Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-28
WAR AND LIFE INSURANCE.
eel Policies OF Those Who Enlist
Others VIII Not.

Incontemplation of possible war with
Spain the man who carries life insur-
ance and who intends to go TO the front
begins to look up his policy and find
out what provisions are made therein
for such contingencies. In most cases
he Will find that he is prohibited from
going 10 be a soldier or sailor, on pain
of FORGETTING his policy. Some few poll
cies contain no war provision whatso-
ever, and the holders of such are pro-
tected equally whether they go or stay.
Officials of a number of the companies
have the matter under consideration
A New York life insurance company
has prepared the following statement,
which will shortly be sent out to all its
agents:
I'VE have received many inquiries as
to whether the company would charge
an extra premium on any of its insured
who might enlist in the United States
army or navy for service in case of war.
The position of the company in this
matter is perfectly plain. Any citizens
of the United States who are already
insured in this company have the right
to enlist for war service without our
charging them any extra premium, and
III case Oh their OotIn III S0FNICe tnc pun
cies would be paid in full the same as
they would had there been no war, and
they had died of natural causes. Such
of our insured as hold old policies con-
| tanning war clause prohibiting the
| holder to engage in warfare with out
consulting the company can have this
clause annulled, thus giving them free
war privileges, by application to the
company. Of course, if war we're
actually declared the company would
| have to cease writing new policies on
| the lives of men who had enlisted or
| were about to enlist, or else would have
| TO charge very heavy extra premium.
You will see, however, from the above
| that anyone taking policy to-day gets
| one that permits him TO go to war to-
morrow or any other time in the future,
without requiring from him any extra
premium, whereas if hostities were
declared tomorrow his chance of get
ting as free a policy would be material
| ly minimized."
sit is not the intention of this com
pany." an official said, ''to put obstacles
in the way of any citizen who wants to
fight for his country. Until war is
| actually declared there will be nc
| change in our policies. Should war be
| declared, we should charge higher
premium, but this measure would be
more for the effect of the thing than be-
| cause of possible losses. To issue poll
cies to men about to engage in active
| war service at the same rates as those
now in vogue might give US a reputa
ton for foolhardiness, a reputation
| which we do not desire. To escape that
is really the chief reason for any in
| crease in premiums that we would
| make"
The policies referred to in the state
| ment as containing a war clause are
old premiums. The recent policies il
this company contain no such clause
| Three of the Names men who were los
| were insured in the New York Life, anC
the policies will be paid without con
| test.
At the office of the Equitable Life AS
surance society it was said that in the
| case of policies containing a war clause
a percentage on the face of the policy
would probably be charged for permit
to go to war. perhaps five or ten pei
cent. Many of the smaller companies
whose clientage is concentrated in com
paratively small localities, will prob
| ably, from motives of self-preservation
declare forfeited the policies of those
of its clients who engage in WARN. Y
Sun.