The Washington herald., 1907-06-16

life underwater was all the more en-
hanced when, about six years ago, and
as president OF a purely stock company,
he also displayed his farseeing vision in
setting the commendable precedent and
example by pioneering new departure In
the world Of industrial insurance in the
voluntary distribution Of liberal cash
dividends to its policy holders, and in also
conferring upon all classes Of its policy
holders the further privilege Of exercising
the franchise. or voting privilege. Thus,
up 10 this year. when the company dis
trlbuted S,o00Q00 among the policy hold
ers. upward Of Sl3, 600 has already been
voluntarily returned TO them over and
above any implied or expressed obligation
in the company's policy contracts.
Holland a newspaper writer who won
his fame in having So minutely depicted
the prominent insurance officials who tes-
tlfed before the Armstrong Committee,
thus pointedly referred 10 Mr.. Hegeman
in one Of his articles. Mr.. Hegeman. the
pioneer Of industrial insurance is dis
tingulshed for his singularly democratic
way; the perfection Of unOstentatiOn.
If there is any grievance about the
many millions Of dollars the Metropolitan
Life has voluntarily returned % its policy
holders. it would seem 10 be the grievance
OF the stockholders. If there is any
grating, II IS the stockholders who are
despoiled. and not the policy holders. Il
is not easy to see how a line Of inyest-
CATION can be followed with respect to
President Hegeman and his company
similar TO that followed by any mutual or
semi-mutual company
In the following brief sentence he also
truly depicts the man Hegeman; mo
one who looked into his face even for an
instant could fail TO discern there the
fine lines which indicate power, concen-
tration. persistent industry. and high in
tellectual capacity"
The writer well undeTsta nds how much
John r. Hegeman shrinks from even the
most voluntary proffered praise or en-
COmium bestowed upon him. With him
| it is ever firstly. "the Metropolitan Life. -
Yet we know Of no man who better appre-
ciates the courtesies Of life. Newspaper
men. and especially insurance journalists,
best know. no matter how busy he may
be. how prompt he is in acknowledging
! the same. The following brief epistle of
/ the many received by the editor Of Views
during the past eighteen years land We
crave his and our readers pardon for our
! egotism in producing iO best indicates
1 how charmingly he acknowledges any
niceties of word or deed:
| Dear Max: Never 80 happy as when saving kind
word-always seeking 20 disseminate sunshinc Ever
on the alert 70 serve a frend-that's Max God
/ bless him. May his tribe increase His always.
! J. r. II.
! December l, 190i
| One needs but scrutlnize the portrait
| accompanying this article in order to
! likewise discern the lofty characteristics
which we have endeavored 20 portray. He
/ has lived UP 10 what he looks, and his
| face truthfully mirrors his untainted life
and white soul. Then will they also voice
/ the editorial sentiment recently so forci-
/ blv expressed by the Chicago Inter Ocean
/ that mis- Indictment is but the result of
an hysterical desire to punish some
| body and that 1T would seem to be
/ taking advantage Of a trivial breach Of a
/ technical provision Of the law"
/ As we entertain no doubt Of his speedy
vlndioation. we but now. in conclusion.
| express the fervent hope that the Crea-
/ tor will. in the meantime. endow this the
only surviving John" Of this once great
/ trio. with ample health. strength, and
/ fortitUde. so that he will not, like John
/ A. Mccall and John N. Pattison, also be-
come a victim Of the injustice Of justice.