The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-20
INSURANCE REFORMS
GOV. HUGHES ADDRESSES
1000 AGENTS.
Whole Question of Life Insurance Dis
cussed-Protection Needed Against
Ill-advised Legislation.

NIaN 4oIAANf Jdu. zHs-1oNfTNOT HUGHES
was unoficially nominated for the presi-
deney on Saturday by insurance men
from all parts OF the country. There were
some also from Canada. and these oheered
the sentiment. The occasion was the an
nual meeting of the superintendent and
agents of the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company. About 1000 were present, in
GLIDING the Newark agents. in the COM
pany's building, ! Madison avenue. When
the Governor made his appearance on the
platform in the assembly room lie au-
dienee got to its feet and gave him a
noisy welcome.
Three cheers for our next President"
shouted one of the men as soon as there
was a lull. The cheers were given. 1t
didn't seem as though any introduction
of a formal kind was necessary, but John
r. Hegeman, president of the Metropoil-
tan. thought 1t best TO explain who the
visitor was.
LAS you all remember. / had the honor
of cooperating with Governor Hughes in a
very important public movement, said Mr.,
Hegeman. "We were both retained by the
State of New York. | am sure that while
we were together I did the hardest work
while all he did was to sit back and ask
AutHAApho- NJ iiAh'os i lthiFihbEif 4 10
spired profusely: he never turned a hair
He was more notable after our joint labors
than before; so was |. ] have always beer
| grateful that had 1t within ny power Il
contribute to his high repute.'
Theme were cheers when the Governor
said he claimed to be an insurance a Of
the kim that depended on insurance fol
che security OF homes. There was only one
way for a man without capital to protect
HE far.4l4, anI fbat xva fbrnuut ne IL,
suranee The legislative investigation wa:
in the interests OF insurance and no
against it, and the very maintenance of this
business depended on the thoroughness OF
the investigation. There were certain evil
that had to be stopped, and certain cura
tive measures that had to be adopted.
The speaker said he knew of the severe
temptation to which insurance men were
exposed when they found ill-considerec
and threatening legislation impending
There is an argument which appeals
strongly to men In responsible positions
that their interests mt be protected al
all hazards from ill-advised legislation
and if protection cannot be obtained by
open methods and fair argument then in
direct and improper mean should be re-
sorted to. Such a policy. he said, Is in
imieal to any business and destined tt
bring all business into confusion and cor
ruption.
The prime object of the investigation
the Governor DECLARED. was to protect th'
policy-holder, whose money made The
expanded business possible. 1t had beer
said that the protection of the policy
holders could be safely left to those II
charge of the administration without re
striction. The investigation took much o
the force from that argument. He con
tinued.
THE whole question In life Insurance al
to what is paid is not the volume o
business that can be written, not thu
glowing report that can be spread with
impressive totals as to the results Of Z
year which sound great to the men VIII
don't know, but what IL will honestly
bear to tne men who do know, because
the payments are compatible with tn
interests Of the business and Of those Wit
depend Oh. 1t.
were imposed. Some say: Throw then
down; leave the doors wide open; tn
insurance business is reformed. Their
Will q dy,oh be no o,oo difhienlty. Of the sr,sS sSr
human nature has not changed
either in or out OF the insurance
business. The conditions Of competition
have not changed: the natural struggle
for first place IS the same. The desire t.
get there will ever be prominent. Now
In all lines Of effort these things are ac
knowledged. The great thing i
/ u IN di1 ndAt itoAIlLAApuN ~ az
needed, 20 have them fair, and there hal
not been any legislation that / know any
thing about IN many years that has re
ceived So much attention and has had th'
benefit Of such expert consideration or
the part of insurance men az the legisla
ton in New York State. So far as | an
concerned l have no pride in my opinion
What / did in that I did TO the best 81
my ability. We sought all the light We
could get. We did not want to be ar
bitrary. We wanted ito find out VIVA
fairly could he paid With reference TO thu
policyhoider is paramount. and then w.
wanted TO lay down such rules within
! which competition could go on, but with
out high pressure and tension and forcf
and artificial development. which II 4
continued would bring about In a few
long run even the great insurance bust
ness could not stand up under IL.
If there vs. anything wrong let expert
ence demonstrate II. but. my friends.
wonld say in all frankness 10 you 1t SEEM
10 me a mistaken policy TO throw dowI
the barriers which are erected not 10
the purpose Of preventing men from get
ting insurance. nor for the purpose of pre-
venting those who are SOLICITING Insurance.
10 secure what they should fairly receive
but to require all to work under condi-
I tons which mean fair play "a all inter
/ Csts and an absolute prevention OF tbs
4 recurrence Of these evils which the bust
ueEs cannot stand. There Il no depart
ineut OF insurance business so vitality IN,
UOrtant as that which relates to the insur.
ance Of the poor, and there IL no depart.
fHeut OF the insurance business I'm whicf
patriotism. IN which a real, genuine in
%terest IN ones fellow man should predOIni-
nate 50 entirely In the Determination Of
outlays."