The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-24
FRA1ERKAtS N
BATTLE ROYAL
FOR EX|STANCE
The Fraternal Congress is op-
posed to the Group In
surance Bills.
.FRATERNAL RATES MUST Be
MADE SAFE AND SUFFICIENT
Advantages to Those i'm Ordinary Cir.
cumstances in Paying Assessments
Monthly Instead Of Annually When
Payment Of Policies is Assured.

on between fraternal insurance inter-
esta of the National Fraternal con.
gress with over four billion dollars
OF outstanding insurance and old line
industrial insurance companies with
somo s2,500. .00o, 900 of outstanding in
surance. The election of Thomas H.
Cannon OF Chicago, high chief ranger
Of the Catholic Order Of Foresters.
and declaration adopted by the con-
gress to actively oppose group insur-
anca" bills. which. under various dis
guises, were passed by legislatures o:
several states last winter. now provo
to be significant Of united front
presented by the adequate rate fra
ternal societies in a fight fo- exis-
tence against the new covert attacks
OF old line insurance interests.
At the conclusion Of the Boston con-
ference, from which western delegates
are returning, the firm declaration
last year Of the congress in favor Of
readjustment Of rates by all fraternal
societies on basis that will provide
sound insurance and assets sufficient
to meet all outstanding contracts.
which havo refused to increase their
rates sufficiently to provide for tho
future claims that mortality expert
ence shows to- be inevitable. have
been put on the defensive. with In
suranco commissioners of many If the
states pointing out the calamity that
confronts their membership. A let
ter from Insurance Commissioner Nc
Comb Of Oklahoma has been mado
public by Carlos 8. Hardy Of the
knights of Pythias concerning the
situation:
II would be glad to give you any
information in this department. in re.
gard to fraternal beneficiary associa.
tions. as have watched with a great
deal Of interest tho efforts Of leading
societies to adjust their business tn
an adequate basis. Fratern:ll insur-
ance fills want, carries protection
in the homes Of great many people
that otherwise would not ba protected.
This itself is sufficient argument and
justification for fraternal insurance.
Not only this, the system of fraternal
Insurance in collecting premiums Or
assessments monthly makes il e,s.cf
Tor poor people to pay than il they
we're required to pay annually In I'D.
vance.
at is said that no one Is so blind
As be who will not see, ard I hone
That tho managements of ti,s varI,ua
societies will prove Themselves bis:
enough men to advocate and stand for
sound insurance. To argue for sound
Insurance does not argue against fra.
ternal insurance. Those who con.
tend that man Is an enemy to fra.
ternal insurance because he advo-
Gates adequate rates docs not cor.
rectly state the facts. In fact, tho
adequate rate man is the true friend
of fraternal insurance. and not tho
man that advocates a continuation G!
business at an inadequate rar.. Cor.
tainly the man who isA fortunate
enough to live many years and who
has contributed all these years. to so.
cieties has the right to expect tha
payment Of his policy when 1t becomea
q claim just as much as the man
who unfortunately died early. Has
not the gray-haired womaa In blacls
"a much moral right to expect her
money as the woman whose husband
died in early life! Equity betwee.l.
policy holdera cannot be maintained
unless both are paid when ths poll.
cies become claims. trdst and be.
lievs that a system Of education con-
dueted by those who are big enough
men to stand for the right will eoon
result In such Improvements in fra
ternal insurance that the people wha
purchase policies in fraternai orders
will do SO advisedly. with a justified
feeling that their insurance is as gond
as the best. The Insurance phase Of
fraternal societies is simply a bnsi-
ness proposition, no more nor less,
and should be treated as such. The
nature Of the organization Of frater-
nal societies makes It possible for
them to conduct their business in-b
different way to q certain extent from
that Of insurance companies, in that
they are able to make success Of
monthly premium business and It is
doubtful whether or not insurance
companies can compete with frater.
nails on monthly premium business.
The expense Of an honestly managed
fraternal society should be, and nat
urally will be. reasonable. and be.
lieve that the system is here to stay.
] shall watch with a great deal Of in
terest the result Of the meeting o:
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