The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-22
Kansas Farmers Insurance Company

y gOOdly number of the farmers of
this county, among whom are number
ed our most honorable and reliable citi-
zens. have been vigorously kicking
against this company during the past
year. and we publish in this issue of
the REFLECTOR a letter from MI Sam
uel Palmer. This spirit of hostility to
a company which should be a source of
pride and benefit to our city and county,
is based, we doubt not, upon strong and
sufficient reasons. The management
! of the company in the past has not
-iven satisfaction. The business of the
off, was loosely kept, and assessments
Irnro - Ut regular nor just, some policy
holders b ing assessed more than 9th
ers ont o, this state of affairs grew
the opposition on the part Of policy
holders TO the company. They com
nIained and with reason, that they
We're not Justly treatt'd, but the blame,
so far as the REFLECT 'h coulu ltdrh'
was put upon the Secreta- = MI MOI
ton. The other officers of tn company
have been charged with nOth. HS more
serious than allowing Mr.. Nor, N TO
IUIl tllt DuSlilCSO lOO IlluNil 6lllOl
own peculiar fashion.
Our readers will remember that the
REFLECTOR defended the pOlicy-hol-
derS in their fight against the company
because it was convinced that their
grievances were real. The same spirit
of fairness and honesty which led it to
adOpt that course. now impelS it to
speak a good word for the company.
With the opening of the new year
the officers and directors of the cOmpa-
nv determined to turn over a new leaf.
They had become satisfied that the
policy holders of the company were
actuated by something more than a
spirit Of mere opposition to a home
company, and they have set about to
correct past evils and abuses. Last
Tuesday. at a meeting Of the directors,
Mr.. Morton was relieved from his duties
as secretary Of the company and Will
hereafter have no voice whatever in the
management Of its affairs. Mr.. NJ, L.
Abbott. an experienced insurance man
of many years standing, was elected to
fill Mr.. MOrtOn'S place, and from what
we know of his business methods and
the assurances we have received, the
REFLECTOR is inclined to believe that
the company has entered upon a new
and correct business method. AIr. j.
Z. BOnebrake and other officers of the
company have decided to give more of
their personal attention to the business,
and we shall look for an honest effort
to correct past abuses and evils as rap
Idly as possible and to give satisfaction
in the future.
The REFLECTOR wishes to say to the
policy-hOlderS of the company who have
looked to it in the past as the only I'M
trammeled paper i'll the county. that 1T
will retain in the future its indepen-
dence and freedom of action. If it be-
comes convinced that the new manage
ment is not what it now believe it will
be, it will not hesitate to say so. But
we now ask them to cultivate spirit
of patience and moderation until the
mistakes of the past can be corrected.
| Abuses cannot be removed in day,
and the REFLECTOR is anxious to see a
strong home insurance company firmly
established upon the confidence and
good will of the people. If one-half or
one-fOurth of the insurance business of
this county could be done at home. our
readers will at once see what an i'm
menSe advantage would result from
! such a state of affairs. \ large amount
oil money would be kept at home, and
in hard times like the present large
surplus in a home insurance company
would be available at a reasonable rate
of interest. And home money is better
| than foreign money.
The REFLECTOR believes that the
policy holders who are now in active
opposition against the Kansas Farmers
Mutual Insurance Co. will be willing
to meet that company halfway in any
endeavor it makes to give them honest
treatment and a safe risk. The change
in the company's management seems
TO indicate that an effort of this kind is
to be made, and the REFLECTOR, at all
times willing to build up home enter
prises, would counsel a spirit of fair
ness and moderation on the part OF the
policy holders.
Let pause be made until the SOFA
pany, by its works, shows that it in
tends to live up to its declarations.