The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-03-28
STILL ANOTHER BOYCOTT.


ance Company Of North Carolina was
chartered by an act of the lately ad
journed Legislature, with number oil
the strongest men in the State named
as incorporators, and began business
with its central Office at Greensboro
and agencies all over the State. A
number OF lis agents were the agents
also Of companies embraced in the
Southeastern Tariff Association, and
as the Southern Stock Mutual did not
propose 10 cut rates but TO conduct
itself upon plan of anity with all
other companies, it proposed 10 the
Southeastern Tariff Association to pro
rate certain local expenses with 1t and
the proposition was accepted. A little
later, however, it received notice from
the Tariff Association that it had re-
considered its purpose, the letter from
the secretary gong on to say that IN
view of the rebate clause in the scheme
Of the Southern Stock Mutual it had
been resolved not to cooperate with
it. This was followed by notices to
its agents throughout the State that
they must not act as agents Of the
Southern Stock Mutual.
All this has but one meaning, and
that is that North Carolina Company
must not compete with the South
eastern Tariff Association for North
Carolina business under penalty Of its
boycott. It's agents are to be coerced,
if possible, and it only remains to be
seen how many of them, who are
agents for both, will submit to the
coercion. The method adopted Of
holding the North Carolina business
for itself and driving the home com
petitors out Of the competition, is a
thoroughly characteristic trust pro-
ceeding, and it will be a surprise to
those who think they know them we'll
if the people of North Carolina do not
take this matter up and resent this
arrogance as 1t deserves.
The above, which is taken from
the Charlotte Observer, strikes at the
root of question that should be firm
ly and positively dealt with, and in a
manner that will crush out for good
and always such arbitrary and unwar-
ranted action on the part of an AFRO
CANT and insolent insurance trust-or
any other kind of trust. As we un
derstand it the grievance Of the South
eastern Tariff Association against the
Southern Stock Mutual Insurance Com
pany lies in the latter's claiming the
right to do what it pleases with its
profits, and that their only ground of
opposition to it is the fact that under
its plan the policy holders share in the
profits OF the company. This, in the
eyes OF the mighty insurance trust,
styled the Southeastern Tariff Associa-
ton, is good and sufficient cause for
venting its displeasure by issuing de-
cree that Association agents shall not
represent the Southern Stock Mutual.
For an outside combination to demand
of North Carolina agents that they
shall not represent creditable North
Carolina company, composed as it is
OF the best citizens of the State, many
OF whom North Carolina has seen fit
% bestow upon the highest honors
within her gift, is a piece of arrogance
only to be expected from an organiza
ton that has developed into a high
handed, arbitrary monopoly.
There is just cause for resentment
on the part of our people in an arbi-
trary proceeding of this kind, and the
issue Of this fight that has been insti-
tuted against worthy and meritorious
North Carolina institution, is a mat
of no little public concern. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the agents of
such companies as are included in the
combination manipulated by the
Southeastern Tariff Association obey
its behests and drop the Southern
Stock Mutual from their list. We
know what reply free and indepen-
dent men like North Carolnians-na-
tive or adopted-ought to make to such
an impairment demand.