The Topeka state journal., 1895-10-09
HAD A HOT DISPUTE.
Accusation of Money Wasted in the
Odd Fellows
BENEFIT ASSOCIATION FOR INSURANCE

e. NJ TraceWelt Points Out What He
Calls ExtrAvagance-A Letter Read
from Geo. z. AnthO3y.
a spirited tilt occurred last evening at
the meeting of the 1. o. o. F. members
at Representative hall to discuss fra
ternal insurance.
The controversy was precipitated by
E. M. Tracewen of Columbus, Of the
committee on grievances and appeals.
Mr.. Tracewen thought that too much
money was being paid the officers as sal
aries and said so.
He said: 1--WE are about three years
old and not yet able to pay $1,000 policy.
| Can any business man give a reason for
| this?
1--WE have paid out in death losses only
! $5,6S7 and it has taken 1851 salaries
and incidental expenses to do it
Il noticed one bill for postage Of
$118 That means $500 letters TO 700
members If such methods are not
changed the Odd Fellows' Benevolent
association will be wiped out of exis-
tence"
MIR. Jones. of the executive committee,
fastened to reply to the remarks of Mr.
TracewelL. He said: "The association is
being managed as economically as posi-
bAOs GA0 III 01A4 Inc COiH iJidAO5 lAO AAOA-
dental expenses often exceeded the
death losses
1.-The plan now followed is based on
mortality, and all we need is members.
We now have 920 members, and when
we get 700 we will pay death losses in
full
Mr. Jones resented the idea that pos
tage bills aud salaries were too large,
and made a plea for the members to
] Str r-,H NV bo
Insurance Commissioner Anthony had
! been invited to speak, but being out of
the city sent letter outlining his ideas.
you have, purposely no doubt, formu-
lated the subject for discussion in two
distinct Notwithstanding Life In
suraRce IN General and The Past and
Future of The Odd Fellows Fraternal
Benefit Association of which your order
IN Kansas has manag ement and control
40 the first of these l feel at liberty
to speak, as it involves general prin-
ciples of public concern, while the
other must be approached, if at all, with
dithdence and doubtful propriety, as
have no personal knowledge of your
past experience, nor recognized right TO
intrude with advice as to your future
management of an enterprise so purely
personal to your own fraternity. AS it
appears to me, the very term 'Fraternal
Life Insurance is 4 misn omer a mean
ingless term, in fact and one calculated
to mislead and possibly deceive.
Insurance is a business, pure and
simple, and It's every line must be cut
with the burnish ed blade OF justice, un-
tempered by fraternity or charity. For
the conduct of this business men may CO.
/ operate and incorporate, but never fra.
ternize. Holding these views as TO the
lncongruity and incompatibility of fra
ternity and life insurance, it still does
not become me to say that you may not
undertake the experiment Of making life
Insurance the handmaid OF Odd Fellow
ship, although | cannot comprehend how
a system which insures benefits to those
only who pay for them, and ia the exact
measure they are paid for, can 90 hand
in hand with the uulversalIty of benefits
sought and pledged in your fraternity.
Bat upon one point let me be clearly
understood. Whatever you do, as q ira
ternity, for the participation and benefit
of your own brotherhood exclusively, is
yours to do, without let or hindrance. II
is u matter reserved and sacred to you
and beyond the rightful arena of legisla-
tive modelling, statutory control or de.
partmental surveillance; as much so as
the domestic affairs of private family
"The only duty OF the ST ate in this con
nection is too see to it that frauds do no
disguise themselves in the attractive
robes of fraternity and impose upon
confdjng people. The line of demarka
ton between the genuine and the coun
terfeit should be drawn SO plain and dis
tinct, by statute, as to make it impossible
for the two to be confounded by th'
most careless observer"
Ex-senator Martin then spoke briefly
on the same subject. He gave shor
sketch of the insurance features of the
association, and declared that it was sue
ces5fully managed
"Fraternal aid was inaugurated among
Odd Fellows as far back as 1867 con
tinued the senator, "and although con
trary to all plans previously tried hai
been of great value to Odd Fellows
their wives and children.
'Yery few Odd Fellows were born witt
silver spoons in their mouths, and soone
or later the insurance is a boon to tn
widow and orphan.
$50 strengthen your own organization
and limit its benefits to members and yo1
will have cheap and safe insurance"
| EMERGENCY RATE.