New-York tribune., 1906-11-25
1rSURANCE HEADS HERE
,,,0rt of Secret Investigation by
rou nissioners of SeUerdl States.

,,.+ night that insurance COM
i.s,oners representing various states were III
already making secret investigation OF
to"h ~ .,,o,,.5 electioneering methods Of the
ue v,~u life and Mutual Life. with view
View .,,-,,r,ary concerted action. should
70 eble 70 confirm st first hand the
S-os against these two companies
ehe4e....io,,ers Folk. Prewitt Host and Van
evnec+ed in town within a few DAYS
.Le snr1 an investigation District At
- Jerome IS continuing his Investigation
- rev- York Life 10 file ar early report on
.his COMPANY
-,a international polfcyhoiders committees
.-.ee- sent letter 10 the Governor o. every
- IN the Union yesterday. urging each Gov
s-nor forthwith 10 estop alleged campaigning
~ +be agents Of the New York Life and Mutual
1,ss st the pollcyholders expense, on pain OF
a. -evoration of the agents licenses. In his
,.,,s- n the Governors. George r Scrugham,
~ International committees manager, inclosed
.o,,ss of two New York Life @get-proxies'' cir
.,,,s- letters dated November 10. one signed by
COCO 600 club members" and the other headed
,o,..go III - addressed ITO the Agents in New
---u,.,5 States" and signed by a General Com
too of Agents in United States and Canada 9"
~. 5000 el0 club members'' were those Of
- -,,,cb discussed Big NyIic" which. II had
ben believed. the Armstrong enactments 'liqui-
dated" out OF existence
IN his letter Mr.. Scrugham declares that in
,.e ~ positive denials by afffdavits filed in the
,ou-ts by officers Of both companies that they
ere usirE the agency forces for pro- o-administra-
+,sn elecrioneering he incloses two New York
-tss circulars which. he says, are being sent 70
ia cornpany's agents throughout the country,
ID also some Of the most recent campaign in
emotions issued 10 the Mutual LIES agents.
Mr.. scrughan continues in part:
The funds Of the polcyholders in your state
s-s being used 70 campaign for votes 10 retain
q, or7ce the present regime of these two COM
.ries and the agents are being coerced into
..nrassfng for ballots and proxies for the ad-
7inistratiou tickets; II they refuse, the loss OF
heir positions is before their eyes
The companies trademarks and names the
o4sce forces. the Office rents, stationery and paid
.r,-lo~es are being used IN this campaign. and
10 suggest following the precedent es'aohSheu
-. ,be STATE of Michigan. that your Super1n'eho-
-, NJ Insurance be instructed Immediately 10
,encal the license Of any agent found canFassllls
-. -o,ae for The administration ticket or any
~ -3-lys+ These agents are employed ana
-si5 with me policyhOlders' money 10 secure
BUSINESS for these institutions and not 10 can
rs fo~ votes They are furnished false ana
-Tfeleg5ing campaign statements, trick nauots'
..rtye5 e---aIores and every device that can be
&c n deceive poIlcyholders and divert the real
issues
NJ sc-ughan a Ids that letters and telegraph
messages OF protest from policyholders are
nou-fnr into the committees Offices but that
, anai decision IN the Farrelly case now pend
,,r IN this state may not be made until TOO
ate
IRE New England letter referred 10 declares
-hst the international committee believes life
Insurance can he sold over the counter and
~ putting the agents out Of business" It urges
the agents 70 obtain proxies to defeat the inter
rational ticker as "a duty 10 our wives and
Children and ourselves"
The ''HyIic" letter also makes an appeal espe-
cally to agents in New England States