The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-19
George w. Clark, OF Topeka, Kan-
Presents a Plan That Will Receive
Little Consideration.
MAJORITY OF THE DELEGATES FA-
yOR SUCH A SCHEME.
j. G. Johnson, of .Kansas, Again Meets
His Waterloo I'm the Convention
some SideIights.

VI Tx LlCd0 NdAAP AOaCAh wv
men OF America, will take up in real earn
est the most important and far-reaching
question ever handled by a fraternal or
ganization in the United States-rate re-
adjustment
The discussion and settlement Of this
question will be zone of the stiffest battles
OF opinion, prejudice and ignorance Of life
insurance principles and of enlightened and
progressive ideas on fraternal beneficiary
life protection which ever took place in this
country" in the words of a prominent man
in the convention.
The rate resdjustment question was
brought before the convention during the
session yesterday morning. which was the
only business meeting yesterday, by George
W.. Clark. of Topeka. Kan, chairman of the
rate readjustment committee appointed two
years ago at the st. Paul convention. Judge
Clark presented the plan of rate revision
which was defeated in the state conven-
tions last May. and it is not thought this
plan will receive much consideration. The
Northcott, Fawcett and Johnson plans will
be presented to-day, so the convention will
not really get into the rate question until
to-day.
SCOPE IS LARGE.
1ne scope VI III EdIC IA QOCobAOh
is so large and the discussion will neces-
sarily take up so much time. it is not i'm
probable, according to a statement of James
r. Egan, private secretary to Head Clerk
Halves, tina the convention will extend
days Of next week.
The head officers of the society seem de-
termined TO further humiliate j. G. John
son. of Kansas. who was defeated Tuesday
in the Kansas contest. and who was pre-
vented a second defeat Wednesday by
withdrawing from the race for head consul,
against A. r. Talbot.
Mr.. Johnson received another setback
during the session yesterday morning when
he moved that the convention appoint no
more readjustment committees, but resolve
itself into one committee TO consider the
question frst-hand. as a substitute to the
motion for the appointment Of a small
committee.
Chairman Northcott then called the head
advisor to the chair and suggested that a
vote be taken on Johnson's motion. The
convention voted to have a ap-
pointed. as suggested by Judge Clark, and
at noon a committee OF twenty-five was
announced.
Thus Mr.. Johnson was Inundated a sec
ond time by the organization in which he
has been one of the most prominent men,
bers.
A new plan of rate readjustment probably
will be presented 20 the convention this
of which Mr.. Johnson is the recognized
leader. The plan has been formulated by
DR.. NJ. H. Goodrich. Mr.. Johnson's hench-
man in Illinois.
MAJORITY FAvoRS IT.
A large majority of the 4es delegates are
in favor Of rate division. This seems prac-
ticaIly certain from a canvass of all the
night. At the same time it is quite certain
that the convention. as a whole. is opposed
TO extreme legislation.
The delegates seem to be divided into
three factions on this question-those who
favor complete revision. accepting some
standard mortality table as a basis; those
who favor a compromise with the idea of
heading of defections from the ranks of
the membership. which they contend will
follow any radical changes, and the John
10 rate revision. but does not favor Ii under
the plans proposed thus far.
That the rates will be made higher and
the matter definitely and finally settled.
now seems certain. OF the many plans put
forward by those who favor a Reasonable
compromise. there are three which call for
substantially the same rates of assessment
but which are designed to collect these as
sessments on ID the level premium plan.
CD the natural premium plan, and 10 a
combination OF the natural and level nram-
ium plans. The level rate that is most
talked of begins at age eighteen, with a
rate OF 50 cents per $1,000 per assessment.
and Is graded up through the ages to 6. "a
per $1,000 at the age of forty-eight. At all
ages beyond ~forty-eight the rate is s.. SO
per assessment.
If this level rate or anything approximate
ing it is favored by the convention II seems
the accumulation of a reserve which, while
not fundamentally accurate according to
the mortality tables. will at least serve to
the society a COmfOrfahIo diSfo~4o
into the future-possibly thirty or forty
years.
The natural premium plan suggested
would collect probably about the same
amount in the same number of years from
each member, If adopted. but there would
be no reserve and no interest
ton The members. starting at a rate of
40 cents at the age of eighteen would be
required TO dig deeper into their pockets
as they advanced in age until at the age
OF sixty they would be paying $3.50 per
$1,000 per assessment and thereafter the
rate would not increase.
A MODIFICATION.
II Is probable that some modification or
combination of rates based on the level or
natural premium plans will be adopted
by the convention, and 1t is worth noting
in this connection that the delegates from
Kansas do not now admit that they ever
opposed readjustment. 1T is undeniable,"
said Ralph z. Johnson, Talbot's campaign
manager. last night, that the delegation
which came up to this convention led by
Neighbor j. @. Johnson was prepared 70
go into this convention and oppose any
measure OF reimbursement that did not have
q provision attached 10 IL for a referen-
DUN vote of approval on the part OF the
general membership OF the society before
becoming effective. This is only another
way of opposing readjustment OF any kind
or character. To say that Neighbor John
sons delegates favored readjustment OF
any kind before they got so beautifully
licked is the rankest kind of hypocrisy
State Deputy 7. w. BARLEY, Of Idaho
vention on rate making. For the past
year he has been lecturing on the question
before the local camps in the far Western
States and in Iowa. Missouri. and portions
OF Kansas. Speaking last night of what
ne termed the great light that Ia.
come TO the Johnson delegates since Tues
day morning, he said:
II am delighted to know that Neighbol
Johnson and his supporters are prepared e
favor some form OF rate reimbursement
they could as easily have adopted this pol
icy q year and a half ago. and If they has
done so the society's membership would
not have been distracted by a discussion
as acrimonious as IL has been unfraternal
30 far as those opposed TO readjustmen
were concerned. i have kept in too clos,
touch with the situation and know TO,
much about the campaign that was car
r1ed on against readjustment by Neighbo
johnson to give the least weight TO tn,
claims now being put forward that he an.