The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-06-04
TIRE KNIGHTS or TINE GnIr.

Tho National Convention NJ the Travellers
Protective Association Of hhioricn--ltc.
mnrkRhlS Growth Of tho Organization.
Sound fiunnoinl Condition.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Juno 3.-Tho
Travellers Protective Association Of
America, which was organized at Don.
yer, COL, on Juno 3, 1890. now meeting
In Its sixth annual convention here to
celebrate tho close Of tho fifth year OF
Its existence, has had remarkably
rapid growth in tho last two years. no.
ginning with membershin Of 3,Ni5
Juno |, 1893, reaching 1862 juno l.,
1894, und closing with 10000 Juno J.,
1875.
Tho association is now organized in
thirty.twu states and In nineIy.oight
large cities OF tho United States. 1t Is
the only national commercial associa-
ton In tho United States which Is 10
thoroughly, cohesivoly and compactly
organized that 1t can be utilized
promptly and eGcctunlly Tor tho pur.
pose OF protecting and prompting com.
maintain an autonomy and Individual
ity OF action in its state divisions and
local or municipal posts. 1t is q com.
inorcial travellers organization, but Inns
Tor Its members largo number OF en-.
ployers OF commercial travellers among
Wholesale dealers and manufacturers,
and this combination gives 1t most
powerful influence. 1t IL organized
upou the federal plan, having na.
tonal, n state and Il municipal govern
ment, and its five committees on lcgis.
lation. railroads. hotels. prOss and en-.
ploymcnt arc represented in each Of tho
state and municipal organizations,
thereby cooperating systematically and
with great discipline OF effort in work
for its members and for the general
benefit OF commercial interests.
From tho report OF its national presi-
dent, John A. Lee. it is shown that the
organization secured an amendment du-
ring tho year just passed 10 the inter.
s,ate commerce act, permitting rail-
roads to issue interchangeable mileage
and to give extra privileges as to free
baggage with such tickets; and that
through its accident insurance depart
men, moro than $4,000 for indemnity
claims have been paid, in which elk
death claims were included.
Tho total expense OF conducting the
association was only about 10 per cent.
more than last year, though the aver.
age membership has been almost dou.
bic. The per capita for expense fund
rpli nd 81
stitution is g per average membership,
but only 81 II was expended, being II
saving OF 81 OF per capita as compared
with last year, aud a saving OF 81 ~ per
capita as compared with tho year pre-
vious to the last. Nearly $1,000 was
saved as surplus this year from the
expense fund.- Almost the entire in.
crease in expenditure over last year is
in postage account. extra office help
aud in establishing un Identification
system. which, OF course, was fixed and
unavoidable.
Indemnities paid during the year
ending June !, 1888. were much larger
than for any previous year in tho asso-
cintion's history. Most iraternal or.
carnations compute their expense OF
conducting the busino's OF their asso.
cations upon the greatest, usually the
closing membership. This method Is
inaccurate and misleading. But for
purposes OF comparison tho total OK
pense OF about SGT. when divided by
the closing membership in good stand
iug, shows that tho per capita 80 COM
putcd OF expense is only l.t6 per menu
Der: whereas other excellent associa-
tions claiming to be the cheapest in the
country but which DO nothing beyond
insurance, show an expense account OF
l.3G and LAP! per capita.
Two new state divisions have been
added during the year. Florida ire
orcanizcdl and North Carolina Twenty
eight new posts have been organized,
while three posts have lapsed. leaving
the association with organizations in
nincty-eicht OF the principal cities OF
the United States. The following posts
have been organized during tho past
year, viz: Selma, Ala; Tcxarkana,
Ark; Bloomington and DnnvIllo. Ill. ;
Warsaw, Charlottesville, Marion Rich.
nond and Anderson, Ind; Louisville,
XIV; Jackson. Tickshurg and Meridian,
Miss. Chattanooga. Tenn: Atlanta,
Savannah. Columbus aud Macon, Gn. :;
Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg. Lynch.
burg and Danville, Va; La Crosse, Eau
Claire and Madison, Wis; Winston,
North Carolina. and Pensacola, Fla.
Posts at Cape Girardcau, Mo. Tampa,
Fla. and Sherman, Tex, have bccn
abandoned
lhe entire cSrcnsc Of promoting tho
increase OF membership. including or
Gnuizlng expense, prizes, expense Of
delegates to national convention, in
stitutinG Identification kcy.ring check
system, and NIL the other expense prop
crly chargcabln to building up the mem.
bcrship, was this year (iSgI.5) S3.l535i.
rcsnl;inc IN securing 4 few more than
G,0OO new auplica:ions. Last year tho
same fund was charged with Sl.i74 -,
resulting in securing only !, 800 now ap-
pliCatlons.
The proportion Of lapsnc OF momber-
ship in the I. y. a. OF a. is very heavy,
attributable, 30 tho best posted officers
say. to the fact that no entrance or
initiation membership lee is charged,
rendering it pSsSibc 10 drop out
through neglect in paving dues Mt the
proper time aud to renew membership
without monetary loss. An Amendment
bGfOrG the convention to establish u
membership or entrance foe OF from s.
TO 50 is being strongly supported.