Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-02-27

intelligent effort. shrewdness and In.
tegrity.
The figures above given prove that
people need no further reasons for an ,
surfing their lives than those with
which they are familiar, Just now
education should be conducted along
another line. The only danger of the
present situation 10 that on account OF
III. recent agitation .aad because they
do rot thoroughly understaL,, It's 81
feet. some men will be tempted to
ioolishly give up tae protection thit
IL 70 essential TO the welfare of
their families. or that many IN need
thereof will DO deferred from secur.
Ing II. II such cases II Is always
those who q least AFFORD Il who
suffer. for the rich man Is not 10
easily mRsled and does not surrender
assurance which he knows IL abso-
lutely safe.
II IL true that there have been
some methods In connection with the
management Of the vast business Of
life assurance which properly were
open TO criticism. and that there has
he"n IN some quarters q tendency to
exaggerLi" the relative Importance Of
individual interests. which, had II not
been checked In time. might eventual.
ly have led to serious consequences,
but In this connection II should be re-
membered that the elimination OF
these Objectionable practices has been
going steadily forward ever since
they first came 10 light. and the man.
ner In which abuses have been cor
rected promises well for the future.
The rights OF the po~licyholders are
paramount to every other interest,
and they will be s o recognized here.
after In the management Of every
good life assurance company.
Security is the essence Of life assur-
ance and the prompt payment Of all
obligations must be placed beyond the
possibility Of Q doubt. Therefore the
premiums charged by all sound com.
panies abe slightly in excess Of the
amounts which, under ordinary con.
ditions. II Is expected will actually be
required to meet maturing claims and
pay working expenses. A life .assur-
ance policy Is q contract TO make a
fixed payments, or payments, in years
often many years--t0 come. and there
always Is the possibility that the fu.
ture will develop contingencies which
will differ from the experience OF the
past, hence the margin for absolute
safety on premiums. II Is this mar
gin, added TO the difference between
the actual and the expected mortality
and between the actual and the ex-
pected expense ratio. that makes up
the surplus" which provides the div
idends TO p~ollcyholders, or repayments
with interest. Of that portion Of their
/. premiums which proved to be
than was required.
The deferred dividend policy, which
recently has come in for much crit
icism. was devised 10 give the largest
returns to those who pay the greatest
number OF premiums. Under the an
nual dividend plan the man who lives
10 pay only a few premiums receives
proportionately the n benefii from
The surplus fund as the man who sur.
wives the payment Of many premiums
Still there are many who believe that
dividends should be distributed every
year, or every five years. and it Is tho
policy OF the Equitable to issue either
form Of contract that Is desired.
The growth Of life assurance and
the spreading OF its benefits are large
IL due to the persistence ana energy
OF the agent In bringing home to the
people the need Of It's protection: Ma.
turally, this has not been done with
out cost. There Ia a question as tol
whether this cost cannot be material
~ reduced, and wherever such a re-
, duesion Is possible in the Equitable
1t will be made. Agents are neces-
sary. however, 70 the healthy growth
essential to permanence and vel
fare.
Men dlfYer In their needs regarding
life assurance as they do In their
wants regarding clothing. Everything
depends upon the environment of the
Individual, and In the selection of al
life assurance contract. due regard
must be given to the mans financial
circumstances. the amount OF assur-
ance that Will adequately serve his
purpose, the number and ages Of his
dependents, whether he Is insur1ng
for their benefit Of the protection Of
corporate interests. whether he desir-
On the maximum protection for the
minimum outlay, or wishes to con-
slider the investment feature Of life
assurance. These are some OF the
questions to be decided. The compa.
MES offer a variety OF policies which
are calculated to meet the needs Of
any nan The average American life
l a cc,twnvcn ovovst 10 n man ~ sptauvt.