The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-03-11
THAT AK TO GRIND.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT.

EDITOR DRMoCRAT.
My attention has been called to Mr..
Sender's article in the DEMOCRAT under
the heading "They all Have an Ak to
Grind" I did not think the article
needed reply, but being requested by
some other members Of the o. f. r. A.
to reply shall do 80.
Mr.. Senders is no doubt honest in his
opinion that all have an ak to grind and
we admire his honesty in so readily ad-
mitting that he has one, and that the
first object of his ordinance is to protect
the larger insurance agents by freezing
out the smaller ones. Mr. Senders says
that there are more than twenty agents
in Albauv while there is not living in
It for more than three and that he is of
the opinion that insurance agents are en-
titled to live as well as people engaged in
other pursuits One would naturally
infer, however, that he thinks only the
larger agents are entitled to live. Ii Mr.
Senders will consult our citizens who are
enesgeo in other pursuits we think that
he win end that every doctor, lawyer,
merchant, mecnanic or iaborer will testi-
fly that there are entirely too many en-
gagged in his pursuit, but we do not think
he will find that all wish laws passed
which will Il ssen competition by crush
ing out the smaller ones.
The books and business OF the o. F.
r. A are open to the inspection Of every
member and every three months there
is a committee appointed to examine
them. We are very much surprised
that an insurance man so well informed
as Mr. Senders. should make the asser-
ton that no trust exists when the report
OF every policy he issues must be sent TO
this trust for examination. II he thinks
that no trust exists, let him issue POI
icy at a rate few cents less than author.
ized by this trust and see what the result
will be.
Then a gain he asks II there is anything
back OF this association. In reply we
will say that for our part we would
rather have q warrant against Linn
county than a claim against any stock
company. We would rather have it be-
cause the county has always paid its war
rants without having to be sued for it.
and because it is backed by about 1000
property owners. For the same reason
we would rather have q certificate as
collateral in the Oregon Fire Relief AS
ISOLATION than in any stock company.
First, because il has always adjusted iis,
losses equitably and paid them without
having 10 be sued Second, because ii
is backad By about 1000 property own
ers, making il stronger than any stock
company. Third, because | can know
the exact condition OF the association at
any time, as cannot know the condi-
tion OF stock company. Mr. Senders
states there is nothing 10 hinder us from
sending our appA ation tor membership
and insurance to the o T f A, but this
is another case where he judges that
association by the stock companies he
represents and thinks that this associa-
tion will do business in just ss careless
n manner as his stock companies. and
insure property without q careful exam
ination, but this they will not do. and il
is owing TO their careful methods tha,
their loss ratio has never amounted TO
OF the rates of his insurance
trust,
Nov If Mr. Sender's ordinance has the
desired effect OF excluding mutual in
su-snce and thereby compelling our eiti-
zens TO patronize his trust, ii may en-
able him 10 get the living he thinks he
IS entitled to, but il would be much
cheaper for our CITIZENS 10 place him up
a pension OF two or three thousand dol
lars year and ob.ain their insurance
through the o. E. r. A. where the as
have cot averaged one tenth
of the rates Of his trust.
IixcoLS HENxKss.