The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-10-03
YANDTYER
SCORES HADLEY
State Insurance COmmiSS.
iOner Lays Bare Dam
aging Facts.
HADLEY WAS INEFFICIENT
Practical Duties Of His office Neglected
for Grandstand Affairs Which
Would Bring NOtOriety.

The speech OF Hon. w. D. Van
diver, state Insurance Commissioner,
delivered here Wednesday night at
the court house was well received by
the local democrats. MIR. Vandiver
disclaims ambitions to oratory but
earnestness of conviction and
thorough familiarity with the affairs
of the insurance business of the
state and the affairs of the attorney
generals Office as related to that of
tiie insurance department, qualified
him to speak of the shortcomings of
the republican aspirant for guber-
national hOnors. Mr.. Vandiver severity
scored the attorney general for his
many grand stand plays during his
well advertised administration and
showed to the citizens how in spec
tacular manner, Mr.. Hadley had
posed before eyes of the nation at
the Waldorf Astoria, in New York,
and the Auditorium at Chicago, and
had allowed the many petty grafters
of the State to go unmolested.
Nor was Mr. Vandiver reticent
about giving full names aud addresses
of the 'wild-cat concerns. to which
he referred. He mentioned the Mer-
camille Town Mutual, a company or
ganized at Cape Giradeau, which af-
terwards moved to st. Louis, as a
company which, the dilatory methods
of the Attorney General allowed to
cross the line and locate in Illinois,
before their assets, which were con-
siderable, could be attacked for the
benefit of the Missouri policy holders
who bad lxlid sosethipg,for nothing.
Lexington is acquainted wish the
methods of this alleged fire insurance
company as there are several unpaid
fire losses here. While the insurance
department reported their tnsolvent
condition to the attorney general in
August, 1907, nothing was done.
Mr. Vandiver told of the 'Fraterl,
nal Banker" an order which mulcted
the hard earned savings of the neg
roes of Missouri for insurance which
they did not receive. This concern
was also reported but was allowed to
get across the line with their assets.
OF especial interest to citizens of
this vicinity was Mr.. Vandiver's ex-
pose of the methods of the Great
Western Insurance company of Kan
sas City, now in the hands of receiver
in the Federal Court. This company
had placed some of its stock in and
around Lexington, and it developed
after Vandiver's address, that this
stock was placed with the UNDER
standing that it had the endorce-
ment of the Missouri Insurance De-
partment. Investigation showed,
however, that the 'endorsement?u
of the Missouri Department, consisted
of statement that the company had
complied with the Missouri laws and
had made the necessary deposits,
bm The statement s0as signed BY The
Insurance Commissioner Of the State Of
AdESaS, one c. ". Barnes.
Mr.. Vandiver paid a glowing tribute
to William Jennings Bryan and was
greeted with applause at the men,
tion of his name.
The charges made against the At
torney General are serious ones and
if untrue, can easilybe disproved by
the records of the state. They are
worthy the consideration of every
voter and If one half of the allega-
tions are substantiated by investiga-
tion, then Herbert S. Hadley is not
the man whom Missourians want tor
their chief executive, nor will repub-
licans coudone such fagrant over
sight OF duty in matters which are
Of moment to every policy-holder
within the borders of the State.
When representative of the In
asked w. D. Vandiver,
State Insurance Commissioner, for
an interview touching the affahs Of
the Great Western Insurance Com
pany, now in receivers hands, the
commissioner said; 81 am not in a
position now to make a statement
regarding the future of the CONF
pany." That the holders of the