La Junta tribune., 1910-07-23

the business proposition that the
duty Of fraternal society, considered
from the standpoints of business and
fraternity. is To save lives as well
as to pay insurance losses; that by
saving the lives of men afflicted with
consumption the society not only pre-
serves to the families OF such men
their breadwinners, and to the state
useful, wealth.producing citizens, but
IL confers substantial benefits upon
all members of the society by avoid
Ayye of the insurance losses which
the members otherwise would be call
ed upon to pay; that, indeed, TO as
sist members and their families TO
keep well is doing them a greater ser
vice than to assist them TO get well
after having been attacked by the
disease: that prevention is more help
ful and profitable than cure, Just as
cure is more profitable In dollars
than to permit beneficial members OF
the society, the victims OF tubercu-
losis. to die. The Woodmen, moved
by an enlightened selfishness, takes
the position that II is more beneficial
TO its membership and to society at
large To expend thousands or hun
dreds of thousands of dollars in saw
ing the lives OF insured members
than It would be to pay insurance
losses running into millions OF dol
lars.
Woodmen then believe that their
sanatorium is more than place Of
cure for those afflicted. They term
it an educational center. Its grad
yates shall become teachers. They
shall lead in educating the masses
out OF habits of life and environ
ments that encourage the spread OF
disease.
The sanatorium is not charity or
charitable institution. Only beneficial
members OF the society are eligible
for admission. They are there by
right of membership In the society.
As a matter of right they receive
~ lrh care and treatment as will en-
kSle them to overcome disease.
which, II allowed to run, must sure
ly kill them. depriying their families
of support and requiring the soci-
ETY. TO meet ayoldable insurance
losses. For the establishment OF the
sanatorium the society claims only
such credit as may be Its due for the
adoption of an enlightened. up-to-
date business policy. For the mem
bership of the society as a whole
the sanatorium Is expected TO prove
an excellent investment II will
bring to them a profit In dollars and
cents and at the same time permit
them to discharge the traternal duty
they owe brother members.
II has been shown that the total ex'
pense OF caring for a curable patient
(discharging him as cured) has SO far
been S253.il. The average amount OF
insurance carried by each beneficial
member OF the society on January
], 1910. is 81 .593.i0. Therefore. the
gross saving TO the society ON each
life is 81. $3.50. and the net profit Is
si.2i0.2e A life saved means that
the society will not be called upon
TO pay death claim averaging sl.'
5g3. 10: II avoids this liability by
the expenditure OF s253il to effect a
cure. When this net saving of 81
, 2i0.29 per life is multiplied, as Il
! vnlll be multiplied, by hundreds and
Aousands. the extent Of the money
saving that will come to the society
and It's membership may readily be
understood.
During the years is9l'lsos, inolus'
i've. the Modern Woodmen society
paid $ii, ,556,o00 TO the beneficiaries
Of 5.67i members dying from tuber'
culosis. That IN 10 say. during the
years noted ii32 per cent OF the
deaths occurring have been caused by
tu- crculosls, representing 1872 per
cent OF the insurance losses In dol.
lars. In other words. the members OF
the society have for years been pay
ing an average OF about one assess
mont per annum to meet the losses
imposed by the rayaycs OF this d.
seasc. As the authorities corhersa'
lively hold that fully 10 per cent OF all
cases OF tuberculosis are curabl". II
taken In time. and as only curable
cases are accepted Mt the Sana,orium.
II is not unrcasonal lc to believe that
millions OF dollars will eventually be
saved TO the members OF the society
/ through the life saving and education.
n work OF this institution.