The San Francisco call., 1908-07-14
CALLS INSURANCE
MAN A TRAITOR
L. II. Clay, President of Board
of Fire Underwriters, Accuses
William Greed of Jobbery
Arranges Finances With Banks
and Declares Election of First
Body of Officers Invalid

OAKLAND, July 13.-I. H. Clay, who
was elected president of the Oakland
board of fire insurance underwriters at
meeting held Saturday night, when
an election held three days previously
was declared null and void, today rid
iculed the statement that the Oakland
banks would turn over the funds of the
organization to the deposed officers of
that body.
4 called today upon officials of the
Central bank and the Oakland bank of
| savings, in which funds of the under
writer's board amounting to about
SS, 600 are deposited" said Clay I'm
both instances l was assured that the
accounts were made in the names of
Fred w. LIE Ballister, former secretary
of the board, and myself and that the
money would not be delivered to any
one else except upon an order from us.
This whole controversy has been
forced upon the board by William
Greed of Berkeley, who is member of
the board and who has proved himself
a traitor-on numerous occasions. While
holding membership in our organiza-
tion he visited a number of insurance
companies in San Francisco and per-
Suaded them to withdraw from, the
agreement which they had made with
us. He has fought the local board in
numerous ways and last Wednesday,
when the regular annual election was
called, he attempted to gain control of
the organization by presenting for
election slate prepared by him, which,
owing to the absence of large number
of our members, he succeeded in elect
ing by a majority of one. Very few of
the members of the board We're aware
that there would be a contest and l
personally knew nothing about it.
| Consequently when the election was
held on Wednesday only 35 members
were present and Creeds slate nomi-
nee for president, Charles Harris,
ceiyed 1S votes. while 1 got IT, The
other officers elected that night were:
Vice president, Harry Holcomb treas
urer, Fred Burks; secretary, Fred
Garigues; executive committee, Will
Greed, W. w. Woelsey. George Haley.
I. Hayden and Walter Wilson.
! Upon investigation it was discov-
! cred that Harris, according to the con-
stitution of the organization is not
regular member of the board, as he is
neither an independent agent, member
| of a firm or stock holder in a corpora
| tion which holds membership with US.
| Therefore, in accordance with the by
I laws of the board a new election was
called, upon a petition signed by three
members of our board, and rs members
were present Saturday night. A resolu-
|
days election null and void. and four
of the officers who had been elected on
/ the slate arose and announced them
selves in sympathy with the attitude of
the board and asked permission to vol
unfairly resign from their Offices. 1t is
significant that in the new election four
| of the deposed officers Were reelected
! They were Harry L. Holcomb, vice
president; Fred L. Burks, treasurer;
Thomas Hayden and Walter Wilson,
members of the executive board. All
| of these gentlemen except Mr.. Holcomb
| were present at the election Saturday.
| There is no doubt whatever that, ac-
cording TO the constitution of the board,
the election Saturday was valid one.
I'VE are not worried by Creeds
| threats to carry this affair into the
courts. The banks have upheld us in
! the stand we have taken, and any
statements to the effect that the funds
will be delivered to the Greed organiza-
| tion are absolutely false"
The present dissension among the inI
surancemen is primarily a fight be-
tween the Berkeley agents and the Oak
land fire underwriters board.
The former contended for the right
IL any agent in either city to write
policies on business of all classes any
where in either city. The Oakland
board objected to this and agreed to
accept proposal submitted by Berke-
| ley agents that the agents living in
one city could write term business,
such as on dwelling houses, in either
Oakland or Berkeley, but that all risks
on business property in the congested
| district should be. written in the city
| where located. In case of the latter
class, the man getting the business
| outside of the city in which he lived
submitted his application to the agent
residing where the property is located
and took division of fees and emolu-
ments.
This agreement was never concluded
and the contention has gone on on
the old ground with the same differ
ance of opinions.