Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-19
MARRIAGE BENEFIT
Cooperative Assocfatfons-Tbe Meth.
DDS OF Doing Business Adopted by
at Least One of Them
Chartered by the State of Mississippi
Ninety Per Cent. of First Re-
cefpts for Business.


The fact WAS mentioned not long ago in
the Tribune that the last of the Marriage
Benefit Cooperative Associations of this
State had been closed mp by the auditor, and
that there was no liability henceforth OF
young men and women being hurried into
premature and unwise marriage in the vain
hope of getting the $1,000 benefits promised
by those associations. 1t appears, however,
that an an inroad is teing made on the SIM
plicity and greed of the manageable people
of Illinois from an unexpected quarter. The
State of Mississippi, which has hitherto been
considered chiefly as the headquarters of
repudiators and bulldozers. has been selected
as the starting point of one of these marriage
benefit concerns, which is now flooding this
State with its circulars. The affair is known
as the East Mississippi Cooperative En-
dowment Association OF West Point, Miss
1t purports to be chartered by the State,
and, in addition TO the usual matrimonial
department, with its promise OF $1,000, $4,000
and $4,000, payable within sixty days after
receipt of satisfactory proof OF marriage
of the beneficiary, has also birth depart
ment, holding out to parents the glittering
bait OF $1,000 or $4,000 for each child with
which they bless the country. No extra in
ducements, however, are offered for twins or
triplets, for it is provided, in case OF plural
births, the sum paid is to be divided equally
among the children. The association is
pressly stated in the circulars that none but
white persons will be admitted. The circu-
lars of this concern are now reaching this
State addressed to ''the marriage-license
clerks" of the different counties, or, in other
words, to the county clerks. The reason for
sending them thus is set forth by the secre-
tary of the Endowment Association fol-
lows: "Your interest in encouraging the
young to marry is equal 10 ours. OF course,
,our faao for isuuiuo the liceusas and m aEinu
proof OF marriage would prove a bonanza TO
you during your term OF office, provided we
get up extensive marriage boom in the
country. Refer 10 census and obtain the adj
dress Of the unmarried, and endeavor to get
our circulars into their hands, and act as
our agents in your county, and, our word Tor
it, good results will certainly ensue to you
as we'll as TO our association. You
are authorized to appoint agents for
us in your county. Let us know il
circulars do not reach you at once. Very
truly" This appeal to the cupidity of
county clerks is thrown away, the writer ev-
identity being unaware of the fact that the
fee system is abolished in Illinois, and that
the issuance of marriage licenses is not
source of revenue to any ofice-holder. There
is another circular, however, accompanying
the above, in which the deceptive nature of
the association is fully shown, and in which
a much stronger appeal is made 10 the
avarice of the persons to whom it is adj
dressed. The secretary of the association
says that he desires the cooperation of the
clerk as an agent, and will allow him COM
mission OF ninety per cent. of the member
ship fee on all applications sent in by him
or by agents appointed by him. These mem
bership fees amount to IS on $1,000 policy,
or $40 on one for $4,000. Any concern which
will pay ninety per cent. of its first receipts
for the sake of securing business is one which
it is well not to take stock in. The various
county officers in Illinois who receive these
circulars have doubtless sense enough to be
aware of that fact, and also to understand by
this time that this business, under the laws
of Illinois, is an illegitimate one. They will
therefore pursue the path of wisdom and re-
fuse to have anything TO do with this last
manifestation of Mississippi financiering.