The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-06-19
INSURANCE QUESTION DISCUSSED.

Mr.. Rawlings said ne considered
millet not as hard on ground as
hungarian. He also had tried
some nitrate of soda on grass and
found it soon gave it a rich, dark
green in deep contrast with the
other.
Mr.. Polk said he was confused as
to weather it was better to apply
nitrate of soda during wet or dry
weather and from experience re-
lated be was still left in the dark
as to the better time.
The host when called upon for
his essay responded with the
following:
As your host today cordially bid you welcome
to our humble home. and while the bright sun.
shine, the nvigorating air. fragrant with the odor
of wealth of June roses, the luxuriant fields Of
grass almost ready for the SICKLE promising an
abundant harvest, the waving fields of grain nod
ding approval with silent mien, the simmer of
green fast giving place to the golden tint that be-
tokens the harvest. 1t Is perhaps with pardonable
pride and exultation this morning that we greet
each other. The seed time is past, the time OF in
gathering is at hand. While the promise of abun-
dance is manifest let not forget the source from
which our blessings come We SOW in faith, but
the mystery of reproduction OF plant life remains
an unsolved one. Yet while surrounded by so
much to inspire sentiment the beauties of which
to describe the poet has given up in despair, the
artist hand has become palsied in vain attempt
to transfer to canvas the bursting bud or opening
flower and while the bright side Is held up to cheer
there is much of practical character which must
of necessity claim our attention, and while we
have on some former occasions striven to create
sentiment favorable to the correction of some
abuses as well as to promote spirit of enterprise
in which we as club do not feel we have been
an utter failure; and today beg pardon for what
may be considered DEPRESSION, and yet is of vital
Interest to us farmers, aud citizens in general
This is undertaken with the view to correct
misapprehension of the abuse of power of the
management of what is known as the Farmers
& Mechanics Mutual Insurance Association and
by way of introduction will briefly sketch its
history. The Institution is not a Maryland pro-
duction but an importation OF Pennsylvania; a
copy of charter and bylaws of an Association
doing business in Bucks county, with the substi-
tuition Of name and place to make it applicable
to Cecil, and after examination by the Court was
duly incorporated and empowered to conduct an
insurance business in Cecil county, and with the
importation, while there was much that was good
and evidenced wisdom In their compilation,
many sections Of bylaws were crude and indef-
mite, which naturally were misconstrued. Yet
the error was always on the side of mercy, be-
ing very lenient toward those who were un-
fortunate enough to become beneficiary. From its
inception up to July '93, period off years, those
sustaining loss less than entire the full amount
was paid, thus relieving the policy holder of any
share in risk unless the loss was entire this at
that time was changed to read three.fourths re-
quiring the policy holder to bear his share as an
imperative requirement no policy was issued for
greater amount than 70 per cent of whole value
Now while this assuming of the one-fouFth is an
imperative condition to insurance 1T is no bar to
his assuming larger share which in many in
stances amounts to one half or even tbree.fourths
on personal property. Hence the relations are
Just transposed, the association carrying only one
fourth the risk. consequently in adjusting a. loss
the association is only liable for its ratahle pro.
portion, whether partial or entire, this policy of
adjusting which we assume is the only one CON
sistent with equity, reason or common sense, the
the majority Of the management are in
hearty accord. The minority yielding an
unwilling assent there to, and have not
failed at every opportunity to manufacture
sentiment in opposition to the ruling of the ma
jority, the seeds of discord and detraction have
been industriously disseminated, these nqrtured
and matured by Official sanction have borne
fruit murmer of discomfort Is in the air a wall
comes up from the southland, an innumerable
host is marshaling for the fray. Public notice
has been served that an outraged constituency in
countless numbers will appear at the annual
meeting demanding an accounting of the steward
ship, but with thinly yelled purpose to thrust
from place and power the present management,
but ostensibly to adopt q paper which has been
extensively circulated and numerously signed,
the language Of which If incorporated in the by
laws will compel the managers to discriminate in
adjusting losses, making no distinction between
policy holders that carry one fourth. or the one
that carries three fourths the risk, making it
possible to collect the whole amount of policy
while one-half or perhaps the fourth OF the prop
erty partially Insured remains intact; an attempt
is also made to revive section of original bylaw
that has been obsolete for thirty years. There
must he scant hope to revive that which by
common consent was relocated to obscurity, since
it conters discretionary power on the managers
u teiieVe the poncy holders OF any responsibility
its impracticabie nature is manifest. This asso-
citation has been in operation 80 years, having
opened tor business in 1876 with app ications in
hand amounting to one hundred Thousand dollars,
1t issued its first policy Its early days were not
without some discouragements. its rivals In bust.
ness spoke sneeringly OF its future its office was
dubbed as fence corner, the records carried in
hat, Its affairs we're largely managed by one man
secretary. treasurer and exoficio the whole thing
the board meeting once year to sign the report
there was no reyisoFy board, the applications
showed conflicting values, unFeooneiling discrep-
eneies appeared, which Threatened disruption
which led to the resolution in annual meeting,
that losses should be adjusted on basis OF a cash
value at time OF loss, with all applications pass
Ing scrutiny, reducing values considered too high,
rejecting Objectionable risks. its progress has been
steady but gradual, its popularity has been COM
meneurate with ta growth whan toda " q flor Ittio