The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-27
Address Of BENZ. F. Grouse, Presi-
dent Of the National Association
Of Insurance Commissioners. at
Colorado Springs, Tuesday, Au-
gust "a. 1909.

i - A-@r~@- ~~AA-f~ ~~OaAAAAAA0CA0AAgA - 50
Colorado Springs, Tuesday, Au-
gust "a. 1909.
Gentlemen of the National Convention
OF Insurance Commissioners
We are gathered here today from
i every section of this country to con-
slider matters OF vital interest to large
numbers of people and to the States
we officially represent and by an inter-
change of opinions and practical ex-
/ perience to better qualify ourselves
for the performance OF our respective
| duties and / beg to assure you that
! ! appreciate most highly the privilege
I and honor of presiding over the de-
/ liberations OF this convention.
] From the very beginning OF this
/ Association these annual conventions
have been growing In numbers and
Interest and results Of the most help
ful and beneficial character 10 the In
surance business have originated and
developed from them IL would be no
I difficult matter to recall many things
I that have emanated from these meet
ings that have become fixed principles
and policies In the conduct OF the bus
mess, but II Is unnecessary and would
take much more time than has been
allotted TO me.
/ | have no purpose In this address to
attempt any discussion OF the ques-
tions and matters which are likely to
come before this convention, as / un-
derstand this place on the program
is assigned to the president mainly
that he may have an opportunity to
make hts official bow 10 the asgoci-
alton and extend his personal greet
ings to the members.
feel, however, that am justified In
the prophecy that our meeting will be
very interesting and successful one,
as your committees, both standing and
special. have shown great industry
during the year and will have much
/ TO report OF information acquired that
win be entertaining and instructive
and the program prepared BY the ex-
ecutive committee Is very excellent
one
/ Shortly after our last convention
at Detroit ! received the resignation
OF our very genial aud able secretary.
Major Brinkerhofl. which was not
only very great surprise but also fiii-
cd me with sincere regret All Of us
( me with sincere regret All OF uua
/ had learned to depend upon him so
/ fully IN the work OF our association
/ that II was dilncult To understand how
I we should get along Without him.
/ He had performed the dutIeH of that
Office for ten years most faithfully
and dlsliked to contemplate the
I severance OF those Official relations.
/ at least during my incumbcncy of tho
Z presidency. but an we SeTe not pre-
/ pared % offer him any special induce
/ ment 10 remain. except an increase Of
/ work, ! was compelled with much re-
Rret 70 accept hiE resignation | am
sure that every member ~ the naaoci-
7 alton win Join me In wishing him un-
{ bounded sncceas IN his new field Of
I labor and that good health and long
I life may be hIa portion we were
more than fortunate Ia the selection
OF Hon John A. Hartlgan of Minnesota,
j our present secretary. who has shown
the same ability in the performance
/ of his new duties as he nae always dis
! played In every position he has been
called TO MI
I IN our memberHhlp. and they are to
E w AAiffAANN ia A4aN NEniNNFy tNAANtfNN
Of things and the fortunes Of politirs.
+ We have lost several members the past
+ year whom We shall greatly miss. not
oriiy for their goodly Fellowship but for
their knowledge. Industry aud zeal In
our work. | feel snre that no one will
criticize me for naming IN this con-
/ yention Hon. u. n. Carroll. lately our
vice president but now Governor Of
+ the great commonwealth OF Iowa.
Hon. Otto Kelsey. now Deputy Comp.
/ troller Of New York, aud Hon r. r..
f iittenhouse. lately Commissioner Of
I thls state and by whose Kind Invitation
va are here today
i Each Of these gentlemen left hlB
own Individual impress and influence
7 Tor good on this association and all
4 will be greatly missed In our present
! deliberations.
Just twenty years ago this orRnniza-
tion met In the City OF Denver. In this
I State. Whether we haze among our
members any who we're present al
that convention / do not know. but II
there be one Il would add greatly TO
the interest and entertainment ur
this meeting 20 have him relate 10 us
conditions then and the changes that
have taken place In the Intervening
years In that convention sixteen
states were represented and Hon. D.
Il. Eyler of Connecticut WAS the pre-
siding officer While there might not
have been al the time the same char
acter Of problems to wrestie with aud
/ consider as we now have ! have no
doubt there were important matters
for them TO pass upon that required
az their hands the most careful and
Intelligent consideration and sound
judgment and many OF the results at
tained then and In the earlier days by
our predecessors constitute the solid
foundations upon which we are able
to build
For the great progress and advance
ment which has taken place Ia the I'm
surance business generally, this as
ISOLATION IL entitled TO much credit
for It's wise and conservative action In
dealing with conditions as they pre-
scented themselves, and | firmly be-
lieye In the years TO come, when we
are but memory, II will continue 20
survive. increasing In usefulness and
beneficial results
And yet | do not desire 10 claim for
this organization all the credit for the
improved conditions OF insurance mat
ters and business, tor this would be
very unfair to a number OF other or
ganizations and influences which have
labored with us to this end and have
been instrumental In extending the
great benefits Of insurance, by placing
Il upon a higher plane and firmer
basis
One OF the strongest and most pow
erful influences for better state Of
affairs Is The Insurance Press, which
has continued year after year to dis
cuss with rare intelligence matters