Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-07
PASS QUARTER | 9ysini
IOWA STATE TRAVELLING MEMS
ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED q
YEAR, AGO

ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED q
YEARs AGO
Interesting History Of the organiza-
ton of Which Clarence C.. Porter is
Striving for Secretary ard Treas
urer-Its Progress.
/; An organization which has just pass
ed the twenty-flfth milestone in its his
tory and reputed to be one Of the old
est of the great commercial travellers
societies is the Iowa State Travelling
Mems association, of which Clarence
O.. Porter of this city, would be secre-
tary-treasurer. Concerning the organi-
cation the Register and Leader of Des
Moines has the following interesting
history, showing its excellent progress
during the past fifteen years:
Des Moines is the home of the Iowa
State Travelling Mems association, the
Oldest of the great commercial trav-
elers' organizations. Monday of the
past week was the twenty-ffth ami
versary of the origin of the institution
and was noted with interest by a great
many veterans Of the road There was
time when the organization had not
even place for its board of directors
to meet, and the secretary carried the
records about in his pocket.
On November 81, 1880 the following
call for meeting appeared in the
Iowa State Register:
Resident members of the Northwes-
tern Travelling Mems association are
requested to meet at the Aborn house
Saturday evening, Nov. %, at 1870
Business of Importance to the mem
bers.
o. w Hazard.
T. M. Langan.
Twelve travelling men responded to
tie call, and the association which
now boasts of a membership of near
ly $4,000 was organized for the pur-
pose of providing accident insurance
to It's members. The association was
not incorporated, however until Au-
gust 1882.
Membership was, during the earlier
years, limited to men who travelled in
Iowa, but this was changed and the
place of residence is not now consider.
ed. All the states of the union and
nearly all foreign countries are well
represented. 1t is estimated there are
now more members living in Chicago
than in Iowa.
Hazard, First President
o. w. Hazard was the first presi-
dent. In 1882, T. M. Langan was elect
ed to the office. R. w. Chaplin served
in 1888; |. E. Tone in 1884; H. s..
Ames in 1885 and 1886; H. B. Hedge
from 1887 to 1890; w. F. Mitchell from
1890 to 1897; w. H. Wheeler from 1897
to 1902 and H. B. Hedge again from
1902 to the present time.
The principal office in the associa-
ton is that of secretary. Prior to 1890
j. P. Bushnell, o. w. Hazard, W. A.
Work and H. S. Ames served in this
capacity. In 1890 F. E. Haley was
elected and he, served until his death,
Aug. %, 1905. L. G. Deets was chosen
as his successor and Is now serving.
haiey's Progress
The first ton years of the associa.
tion's existence were not marked with
great success. In 1890 the organtza-
ton had enrolled about 1000 members
and 1t was in this year that F. E. Ha-
ley became secretary. Mr.. Haley at
the time of his election was travelling
in the interest Of the Iowa State Regis
ter He became at once the principal
factor in the associations growth and
prosperity. In three years from the
date of his election, the membership
numbered more than 5000, and at the
time of his death, Aug. %, 1905, it ag-
gregated $4,000 in good standing. 3
Ten dollars per week during disabili-
ty caused by accident. was the pro
lection first offered. AS the associa-
ton increased in strength, however,
the benefits were enlarged, and for
nearly twenty years the standard
sums Of S25 weekly indemnity and S.
900 for accidental death have been
paid, together with the other benefits,
such as s1,250 for the loss Of an eye,
foot or hand and $4,000 for the loss Of
both eyes, feet or hands.
Twelve thousand claims for benefits
have been paid to disabled travelling
men and benefciaries aggregating
more than $1,25O.00O. An average Of
about five members are injured each
day. While paying out this vast sum
in benefits reserve fund amounting
to 100000 has been created; $55, 900
of this fund consists of interest bear
ing United States and school bonds,
and the cash balance likewise bears in
terest. The interest on the reserve
fund amounts to about $4,000 year
which is turned into the associations
treasury. The object of this reserve
fund is to meet any great disaster
which might take away large num-
Der Of members at one time and it is
also used as a sort of balance wheel
to equalize the cost from year to year.
Besides the reserve or emergency
fund, is a general fund amounting
DOW to $4,000 from which benefits
and expenses are paid.
A Splendid Organizer.
From the tiAe he became connected
with the association in an onlcial
n, -, AL 5sSr d~o+I, n