The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-07
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT,
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANcE. ~

Abstainera and Life Insuranee-The Time
Will Come When . Non-AlcohoHa
Clause VIII Be an Important Feature
of Every Reputable Policy. e.. ."> ." q
During the last few days the dale
papers have made the discovery Of. fad9
which readers of the New Voice. kneN
"old line" insurance companies has estab-
hshed a total abstinence department for
the purpose of giving that class of their
patrons the advantages that ought to ac-
crue to them. The comments which APP
pear upon this step, which the very
learned and wise editorial writer's seem
to suppose is an utterly new thing, are
various, but most of them are commendas
tory in their tone.
1t is interesting to notice that most Of
these daily papers that are now com.
menting upon this subject have, during
the last year or two given currency to
the old fake figures that sought to show
that total abstainers live less years than
hard drinkers.
The Chicago Record Herald says:
The time may come when "nonalco-
holic clause" will be as important in life
insurance policy as the "gasolene clause"
in fire insurance policy. A man who
stores a certain amount of fire water in
his abdominal basement every day will be
regarded as no better risk than the house
with several barrels Of gasoline in the eel
lar. ~ s.
This will be the inevitable outcome OF
the plan recently inaugurated by life
insurance company of New York should
it be generally adopted by all the big life
underwriters in this country. The plan OF
this company is to write policies fol-. ito
tai abstainers" upon a different basis
from that offered to users OF alcoholic
stimulants. After an extended study of
mortality statistics for several years, sup
plemented by the testimony of medical
science, the company has finally concluded
that the claim that total abstinence con:
duces to longevity no longer admits Of
doubt, and it proposes to give total alb
stainers the benefit of lower rates for life
insurance. ,. e
The cost of life insurance, as is vel!
known. is determined upon the basis OF
"the chances of life" at all ages as dis
closed by carefully compiled mortality sta
tistics. If it is a fact that the Chances Of
life" are affected by indulgence in alco-
hoic stimulants, the man who indulges is
less desirable "risk" than the total abb
stainer. It ought to follow, therefore, as
a simple proposition in common equity
that the man who habitually drinks alco-
holic liquor should pay more for. life in
surance than the man of the same age
who abstains. In other words, the total
abstainers should not be required to pays
portion of the extra cost incident to car.
ryipg the "boozers" on the insured rolls.
The Iowa State Register comments az
follows: o.I....s...-'
In Europe there are number of insur.
ance institutions which have had special
policies for temperance men for many
years, and the petitioners believe that it
is high time the American companies fol.
low the example. The officials Of the com.
pany admitted that an injustice was done
to men who have been total abstainers in
placing them on the same rating as those
who drink, the books of the company
showing that the ratio of death among
drinking men was greater than among
temperance men, and yet as an insurance
risk the two have been on the same foot
ing. The action of the company is COM
mendable, as is the action of men who
signed the petition. 1t is not right to
make a temperance man pay part OF the
premium on the life insurance of drink. !
ing man ';. ...'' - %