The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-12-28

cation of the methods and practices CT the
Metropolitan Life. The Armstrong laws are
in many respects a distinct recognition OF
the work we have done together these
many years. See that you appreciate this
fact to the utmost. Show that you do by
making the year 1907 an unexamplad year
for the issue of more policies, for larger In
suranCe, for greater gain, for less lapses
and not-takens, at a less expense, at
greater return to policy-holders than you
have ever done Live up to your blessings
Show that you appreciate the reward which
the Legislature has conferred upon your
good work of the past! Make 1907 the
greatest because the best year in the Com
panys history!
THIS YEAR, 1906.
You have started well. Last year, the
year Of the investigation, you did the larg-
est business we had ever done. The first
part of this year the paralysis which seem
ed, unreasonably and unnecessarily, to have
fallen upon the business in general, appear
ed to have affected even you-eVen more
unreasonaby and unnecessarily. Finding
this to be lne fact, the Vice-President ap-
pealed to you in personal conferences with
the Superintendents in little groups all over
the country; pointed out to you the facts
and conclusions of the Armstrong inquiry
and the results as embodied in legislation;
showed you the essential approval we had
and asked you to respond TO all this for
the remainder of the year by making the
best record you had ever made. This was
in May and June. It would be most un-
grateful not TO make this public and gener-
al acknowledgment of your response to the
appeal and On behalf of the Vlce-President
give to you his personal thanks and add
our official Acknowledgements. The year is
not yet ended and we cannot therefore tell
the whole story. But for the months July
to November, inclusive, compared with the
same months of previous years
You made the largest amount of Indus
trial increase which the Eompagy ever
made except in 1894 and 1903.
The agents wrote the largest amount
of Industrial business, average per man,
of any of the last ten years
The average increase per man was laTg-
er than for any of the past ten years.
The ratio of lapses was the third lowest
for ten years past
The nRmber of transferred accounts
was the lowest for eight years, notwith-
standing the larger force Of men with which
we started and the larger reduction In the
force we have made this year.
The collections were the best in the
history of the Company!
The death claims reached the lowest
ratio for the last 25 years-notWithstand-
ing the increased average age Of the policy
holders.
The special salary to agents averaged
the largest amount in the last ten years;
and yet we saved 100000 in the total COM
pared with last year.
The saving in total cost in these items
alone, medical fees (because of a reduction
in number Of applcations), Assistants sala-
ries and special salary, was at the rate of
million dollars year
We may add that the Pacific Coast kept
| up with the procession by Inc remarkable
feat of covering for the year the enormous
J lapse caused by the earthquake and is GER
tain TO close the year with a handsome in
crease.
In the Ordinary Department September
about equalled September last year while
! October and November largely exceeded the
corresponding months of last year and
December promises to be a record brealxeri
And taking the last six months for a
comparlson-June to November inclusive
| you wrote more ordinary than ever was
written by the Company in the corresponds
! ing months and exceeded 1905 by over six
millions and half; and this il must be re-
membered by more than 5000 less meni
! We are proud Of this record and we are
! grateful to you for your generous response.
! We cannot say more than to wish for YOU
an" '"''"" the happiest and most prosper
! or 0our lives in 1907!
7ry sincerely yours,
John K Hegeman.