The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-07
OUR PRESIDENTS
ARE GOOD RISKS
Views Of an Expert on Insuring
Their Lives.
NOT DEEMED EXTRA HAZARDOUS

A Prominent insurance Man, Citing
Mr. Roosevelt's Case, Tells why His
Elevation 20 the Presidency Has
Made Him n Better Risk Than as
Private Citizen.
When President Roosevelt emerged
safely from the wilds Of Yellowstone
park after his recent vacation there,
more than one man was heard to COM
ment after this fashion: If there is
one class Of men more gratifed than
another to hear Of the presidents safe
arrival out Of the woods, it is the in
surance men who have policies Of
about 100000 on his life"
I'm spite Of the fact that three OF the
ten presidents since James Buchanan
have been assassinated and that the
lives Of most Of the others have been
threatened at oDe time or another
said Or. Walter r. Gillette. the general
manager Of the Mutual Life Insurance
company OF New York, presidents Of
the United States are good risks from
an insurance mans point of view.
Theirs by no means are what might be
termed extra hazardous lives but on
the contrary, good rather than indif-
| ferent risks
Summarized, his reasons for this
statement are as follows Given man
Of good constitution and correct habits
Of life and you have the best guarantee
OF long life The body Of the man Il
the greatest factor in determining the
length Of that life. Factors Of danger
that surround him are counterbalanced
by those Of safety. In this respect
President Roosevelt is no different
from any Of the men who have preced-
ed him in the presidential chair. As
d private citizen lie was considered a
good risk His elevation to the presi-
deney has not lessened that fact in the
least. In fact, it has made him a better
risk in some respects.
Before he became president Mr.
/ Roosevelt went about as does any pri-
waite citizen, and there was no safe
guard against his INDUCING his whims
for the vigorous llfen as he willed
Now that he is at the head Of the ma
ton he Is constantly watched, even
against his wishes and protests He is
almost never alone This practically
guarantees him against assault, d con-
stantly threatening factor in the life
of the ordinary man who goes unpro-
teeted through deserted streets and to
hunting and fishing resorts, if you WILL
where a president would never go I'M
attended The ordinary man may 90
abroad, annually crossing and recross-
ing the ocean and so putting himself
in danger from the perils of the deep;
president cannot do that because of
that custom which, having all the force
of law, forbids him to leave the coun-
try
Another thing that makes a president
good risk is the fact that he has
Iproved by winning the presidency that
he has inherited d good constitution
and Is able to do a vast amount OF
hard work without injury to himself,
else he would never have been able to
reach that point in public esteem which
would make him possible candidate,
The pathway to success in politics is
not one of ease and smooth walking.
Political hurdles have to be leaped, po-
iitieal powders surmounted and Wig
orous pioneer work successfully accom-
pllshed. 1t is the sort of thing that
makes man strong in every sense OF
the word; there must be Drawn as well
as brain to spell success in that chase
There is a good basic foundation in the
eye Of the insurance man. The high
est Office in the gift Of the people is moi
for the weak man. but for the strong
Opportunities for breaking down have
presented themselves; he has overcome
them That he viii so down under
similar work in the four or eight years
, at Washington IL hardly probable 4
president goes there in the full
strength Of manhood. He has learned
how to care for himself, how to make
the cares Of Office rest lightly as posi-
Bile on his shoulders.
AS president the man at the head Of
the nation will certainly have the best
Of food, water, medical care If he needs
It. good air, proper clothing and the
thousand and one other things thai
: count for health and strength In daily
|. life. many Of which the ordinary dwell
er in the city does not and some o.