Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-28
A. o. o. W. GRAND LODGE.

The following pointed action by the
grand lodge of the A. o. Z. W. for Kan
sas was taken at its meeting in Winfield
| yesterday and the report sent to the
EAGLE with request to publish:
To the Officers and Members Grand Lodge OF a. 0.
| wv Of Kansas:
| Your committee ON state Of the order
| to whom was referred that portion of the
Grand Master Werkmans report relative
| TO ''Fraternal insurance and the state. ;"
respectfully report that we have had the
same under consideration. and approx
| ing all therein communicative recommend
| the adoption of the following:
| Whereas, The legislature of Kansas,
| following in the footsteps of many of the
| older states, and in consonance with an
enlighten public opinion, has provided
| that the fraternal societies existing in
this state which provide protection to
| the families Of their members through a
| beneficiary certificate, should not be re-
garded as under the laws governing in
surance companies or the supervision of
! the insurance department OF the state;
| and
Whereas, D. W. Wilder, insurance
| commissioner of the state or Kansas, In
/ his last annual report, has caused TO be
embodied therein. without comment, and
presumably adopted as expressive of his
own views, an extract from the Kansas
| Chief, headed Thine 10 Halt" in which
article an unjust. untrue and malicious
attack is made upon fraternal beneficial
| societies, by a person who had attempt
ed, III violation of the laws, TO carry in a
sister order a beneficiary certificate issued
| to one not member OF his family, nor
related or Of kin by blood or marriag e,
which beneficiary certificate was, and Is,
by the courts, held TO be z gambling con-
tract; and
Whereas, The publication of said arti-
Gle, without comment by the said insur-
ance commissioner, is calculated to carry
the impression to the public that he APP
proves Of the same, thereby doing such
society gross injustice, therefore be it
Resolved, that said publication de-
serves censure, and is to be condemned
for the following reasons:
F'irst-Because by embodying such ar
ticle in his report. Mr.. Wilder manifest
ed an inability to distinguish between
fraternal beneficial societies and assess
merit insurance companies.
Second-Because the legislature hav-
ing by express provision of law, exempt
ed fraternal societies from the supervis-
ion of the insurance department, it was
not in his province to officially criticise
or condemn the workings Of such socie-
ties.
Third-Because the article was in it
self, both in word and spirit. untrue and
was intended to do a gross injustice to
an honorable class of citizens and le-
ultimate and honest system of business.
Fourth-Because the statistics show
that such organizations are furnishing a
protection in the nature of life insurance
companies particularly is this true OF
our ORDER that our methods of selection
are more careful and surrounded by
more safeguards: that the cost Of trans
acting our business, including all cost of
salaries, printing and miscellaneous ex-
penses, is vastly less than in any So
called old line insurance company doing
business in this state, while the volume Of
our business or the total amount of in
demnity guaranteed is larger than that
of all such companies combined; that the
experience of the past twenty-five years,
III America. and more than seventy-fve
years in England, proves that the con-
tinued existence of properly conducted
societies like our own, is as well assured
as that of stock insurance companies.
Eifth-Because vituperatjve article
like the one alluded to, has no proper
place in a dignified public document
representing the power and authority of
the state.
Sixth - Because in the publicat ion
thereof, the insurance commissioner of
Kansas has offered a gratuitous insult to
thousands of his fellow-citizens holding
membership in our own and kindred or
carnations which are doing a large and
charitable work through the protection
which they offer. and give, and are saw
ing not only distress to the families Of
their beneticiaries, but burden of tax
to the people III the relief furnished to
those who might otherwise become a
public charge. j. E. MCMULLEN.
ROBERT ioIMONS.
5. b. REED,
The above report unanimously adopted
bv the nd Io5Ca