The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-16
THOMAS AT HEAD.
Topeka Man President of State
Insurance Organization.
Initial Meeting Proves Most
Successful One.
MR.. BARNES SPEECH.
Insurance Commissioner Makes
a Happy Talk.
MR.. BARNES SPEECH,
Calls Attention to the Advan-
tages of the New Law.


that last night in the Commercial club
rooms almost 100 fire insurance agents
Of the state of Kansas met and dis
ner-without any fighting or sensitive
discussion whatever-it was just a
good old fashioned love feast and rep
resentatives from all parts of the state
and from every company in the Union
were there in force to participate.
Through the united efforts OF the To-
cal fire insurance agents of Topeka and
their president, c. G. Blakely. and Sec
rotary, W. w. Webb, the fire insurance
agents of the state were organized last
night as branch OF the national asso-
citation. Henry H. Putnam, grand Sec
rotary of the national organization
with headquarters at Boston, sent his
best wishes and congratulations to the
secretary last night. And after a big
four course dinner followed by speeches
and enthusiasm the executive and con-
stitution committees met and the KAN
sas fire insurance agents were officially
an organization of note and distinc-
ton.
1t might be said that the new state
fire insurance laws have at least per-
formed one great act-they have
brought together a bunch of fire insur-
ance agents who were at one time
and as superintendent Barnes said last
night-"Telling the new builder just
how rotten the other fellow was
The following officers were elected
last night at the first annual meeting
of the fire agents of Kansas:
President-Frank S. Thomas, Topeka.
Secretary tteasurer-W. w. Webb,
Topeka.
First vice president-Willard Mer-
riam, Kansas City, Kan.
xria eli q frax
Hutchinson.
Third vice president-F L. Travis.
lola.
Executive committee-E. L. Charlton,
Lawrence, chairman; Rose Case,
Marion. and Grant Stafford Winfield
If there was anything that brought
the agents together last night it was
the clever, witty and pointed speech
given by State Superintendent of In
surance c. W. Barnes before the
sembled men last night Mr.. Barnes
was full of enthusiasm in .avor of the
new law and told of how it had brought
carloads of trouble upon the office at
the state house but how 1t was bound
to make good when everything was
Strengthened out. In summing up the
effects of the law Mr.. Barnes said:
THE question of brokerage is the
hole through which the special agents
are planning to destroy the law as it
now stands. 1t is the duty of you
agents UEFG ILLS evening u stop tIllS
demand on the commissions put forth
by men who are in the real estate bust
ness and who control certain policies.
1t is ap to you to make this law good.
The insurance companies are right
with the statute books on this new law
and if they are supported loyalty by you
agents it means that In six months
the brokerage man will be down and
out and he will be able no longer to
compel rou to divide the commission
at the point of the gun. Every agent
should join this association formed
here tonight. 1t is for the mutual pro-
lection of the public, the agents and
the insurance companies"
In speaking Of the value of the Kan
sas law Mr.. Barnes said:
1.-The Kansas law is the only law in
the United States today that gives the
insurance companies the right to go to
court and contest some of the big over
insurance policies which are sometimes
unavoidably issued. This is the best
law in the best state in the best union
you agents here tonight to make it a
success. We are going to have grass
hopper period of trouble for awhile but
it will all wash clean in the end.
In speaking of the fire losses for 1908,
Mr.. Barnes gave the following startling
facts: IF all of the burned buildings
for the last year were placed on both
sides of street this street would ex-
tend from New York to Chicago"
There We're several other good talks
last night C. G. Blakely, through the
introduction of Charles S. Elliott, acted
as the master of ceremonies. He in
tredueed his speakers in excellent fash
ion, telling their life history in the
insurance work and paying them glow
ing tributes to their success. He plead
fer good fellowship during the meeting
and spoke of the respectable business of
the fire insurance agent if he conducted
it in the right manner. c. K. Eldridge,
fire insurance inspector, was then in
treduced to speak on the Rating Blu
reau." He adopted as the slogan of
his excellent taIk-"Lower rates and
improved risk rather than higher rates
or unimpfeyed risks" This met the
approval of the assembled agents and
they applaudsd nightly.
George A. Bailey. of the new Kansas
company, was called upon to explain
the use of the new law from the COM
pany's standpoint He said in part:
The law meets the general / approval Isg va
ecutive part of the insurance COM
panies. The law makes the burdens
fall on all alike. 1t Is equal and ex-
act justice to all and I want to say
on the side that Topeka has the best
rating bureau in the country today"
{Applause1.
Frank S. Thomas, the new president
of the association, spoke on the law
from the local agents standpoint. He
said in nart.
..This same law was introduced eight
wears ago but the legislators Were
afraid of the politics behind the big
corporations and they did not dare
pass it. 1t died. This year we ha6
enough nerve in Kansas to pass it an6
lit is the best law in the Union"
| The meeting ended after a number O.
discussions from out of town agents
Today the out of town people are Wis
| iting points of interest in the city and
as one of them said to a State Jour
nal reporter at the banquet last night
Il came to this meeting for one reason
because I wanted to visit Topeka
When 1 am wealthy enough to settl'
down and spend my money / am goint
4