Wichita eagle., 1890-03-14
COMMISSIONERS WILDER REPLIES

From the Topeka Journal.
For some time past certain insurance
sharks who are barred out of Kansas by
the insurance laws of the state, enforced
without fear or favor by Insurance Com
missioner Wilder, have been engaged in
a systematic attempt, by all devices
which their ingenuity could suggest. to
work up public sentiment and secure
the removal of Commissioner Wilder
from his office. Until now the commits
soner has paid no attention to these par
ties, but the receipt yesterday of a letter
from Governor Humphrey bearing upon
the matter gave him an opportunity TO
make an official statement, which will
be of public interest and will put the
commissioner in right light before the
people of the state. Mr.. Wilder's state
ment to the governor is as follows:
STATE OF KANSAS,
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
TOPEKA, March IL, 1890.
Hon. Lyman L. Humphrey Governor:
Dear Sir: You send me today the circu-
lar of the Northwestern Masonic Aid asso-
citation, Chicago, signed by Daniel j.
Avery, president, and Endorsed by the fol-
lowing letter to you:
LEROY, Kan, March s, 1890.
Lyman [. Humphrey, Governor:
Dear Sir: If chs circular is true, l am
satisfied you know your duty and will act.
If Mr.. Wilder refused TO let the company
qualify and do business in Kansas accord
ing TO law, | think he is wrong, as l know
the company is doing a straight business,
and If they can give sufficient bond they
ought to be allowed to do so.
c. DECKER.
With this circular is a petition adj
dressed to you. asking for my removal
from office. This petition is printed in
New York and is identical in language
and in type with the thousands of petit
tons recently sent to Kansas, ostensibly
by the Dairyman. but really by E. b.
Harper, president of the Mutual Reserve
Fund Life association. OF New York
city. \ great many Kansas men who
have received these petitions have sent
them to me with the word remove
changed to retain.
Since this style of warfare is evidently
systematic, and since the assertions
made are false and malignant, it is prob
ably best for us TO make public reply.
FirSt-The Insurance department has
no control or jurisdiction over secret
fraternal societies and has not sought TO
control them or interfere with them in
any way.
Second-This same president, Daniel
J. Avery. was in Topeka last year and
made speech before the joint meeting
of the senate and house insurance COM
mittees. IN which he said that his asso-
citation was kept out of Kansas by our
laws: that my Interpretation and en-
iorcement of those laws was correct:
that his association could not enter Kan
sas without special legislation, and that
ne was here to execute q special act
the bill of High, of Reno, think 1t was
Mr. Robinson. the general agent of
Harper's New York association. and Mr..
Lambertson, of Lincoln. Nebraska, the
attorney for Harper's association. and
other persons, representatives of similar
assessment associations. made speeches
at the joint committee meeting of like
import.
Third-The position taken by Avery,
Harpers man. and the others was after
wards endorsed by resolution adopted
by the National convention of assess
ment associations held III Washingt ton,
ID. G., last year,
The present raid made By these con-
Germs Is to secure my removal and the
change of our laws These men had an
active lobby here last year and we shall
see their sweet faces again. II they must
bride lobbyists or rob policy-holders II is
best To let them do the former. Some of
our citizens are 50 industrious during
the fifty biennial DAYS that they spend
the rest of the two years In weil-dressed
ease and luxury. Very truly.
d. ". WILDER,
Superintendent of Insurance