The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-06
BETTER INSURANCE AGENTS.

At the recent thirteenth annual con-
vention of the Virginia Associa ton of
Local Fire Insurance Agents held at
Cape Henry there was at least one
subject discussed OF very great inn
portance 10 the general public, and
that was the subject of the fitness of
the agents for tho work they have in
hand. Under the present system"
as President Pierce said. mo qualih-
cation, training or experience is neces-
sary to any agency appointment: many
agents are appointed who have little
or no conception of their power or
responsibility" The public is not to
blame for this; but the public is 10
blame when 1t does business with
agents who do not understand their
business. The public however. rarely
understands its own business. and it
is not TO he greatly wondered at, in
the circumstances. that the public is
willing 10 do business with almost any
agent that comes along
The views expressed by the Presi-
dent OF the Association were admra>
bly, accorded by Coleman WORKMAN
in particularly clear and able adj
dress on the qualification Of an Agent"
His work is very responsible work
and besides possessing good manners,
good judgment. independence and at
the same time proper consideration for
those whom he would make his clients.
the agent should know what he is
doing He should know how to draw
n contract, how to copper fasten il
for the insured. how to make IL in
that III tie case OF loss by fire the in
sured would have absolute protection
thus building up reputation for the
company which he serves and for The
persons whom he insures in it's name.
There is great responsibility in the
agent. 1T IS the habit OF the insured
to take whatever policy is prepared
for him without any thought appar-
emily. that it is In fact contract be-
tween the insuring company ana the
policy holder. and to give himself no
concern about the terms in which the
policy is written, Upon this point Mr.
WORKMAN said:
Should there be fire and recovery
be Impossible under ones policy be.
cause either the agent has failed TO
properly draw the contract, or be-
cause uninientionally the assured has
broken some OF the conditions of the
contract and consequently vitiated il.
the unfortunate policy holder goes
about damning insurance companies.
II the same policy holder had bought
piece of property that cost him only
$4,000. he would not accept his deed
until he was satisfied that his title
was clear and that there were no con-
ditons existing detrimental to the
property.
The public must be laugh, the
value of a properly drawn fire insur-
ance contract, and when they are SO
taught they viii require that the
agents with whom they place their
business are capable OF not only prop
erly writing policy, but represent a
company whose contract is good in
ease of a fire. Just so soon as the
public requires capacity in the agents
The companies viii require II. as ca.
pable agents Will be producing agents
and until this comes about we viii
continue to have multiplicity of agents
dissatisfaction of the public. drastic
insurance laws and anything but
smooth sailing in our business"
How the character Of the agent is
to he improved, MIR. Workman sug-
gested when he said that the oualin
cation OF an agent should be the basis
of his COMPENSATION, That would keep