The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-11
at Albany.

The heart OF the policyholder beats
tenderly for many of the philanthropists
whose devotion to his welfare carried
them to Albany Friday to protest against
the enactment of laws that would inter-
fere with their unsleeping benevolent
labors for his protection and enrich
ment. Among these many doors of
good he feels an especial gratitude to
the agents. Their habit Of understate-
that are not better than gold, the abso-
lutte regularity with which future "re-
suits" correspond to past results, 1"
make every p~olicyholder eager to con-
tribute to the support Of these indis-
pensable persons. Any limitation Of
their earnings will be resented by the
policyholder who has a sound theory Of
his duties and his privileges. He is not
to provide for his family or himself alone.
A noble idea, a grand cooperative aim
fills him. His first duty il to the agents
and officers of the company. Should
they not make enough to induce them
to continue in the business where would
he be?
The spokesman of the agents at AL
bany said, with great force, that "the
agency plants of the companies are real
and valuable assets, belonging to the
policyholders." This being the case, is
it conceivable that the policyholders
can sympathize with an attempt to re-
duce the value of these quick assets?
As the Hon. R. V. LINDABURY is said
to have said, THE p~olicyholders should
not be considered at the expense
of the agents" Senator ARMsTRoNG's
remark that the companies could get
along without agents but not without
policyholders" is curiously erroneous.
The policyholder appreciates the prime
necessity Of paying high for new bust
ness. He would be homesick if the
agents were not billeted on him.
Mr.. W. c. JOHNSON, in his able plea
for the agents, cried Indignantly that he
would not work for a salary. Yet good
living salaries are given in the life in
surance business Evidently the agents
prefer commissions simply because there
by the bond of common interest and
affection between them and the policy
holder is kept u%nbroken.
Considerations of politics as well as
of love and money fight on the side of
these invaluable allies of the policy
holder. An Albany despatch to the
Tribune sets forth their i%mpregnable
argu ment:
"The legislators were not permitted to forget
that the life insurance agent was a powerful polit-
ical force In this State. They were told very early
in the day that there were eighteen thousand agents
In the State. aud that every one OF them had a vote.
They were told further that HE insurance agents
from the nature of their business. From time 10
time during the hearing kilograms would come in.
They were from agents who were unable 10 be
present IN person, and from friends OF agents.
asking that they receive more lenIcnt
Stronger even than this great polit-
ical strength is the feeling of the policy
holder toward his benefactors. Should
not their meagre compensation be in
creased rather than diminished? Tow
ard the masters of finance who con-
descend to watch over his interests as
If they were their own the policyholder
cherishes a,gratitude mingled with rev.
creme For the agents he has a warmer
passion. To work for them is the inspi-
ration and reward of his economies.