The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-22
WAR AND RUMORS OF WAR
IN THE INSURANCE WORLD|
BIG FRATERNAL
ORDERS AT WAR
Great Battle to Be Waged in the
Legislatures of Forty
States.

0USbVCSs
Buffalo, N. Y, Feb. ga gigantic
war between two congresses OF frater-
nal insurance societies of this country,
involving also many similar indepen-
dent organizations, has been begun.
The scenes Of the biggest battles will
be in the legislatures Of forty states,
in which a uniform insurance rate bill
will be introduced this month.
This bill was framed at the dictation
Of the insurance commissioners Of many
states, and was accepted at meeting
last month Of the executive committee
of one of the fraternal congresses. The
extent of the war will be realized by
the statement that involved in this
great fight are 200 fraternal insurance
Societies, with 100000 members, who,
with their benefciaries, number more
than 25,000,000 persons. In the last
thirty-six years the fraternal system
has paid to widows and orphans $780,
100000 in death benefits.
Congresses at War.
The two big fraternal congresses at
war are the National Fraternal con-
gress and the Associated Fraternities
Of America. The former is much old
er organization. It was organized in
1887, has more than 100000 members,
has $4,000, 100000 outstanding insurance
and consists of sixty five societies. In
1900 this congress adopted table Of
rates declared to be the lowest that
could safely be used, but at the same
time the congress resolved that the
table should apply only to those orders
not in the congress. The key to this
peculiar action was contained in this
expression, used during the discussion:
believing that such legislation would
be extremely valuable to- our societies
in preventing the unfair competition Of
newly organized societies.
So severely was the National Frater-
nal congress criticized that at the next
annual session it resolved that the Ma
should apply also to orders in the con-
gress.
Divided Fraternal System.
The adoption Of the table of rates
and the attempt first made to foist it
upon the great body of small organiza-
tions divided the great fraternal sys-
tenn In March, 1901, more than sew
enty Of the newly organized societies
not connected with the National Fra
ternal congress assembled in Chicago
and organized the Associated Fraterni-
ties Of America. AS the orders in this
congress are comparatively young, they
represent an aggregate membership of
approximately 100000. These orders
paid benefits in 1904 aggregating $780,
100000.
The two congresses, however, contain
only little more than half the entire
numbers Of societies. Many orders not
affiliated with either congress take
marked interest in all that affects the
welfare of the fraternal system.
Warning Issued.
!! But the Associated Fraternities of
America is the body that will aggres'
sively lead in the opposition to the uni
form bill. It's president, W. r. Edison
has issued a "Warning to Fraternal
ists,'' and is sending it broadcast into
all states. He says:
The representatives of the Associated
Fraternities of America who ATTENDED
the Joint conference held in New Yorl
Jan. q and % refused to sign or accep
the so-called committees bill dictated b!
! the insurance commissioners committee
and signed and accepted by the executive
! committee of the National Fraternal Con
gress.
! Shall the old line life insurance com
panies dictate the laws to govern you
| society thru the state insurance depart
ments or shall we stand for true frat
ernal principles by demanding that tn
| government Of our societies shall b
vested in the membership? The adoption
| Of the National Fraternal Congress tabl
| Of rates in the states Of Indiana, Ten
| nesSee, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Main
has deprived three-fourths Of the so
cieties Of this country of the right to
business in any of the above states.
Radical Changes.
The uniform bill Of the insurance com
missioners and the National Fraterna
congress contains several radica
changes, while the bulk Of the bill read
about like the present law. One chang
Of serious nature would give the in
surance commissioner such authorit.
that he may or may not grant an an
nual license. =
ner that the state insurance commits
sioner may be able to construe it a
giving him the power to value a society
but most important Of all will be sec
tions IL and IL, which, if enacted, vii
establish the National Fraternal COL
gress table of rates as the standard o
minimum rates in all states. The assc
ciated. nfraternities of America will il
troduce a bill which will oppose the Ok
lectionable features of the Nations
Fraternal congress- measure. &e.~. =
For five years the National Fraterns
congress devoted special considerable
to what is known as the uniform bill
Fifteen years ago in a few states onl
were there laws governing the organ
zation and operation Of fraternal insu:
ance societies.. Massachusetts and Ne
York were the first states to enact law
regulating these societies. Year b
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