The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-01
TO INSURE AGAINST STRIKES.


Brooklyn Eagle.
America has not the insurance mania as
badly as England has, but economic condi-
lions have evolved strike insurance, the lat
est commercial novelty of which the Eng
lishman as yet knows nothing. Your true
Britisher insurcs his life, and insures his
house, he insures his vessel, he insures his
freight, he insures his plate glass. He in
sures against robbery and he insures
against accidents. He insures against bank
failure He VIII not travel ten miles with
out buying a travellers insurance policy.
When he has nothing else to insure he in
sures the Kings life. and those OF various
members OF the royal family That is the
commonest British form of gambling. The
atrical companies, big dressmaking estab-
ter of course. as an ordinary measure OF
protection against the loss OF business
which would necessarily follow the Kings
death and the consequent failure OF the
season.
But the Britisher has not yet come to
strike insurance, and the American has,
Not only have some of the big existing
companies opened strike departments, but
two strike insurance companies have been
organized, one in Waterbury, Conn, the
other in Louisville, KY. The Connecticut
backed Connecticut has had her fiji of
strikes during the last twelvemonth. In
several places employers have organized 10
stringency arising from labor troubles
And labor approves of strike insurance.
The workingman believes il will inure TO
his benefit. One labor leader Is reported
as having said that such insurance COM
panies will accomplish at once what labor
organizations have been trying for years
to do. They will compel the unreasonable
employer to recognize the rights Of his en-
ployes. Just as fire insurance companies
compel policy holders to take reasonable
precautions against fire, strike insurance
companies will compel employers to ceai
reasonably with potential strikers.
The Waterbury company only recently OBJ
tanned a charter authorizing Ii TO insure IN
dividuals or corporations against loss re-
sulting directly or indirectly from the inter-
ruption or suspension of business by rea-
son of flood, epidemic, riot. strike, civil
commotion or similar causes. The CHAR
ter shows that assessments upon members
are to be relied upon to provide funds for
emergencies, and practically establishes
at once jury of arbitration. TO which the
employers are bound to submit. but which
has no hold on employees. And this jury
has, every member of IL, personal fnan-
cial Interest in persuading the employer 10
end the strike II he reasonably can.
The company may collect not only cash
premiums for its policies, but may assess
the holders thereof such further sums as
are necessary TO cover losses. not exceed
ing five times the amount OF the cash
premium The policy holders agree in adj
vance TO pay such assessments II called Tor.
If the company assumes the responsibility
of every strike. regardless OF who Is at
fault ii undertakes at once TO nix the re-
sponsibiliiy for the strike, which will be
far more difficult than TO ascertain the
amount of loss involved.
The Louisville company does not say just
how IL proposes to insure employers against
loss through strikes. Ii does undertake to
keep secret the names OF the persons IN
sured so that strikers will never KNOW
whether they striking against their
employers or the insurance company. PROD
ably they will not care-but that does not
seem TO have occurred to the company. IL
strike loss will be recognized as a claim
| against the company. And 1t rather looks
| is If IL were fun for the employers but death
| to the company.
If any scheme can be worked out whereby
strike insurance can be made Gooi Dusl-
ness proposition, equitable TO the Insured
and profitable to the company. there Is un-
doubleday millions in it," But IL is little
hard TO see how, for instance, an insurance
company could have paid for the losses IN
voved in the existing building strikes Tney
run up into the millions. To great extent
these strikes are of the sympathetic vari-
ETY., and Uncle Sam himself. though the ola
gentleman is pretty well-to-do. would tnlnk
! twice IL he had TO pay their piper. Occasion-
ally there is a great confiagrat0n some.
where-losses running up into the millions
and the insurance companies have TO pay.
Many are bankrupted by the operation This
year there have been strikes all over the
| country. No one can compute the COST 10
| employers. But employers could well az
| ford To pay big premiums for any insurance
| that would guarantee them against sucn
| losses The question Is, can any company
4 undertake the job