New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-16
FLAYS INSURANCE GRAFT.
PULPITS LASH OFFICERS.
DR.. Peters, DR.. Parthurst and DR..
MacArthgr Denou1ce Corruption.

The Insurance corruption revealed at the hearings
of the legislative inquiry stirred clergyen OF VaF
GUS denominations to protest yesterday Cono1uons
such as those disclosed by Mr.. Hughes showed al
absolute lack of moral sense. they declared. and q
disregard even of the laws Of the country In winch
! the companies were doing business
The Rev DR.. Madison c. Peters said the fnsur-
| ance svindIe was 1.-The most shameless fraud ever
perpetrated in the long list OF American rascanty.
| He would have private hell for insurance op-
| orators he said. in which those big thieves might
| fry.
DR.. Robert s. Macarthur could not believe in the
| missionary creed held by the McCurdys. The Rev.
| DR. Charles H. Parkhurst preached q long sermon
devoted entirely to the iniQuity shown by the emil
directors in the various insurance companies
DR.. Peters spoke at the meeting at the Harlem
Opera House. did DR.. Macarthur. When they
had finished many members of the audience spoke
advocating the summary removal of officials who
had misappropriated pocyholders money.
DR. Peters said that time ago he preached
a sermon the crime of not insurng, saying that
the who did not protect his family was deny
ing the faith The presidents of the companies had
needed his sermon, he said. 1t was lucky that
their families were small or the companies would
have had no surplus. He went on:
If, according to some peoples theology, there is
no hell. ready here and now to start sub
scrfpton list and have one built for the men VINO
groaning with luxuries while thousands upon thou.
sands Of pocyholders are depriving themselves OF
arrayed in dresses and jewels unequalled by queens
the wives of the poICyhOlderS are over
their old dresses and making the old oonnets 90
duty another season. 80, oou
a year for what even he himself does not know
does not carry policy in his company In this ne
never drink their own stuff, because they know
what is in 1t. The vulgar pfckpocket is sent on 70
jail but these men put premium on crime which
virtually says to the young men OF the country:
steal loaf of bread for hungry loved one the
world will kick you Steal ,1 millions lilo and you S1 vii I
ing kicked by you.
DR.. MACARTHUR'S SPEECH.
DR.. Macarthur followed DR. Peters. He said:
Mr.. McCurdy has affirmed that insurance business
ment Mr., McCurdy must have had some ideal in
surely missionary organization for Mr. McCurdy
and his family know of no other missionary or
missionaries miiiionaires. Mr.. McCurdy and his
son-inlaw differed on religion. but they seem to
sectarianism when divided between friends; Mr.
Hughes ought to be appointed bishop over mission
when nay get Larger dividends Ibf 1 and
of their benevolent and missionary operations.
tribution to the literature of life Insurance He will
long stand before the world as striking example
is certainly profound believer in home missions
ehf s6e Of he to
Though may give the impression that things are
Believe that today . under the government we have
politics is cleaner and better than 1t was IN the
though we have had numerous unparalleled scan
AT the Madison Square Presbyterian Church DR..
Parkhurst attacked the directors. who, honest
personally. showed conjunction at crooked
corporate transactions. A member of his congre-
cation, criticised for Of those transactions,
had said that he never let his religion inter-
fere with his business. said Dr. Parkhurst. People
beginning to understand now that the eminent
directors whose names were attached to half a
hundred companies could be nothing but dummies.
He said in part:
Such things have been occurring in this city
would have been impossible if all the persons CON
nected with existing corporations had been willing
to let their personal integrity introduce Itself into into
been as unwilling TO see their corporations steal as
be very good man in his private capacity, and yet
not be good enough to prevent his being an accom-
It was ten years ago that friend OF mine. en-
oon b an enaed 6 tn Get on 'ls the m
of finance that was already in vogue, placed in
my hands large amount of material which he
wished might be used as starting point of an
investigation. But, placed as we were, it was too
the throne of Satan to undertake to combat in
money that it can deal out whole scoopfuls of gold
without caring for an accounting, that can put
S72 Sol 10 in year on wine and terrapin.
TELLS OF LEGISLATIVE wARDMAN.
DR.. Parkhurst then told of a wealthy member OF
his congregation, now dead. supposed to have been
Marcellus Hartley, who confirmed absolutely his
denunciation of certain politician as a "legs-
lative wardman" for the corporations. from his
own personal knowledge. He went on
These parties now under investigation concede
that corporation they have contributed $4,000
signifies nothing that they deny that there any
intimation OF quid pro quo. Such contributions
made by the business corporations IS a mortgage
put upon the successful political party, and even
though contributed to the campaign funds of both
parties, it is with the motive OF being the
warm and the safe side of whichever party wins.
The only word that, in my Judgment, is applicable
to the transaction is graft when. in a quiet,
clandestine way the agent OF campaign commit
tee visits corporations with view q corporate
contribution, hs is in spirit doing what a police
captain does when he puts his hand behind his back
and stands with open palm till the palm has
been filed with the voluntary donation bestowed
by the keeper Of low resort in Hester-St.
It is not necessary to consider that the general
no occasion for peSsimsm 1t has been abundantly
proved during these last few years that moral In
Gignation has Iot become lost art among
1t essential in order to the full disclosure
OF the situation and TO the due education of the
popular conscience, that the inquiries initiated
should be pushed 10 the bitter extreme Whether 1t
from a failure to appreciate the solemnity Of
the pending investigation for more questionable
motives that the party in charge thereof was in
Ved another field of responsibility, Il adds
dignity to the occasion and dignity to the man
that he souarey turned his back all such Sc
ductlve approaches.
1t is occasion for profound gratitude. especially IN
fessed believer in righteousness. that his life prI-
and public. is lived along lines perpendicular
and horizontal. that his actions all make right
angles