The San Francisco call., 1906-06-27
POLICY-HOLDERS ORGANIZE.


ing 10 not less than SIoOoooooo have organized
for the purpose of dealing with the insurance
situation. There was no other way. On the one
side are the insurance companies, offcered by
experts who know every turn OF the insurance
game. who have weighed and understand the sig
nihcanCe OF every clause OF cunningly wOrded
policies The companies are in position to act as
a unit and to employ the best legal talent that
can be had. On the other side the policy-hold-
ers They are not experts they know little or
nothing OF insurance-although of late they have
have had many popular ideas regarding insurance
swept away. They are scattered. Many of them
are lacking in ready funds; indeed. in many in
stances, they are waiting the insurance COM
panes for all that they have left them by the
FIRE Unorganzed against the we'll prepared in
surance companies they have about much
chance as village OF Australian Bushmen against
British regulars.
The men identified with the association of
policy-holders at give it character and stand
ing. In the organization are the most successful
business men OF California. AT the preliminary
meeting the head OF of the largest retail cstab
lishments in America presided. Every department
Of the wholesale and retail trade of San Fran
cisco, as we'll as banking, manufacturing and ship
ping interests were largely represented.
While these policy-hoders not experts in
FIRE insurance, they represent just as good business
ability that back of the insurance companies
they can employ insurance experts and know the
necessity OF doing so. They also know the i'm
pOrtance OF going at a business matter in bust
way, and the first step they have proposed
a plan for the financing of their movement. 1t is
proposed 70 levy an assessment OF not to exceed
per cent OF the face value of the policies payable
in instaments to be not less than five in number.
This will be, comparatively speaking, an insigni6-
cant tax the policy-holders identified with the
movement but in the aggregate it will furnish the
organization, if such enormous amount be
found necessary, upward of SI,oooooo Such re-
sources will make the policy-holders as effective
in arranging a settlement as the insurance COM
panes themselves.
The fact. too, that the organization is dominated
by business men means that its affairs will be
administered in business way. The association
has organized for the purpose of collecting insur-
due members, definite business proposition
As business men they will collect their money
IN orderly way. The best ability obtainable
viii be selected to deal with the insurance com
panies If settlement OF just obligations cannot
be had the best legal talent that can be secured
will be employed TO protect the rights OF policy
holders and TO collect just debts from backward
debtors. The blackisting of the backward debt
ors. the publishing OF their lack OF business reli-
ability TO the world. is a good work and should
philanthropy warning to other communities to
avoid the mistake made by San Francisco in in
suring in unreliable companies and charity begins
al home. The blacklist is but incidental to the
main purposes OF the organization. The main pur-
pose is to collect insurance
Insurance companies that propose to live up to
their contracts without hold-back or bubble have
nothing to fear from organization of men of the
character OF those identified with the movement
The gentlemen who are directing the organization
are not men who will countenance any "cinch
game or questionable methods. They will not
lend their influence their organization to pro-
mote the collection of dishonest claim thev will
oountenance nothing calculated to take unfair ad-
vantage of the companies But they will insist
upon payment of 100 cents the dollar of all lust
claims. For this reason companies that propose
TO dodge their liabilities if they can have every
reason in the world to be concerned about the pur-
poses OF the organization.
1t is unfortunate for the insurance companies
and for the institution of fire insurance itself that
the business men of San Francisco have thus been
forced to organize to protect the rights of the in
sured The fact that they have organized indi-
Gates that the business of San Francisco have
come to the conclusion that at least MANY of the
insurance companies do not intend to meet bust
ness crisis in business way For the future OF
FIRE insurance, which in the modern world of busi-
ness has become commercial necessity. if is To he
hoped that the companies will from now on do all
in their power to allay this impression that thev
discontinue their dilatory tactics meet the issue
squarely and openly and unite with the policy
holders in efecting equitable settlement that
has been too long delayed.