmly established themselves
that there is no question
about their solvency and
the very fact that they have been so sue
cessful from the start accounts for the
number that are every day spTinging up
all over the land. There is limit to
everything in the way of business mat
ters, and we cannot see how insurance
companies, of whatever character or IN
der whatever name, can be any eXcep-
ton. The old line high-priced cOmpa-
MES still hold large business, and the
secret orders and older benevolent com
panies hold very big proportion OF all
the good risks throughout the land, and
have reduced the rates so low that an
established company or ASSOCIATION with
already large membership can stand 1t,
but makes for the new companies
very uphill road. The company
of to-day, if it acquires large
membership in any reasonable length OF
time and expects to work on paying
basis must necessarily make up part
of its lists from persons whom the o der
companies did not take. Sooner or later
this element will tegin to tell and the
more Of such members IN the order as
years advance and membership grows,
so much more burdeusOme Will the
organization become to support. But
admitting that the principles upon
which these organizations are founded,
life. marriage or whatever character of
Insurance they offer, ii is becoming APP
parent that they are rapidly growing too
numerous, and distrust Is being awaken
ed in the minds OF many. The last at
tempt we see at an organization Is at
Dallas and is to be known as the
knights of Labor Who are the pro-
mOters OF this new movement we do not
know and the papers from that city do
not say. The X. OF L., however, pro-
poses to attempt that heretofore i'm
practicable scheme OF harmouizing capt.
tai and labor so that each may have
their Just rights and share OF everything.
1t is also said that no capitalist, pro-
fessiOnal man or even a minister, if he
represents capital, will be allowed mem
bership. We understand that the X. OF
L. claims a membership of two hundred
thousand in the United States and an
untold number in Europe, but who they
are or IN what manner governed
by the organization or aided by its
benefits, if it has any, no one has
yet been heard to say. No doubt all
the laboriug classes would rush into
such an organization provided the rates
were low enough and big membership
might be got up which would pay ut the
start, but where would n suitable guar
antee for the future be fouud for such q
membership? We have not the least
word to say against those which have
taken out charters and are now ruunMg
but we are inclined 10 believe that We
in this state at least, have already
enough such organizations, and their
rates are low enough if we expect them
to be safe and sound Persons who de-
sire it can get protection and guard
against future want for families or
friends within one or the other organiZa-
hons we now have and it might
be better to build up and foster those
which we have than to be the means of
calling into existence new ones which
II Is doubtful about getting sufficient
membership to maintain them, but will
get enough to impair others, and cause
general suspicion of all of them. Hardly
a day passes but what citizens are APP
preached by from one to three solicitors,
and each one has some fairer or better
proposition than the one who preceded
him, until il now seems there is no limit
/ to the promised benefits, while the cost
/ is so uncomfortable that any person can
/ stand it. 1t may be that there is yet
room for thousands of these things, and
/ they may all be merItOrious, hut many
/ are beginning to think that the sU, cess
Of the first ones is what is calling others
into the field, Just as was the case in the
old line insurance business several years
ago, when the country had so many that
half Of them collapsed. It's impossible
to run such concerns with all the force
and necessary ramitieations. for charity,
and the field Is now so well worked up
that it looks as though there was little
room for new ones, if they wish to do
safe business and guarantee the member
who dies twenty years hence his pro-
portion Of the benefits just rs surely as
the one who might die or get married in