New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-27
INSURANCE MEN DINE.
Let Us Haze Peace" Says Presi-
dent Eduards of Under5C1ters.

The twentieth annual dinner of the Life Under
writer's Association was held last night at the
Hotel Savoy, and hundred and fifty members
Of the association were present. Before the ban
quet the officers for 1897 were elected Charles
Jerome Edwards being chosen president, T. w.
Bliss. secretary, and Sherwood NJ. Hard. treasurer
In his Introductory remarks President Edwards
said, in part
Life insurance agents ought TO be licensed. Life
by the state in the same way that the calling of
bring that about by constant agitation am in
formed tnaS Ire re-, insurance business Ieli on daSC
son and the yellow journals" That means, taking
1880 persons n who opda W V n have
insurance policies did not, and the hard part Of
only. but it means that thousands Of families were
gives to the widow and fatheress children in time
of distress.
Our cry to-day. though. is. Let us have peace
Let those in legislative authority cease talking
about reform reforming the business and help us
10 upbud ito make It safer and stronger for the
man who takes out life insurance. We do not need
any moro legislation at present except such as Will
widen the field agents will feel safe In following
that business. All want Is justice from the leg
| islator and policyholder alike"
Mr.. Wilson, who is official in the Equitable.
had for his word of good cheer the query: Are
we downhearted?" He told at length of the benev-
Olent achievements of life insurance and of the
. incOnceivabe mass OF human misery" it had re-
/ H"Ncu lie said that the insurance companies OF
this country had paid out in the last sixty years
more than S. 500 100000 policies, and that there
in force more than $,OOoOOO.OOO payable
at maturity the date of the expiration OF the
/ present contracts
Simeon Ford introduced the man who
kept the best pie and the worst beds In Now York
Among other things he said:
! ! am glad to meet you collectively. though per
! haps could not say that I would be glad to
meet you individually. probably know less about
n 81
is bold statement here hut for fifteen years /
have been director in a New York life insurance
Bliss and it is folly to be Wise Vet there is not
plot on my escutcheon nor faint on my pocket
/ I belong. to a committee that passes on the death
assume tba bn " docs G'eS o Ter ntoTSd or so we
If he is npped In his infancy, having been insured
there is collision between the agent and the exam
/ lining physician.
/ Mr. Wilson. here sold me twenty-yeav embaIn-
family the necessaries Of life to pay the premiums
on that policy for years. l even smoked cheaper
/ by the promise Of deferred dividends which vera
/ tnat fancy dress ball came off and my happy dream
was over.
/ DR.. Van De Water spoke of the unjust crIt-
/ cism' that had been made about the conduct Of
many insurance officials, and asked why the critics
did not attack the legislators. It feel only pity
he said. FOR those who in n moment of ter
rife temptation did what they thought was right,
although 1t was wrong. and gave money for Iegis-
/ lative enactments; but what of the that got
/ the money!" Continuing he said:
There are martyrs in your profession, I, know
/ the profoundest respect for that man, who didn [
6eiieye ne dd Trong but when ne was told that he
! down and died and was buried in this city
/ bed tonight happy I'm the knowledge that If / die
/ before morning my family Will be taken care Of.
/ them myself.