The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-08-30
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 80. 1907
Address By Benz. F. Grouse.

MarVldQu, AT Tue NdllOudi euoui ohSS " O''N"
ton held at Toronto, Canada, last week:
Mr.. ToAsTMAsTER -
| am deeply sensible of the distinguished
honor conferred upon me In inviting me 10 De
present on this occasion to join with the mem
beers of the International Life Underwriters
Convention and their friends and to respond
to the toast which has just been proposed, yet
must confess that | accepted the invitation
with much hesitation and mlsgIvlngs on my
part as felt sure that | could bring you moth
ing that would be interesting or entertaining,
and felt that some one who had some practical
knowledge of the subject of Life insurance
should have been selected rather than myself.
When it was first intimated 10 me by
member of the Association that the delegates
from Baltimore would be pleased to have me
attend this Convention, | had no idea what
ever that | should be expected 10 participate
in its deliberations, but supposed 1t was to give
me an opportunity to enjoy the trip with them
to Niagara Falls and this beautiful city, and
in short to have good time.
Later on received formal invitation from
President McMulen to make short address
at this splendid banquet in response to one OF
the toasts, and / can assure you l was never
more surprised. | knew OF nothing that had
ever done or accomplished IN my oihclal ca,
pacity as Insurance Commissioner of Maryland
honor, and can only ascribe my selection to
the friendship that exists between the Presi-
dent and myself, which, though it recently
began, | trust may continue while life may
last. I have been credibly informed that the
subject to which | am expected to address
myself this evening, was selected because 1t
was sufficiently broad to afford me the widest
latitude in my remarks. and not be confined
to anything in particular and not much IN
general. For this generosity on the part OF
the Committee | am indeed grateful, and shall
be sure to obey the suggestion that came to
me afterward that | should remember that
several other gentlemen were expected to
speak after had finished, so, my friends, you
see | am not entirely without limitations py
the Committee after all.
am very sure, though, it was not intended
that should compass this Toast in its entirety
tonight, and have been generous enough TO
suppose that it was given me in the spirit OF
that small boy in the country who came in and
told his mother that he had set the old brindle
hen on two dozen eggs "Why," she said,
'syou don't expect her to hatch two dozen, do
you ?" He said mo, but Just wanted to see
the darned old thing spread herself. y And
had | not quietly and politely received the
little hint that | referred to moment ago,
should have felt that | was authorized to do
about as pleased, without consulting the de,
sires or notions of any one else. That 1t l
felt like pulling the tail of the British Lion
until he roared, or snatching few feathers
out of the tail of the American Eagle to make
him scream, l might be permitted to do so
without the slightest fear of interference from
any source whatever,
Now Mr.. Toastmaster, neither you nor any
of these | shall address need have the slightest
apprehension that | shall try TO spread myself
or attempt to cover too much territory. for
remember a fellow down in my own country
who attempted that feat on one occasion and
got himself into serious trouble. and the lesson
has not been lost on myself.
On certain public occasion he had lmblbed
rather freely of corn juice, and conceived the
rather common. but altogether erroneous idea,
that he was possessed OF extraordinary nghilng
qualities, and loudly proclaimed that he could
whip any man that lived il tnat town. No
one coming forward to dispute his claim, he
wideued the field OF his operations and said he
could lick any man that lived in the whole
county, and still no one accepted his chal.
lenge. Growing holder and more confident
of his powers he announced that he could lick
any man that lived in the whole State, when a
fellow sprang from the crowd he was address
ing and took the conceit out of him by admin.
istering to him a pretty complete thrashing.
When he reganed sufficient composure to
realize what had occurred and his own sad
plight, he said, stranger, | guess that first
statement | made was all right, and perhaps
the second one was not so far wrong, but IN
making the last one | find that | took in a
little too much territory"
The Lion and the Eagle, the British En-
pire and the United States. At one time en-
gagged in mortal strife, but now happily united
In the bonds of tenderest friendship and good
will. This splendid assemblage of representa-
tives of the two nations attests the close rela'
tionship between them and demonstrates that
all feelings of i'll will and enmity are passed
away. While imaginary lines of political di.
vision separate us, we are not conscious OF
any divisions upon the great and important
questions of progress, civilization and the up
building of the human race. So long as this
cordial and friendly relationship continues
between our nations their influence will large
ly dominate the policies of other nations, wars
will be less frequent, and the hope that at no
distant day universal peace shall reign supreme
will grow stronger and stronger. The great
body of the Common Law, which we prize so
highly, is heritage from you and the spirit
of liberty that animates us is the great moving
power in your lives. We rejoice in your power
on land and sea and we are assured not only
by your kindly expressions, but also by your
ScucTOuS dClS tiIdt JOu IeJOiCc All TIC idCl Iudt
we have taken our place among the greatest
nations of the world. In the field of commerce
and trade there will always be a struggle for
supremacy between US as nations and peoples,
but this should not in anywse interfere
with or mar our friendship, but should rather
serve to strengthen the bonds which unite US.
Let us who are so closely and pleasantly
associated this evening indulge the hope that
not only in the one interest of Life Insurance
but in everything that tends to elevate man
kind, our nations shall stand shoulder to
shoulder, and though we owe allegiance. the
one to the Lion and the other to the Eagle.
we join in our devotion to the best interests of
humanity.
| trust it will not be considered out of place
or irrevelant if touch upon another branch
of my subject and one that has received the
most careful consideration of the conventions
which have been in session in this city the
past several days. While / am sure | will not
be able to suggest any new thoughts to those
of you who have devoted your lives and your
very best talents to the business of Life Insur-
ance, trust that the few words shall utter
will not prove altogether uninteresting.
l assume that we all agree upon the propo.
sition that governmental control and regula-
ton of insurance companies is proper and, in
fact, necessary on account OF the vastness of
tuC buoiuCse ouu tuC VI 6dCu policy
holder to protect his interests without the as.
sistance of the State, but there is quite
diversity of opinion as to the extent to which
supervision and control of this character
should 60. There is growing tendency on
the part of the general public to refer all
questions about which there is the slightest
controversy to the State for settlement. This
plan, if it were the proper or judicious one,
would be very easy way to relieve ourselves
of individual responsibility and would enable
us to place the duty of looking after our own
affairs upon the shoulders of others who are
in no manner so well qualified as we, our.
selves, to attend to it. As soon as the Arm.
strong Committee brought to light the evils in |
the management of certain companies, there
was demand by the people throughout the |
country and by the Press for remedial legisla. |
ton of some character, without stopping to |
consider whether there were no remedies for |
these troubles other than legislation. Besides, |
if there was needed the enactment of more
would it not have been better to
have waited until the matter could receive