Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-07
IOWA TRAVELLING MEN
Annual Meeting Of the Iowa
State Travelling Mems Asso.
citation at Des Moines.
Wonderful Growth Of the soci-
ETY. Shown by the Reports
of Officers.
President Wheeler Makes Some
Interesting Recommendations
in His Address.
pecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. THE annual meet
in go the Iowa State Travelling Mems
Association is now being held here.
with larger attendance than usual.
This association has now been in exist
ence twenty-one years and has had
wonderful growth. Nearly all the COM
mercial travellers who make headquar-
states are members and take an active
interest in its affairs. In fact the aSso-
citation has done a wonderful work In
bringing the travelling men together in
fraternal feeling and arousing senti-
ments of mutual helpfulness. Presi-
dent w. II. Wheeler and Secretary F. e.
Haley will be reelected by the board Of
directors for another term. Their re-
ports indicate that the past has been
a profitable year with them.
President Wheeler in his annual re-
port to the association referred to the
fact that this is the twenty-first anni-
versary Of the founding of the society,
and that the twenty years had been
Of almost Unprecedented success as an
association. There are now $4,000 in
the emergency fund which will he in
creased, at the lowest calculation, to
nearly $4,000 by the first of next Feb
ruary. This is a remarkable showing
when it is. computed that over 10 per
cent OF the business ventures of this
f1sf, %,f, 11N,
he said, can take no inconsiderate unc-
ton to ourselves for this success which
unmistakably proves that our methods,
our membership, and our purposes
were conceived along right lines and
have been so maintained" Continuing
President Wheeler said:
ut has always been our policy each
year to try to Guido ourselves of the
past one, to always cut a new notch on
the tally stick a little higher than the
last. and the year just ended is no ex-
ception. A larger total membership than
ever before In our history-and 1t is a
membership that is active, intensely
alert to every interest, membership
every individual of which has his Shout
der to the wheel in the securing of new
members. Otherwise how would We
grow as we have, keeping no paid solicit
tors and paying no commissions to any
one for the securing of memberships.
had thought in common with others,
that IL we held our own during the
financial depression Of several years
ago when so many commercial men
were out of employment, that we woult
do well. but we, showed growth in those
years as well as we have in larger pro-
portion every year since"
President Wheeler said 1t is the con-
slant effort Of the association to keep
out of litigation and it has done very
we'll, since II has not had single law
suit the past year in the settlement OF
500 claims. He cautioned the members
about carelessness in signing applica-
tions for membership. In regard to side
schemes he said:
1T may not be inopportune at this
time to warn members against the
myriads Of plans and catch-penny
schemes that are constantly being put
forth In the ostensible interest Of the
commercial travellers. The larger we
are and the more of factor we become
the more we are made the object of
such willy schemes. Our policy Of refus-
ing our endorsement Of these unworthy
projects and our single purposeness Of
greatest benefit to the members, togeth-
err with strict business policy, has
made us the success we are"
President Wheeler paid high compli-
ment to the accurate business meths.d
and system of Secretary Haley in the
Office. He spoke also of the fact that
there is need Of some new legislation in
regard to requiring inn-keepers to have
fire escapes on their hotels, as there are
many hotels in the state that are known
by every travelling man to be danger
ous.
I'm the elevation Of our honorable
counsel, Mr.. A. B. Cummins. to the
governorship Of Iowa" continued Mr..
Wheeler, "the Iowa State Travelling
Mems Associatio nfeels the honor and
pride that every worthy Iowan should
feel, irrespective of party, upon the ele-
walton Of 80 eminent citizen to the of
flee of the chief executive by the largest
plurality ever accorded governor of
the state"
The report of Secretary F. E. Haley
shows net increase in membership of
2014, and total to date of 14,143. There
were 70 deaths reported and 632 dropped
for n-payment of dues. There We're
26 reinstatements and the rest Of the In
crease was in new members. There were
81 indemnity claims paid. four death
claims paid, eye loss, foot loss, 2S
claims rejected, and the average amount
OF weekly claims was s76.0s. There were
213 applications rejected.
The total cash receipts for the year
were $113.7S9.S1, and cash on hand, 49,
TAI .02. The association owns 100000 OF
government bonds and has in addition
in the emergency fund $13,79s.7S in cash,
which with the cash balance makes $751;
269.S0 of assets. The auditing committee
reported that the bonds have cash
value Of $3.50 in excess OF their face.
FUNERAL OF F. o PROCTOR.
Passing of a Well Known Citizen Of
GrinnelI.
SnaoiaJ tn Times. RenIhltcan