The weekly clarion., 1882-10-18
Another View of the Mutual Fire
Insurance" Question.
TrpELo. MISS. Oet. II. 18S2.

TUPELo, MISS, Oct. II, 1882.
EDITORS CLAR1oN-I have just seen the
article of my honorable friend H. N. Street,
in your paper of the 9th, commenting on
some remarks of the Comet on the subject
of mutual fire insurance in connection with
the Lee Mutual Fire Insurance Association
of Tupelo, Miss.
My friend seems to be somewhat agitated
on the subject. We are very much gratified
to witness his deep concern for the interest
of the Fire Insurance Paternity" and
hope he will give the public from time to
time, through the press, the information in
facts and figures, we all so much desire in
relation to matters of such moment to the
public, which his eminent position in said
fraternity" will enable him to obtain.
To be more specific: Will my friend do
the country (which has delighted to honor
him in the past) the great favor to inform
them, through the press, the aggregate
amount of premiums collected, and the
losses paid by this Fire Insurance Frater-
nity," in this State for term of years
say five or ten years mot isolated half
years or quarters, nor what this or that agent
did, but give Us fair statement that will
do to base our opinion or calculation upon;
so that the people may see for themselves
who is debtor.
This grand old "Fire Insurance Frater-
nity," with its millions Of capital and
brains," or the people who have been pay
ing the premiums. Why, sir, to hear some
of these 'tFire Insurance Fraternity agents
talk, one would think all those millions
they delight to refer to of their losses were
made up of paid up capital stock, and that
these leash assets, as they term them,
wefe the only source from which they draw
to pay losses. One agent doing business in
the western part of the State, after dogging
the footsteps of one of our agents, for sew
eral days trying with better success to set
the sheriff and marshals on him-issued
very windy circular to his patrons warning
them, etc, claiming that he represented
$100, 100000 cash asset" Few men, ex-
cept they be Greenbackers, can comprehend
readily such figures As to the tfbrains''
be represented, he did not give the quantity
figures were inadequate. Now, as far as
/ know, my honorable friend IS exempt
from these extfavagances, though no doubt
a strong believer in sscapital and brains.
/ refer to these manifestations simply
to show that my friend is not alone;
the whole Fraternity Is agitated
on the subject of mutual FIRE in
surance. What We desire, and the main OBJ
ieet -of this paper is to elicit discussion.
This mutual assessment plan, which Is meet
ing with such general encouragement among
our people, is an experiment as yet, when
applied to FIRE Insurance i, though .
strong believer IN the plan, am not prepared
to say what the ultimate result will Be
hence I am anxious that the question be
thoroushIy discussed By the wise Is well as
the simple, 50 that the people Be informed,
for they ct last are to receive the blessings
Of bear the burdens Of this true OF false
theory.
I will suggest another query 70 nv friend
and champions of the FIRE Insurance iraterfi-
II: How Is il that the mutual assessment
nlan Is 50 Q0od IA life insurance and 50 bad
"a Gre insnranees find the agents Of this
ssiife insurance Maternity 0f yours, who
are opposing and trying 70 bellttle this ulIi-
tnaI assessment plan in IRE Insurance. y
every part 0f the State, are he sEronges az
voeates aud are the heaviest insured ia
these Mutual Life Orders Indeed md
nv friend 90 officer and dignitarE u one q
these mutual life Associations, lchartersd
81 our State together with 60 array 81 as