The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-31
AS TO INSURANCE
AND THE INSURED
Ideas Suggested by an Editorial in The Sun of
Monday March 10Th
A SUBSCRIBER
A SUBSCRIBER

Editor Sun:--Your editorial under
the caption Fraudulent Life Insur-
|ance' in your valuable paper on Mon
day, March goth, has been read with
great interest by numbers OF Durham
people. You, no doubt, are acting
within the scope of your privileges.
and we are not the ones to criticise
your article as it was stated
However, has il occurred to you
that this particular state of affairs
may be attributed, TO some extent,
TO the total ignorance, and wilfuii
unbusiness-like methods OF the ma
iority OF citizens who are today hold
ers and buyers Of insurance policies?
There is no other solicitor on
earth who is in a position to take
advantage OF the slack methods of
purchasers as the INSURANCE agent is.
The average individual never reads
a contract, never listens to its being
read by the agent VINO sells il, nor
does he, three months after buying
policies, know in which company
he has placed his savings for the
purpose OF. meeting the demands
which are sure TO come at his death.
Would you believe il, that many.
after a few years time. do not even
know in which particular vault or
drawer their policies are filed for
saie-keeping?
This carelessness of the buyers of
insurance policies makes it possible
for INSCRIPTIONS agents to make
false Representations, and ito make
a getaway" before the harm is ever
discovered The average insurance
agent spends only two years At his
vocation. Who can account for the
reason Many companies live no
longer than the life Of the average
agent-whyg
Promoters seek TO organize new
companies. not always for the benefit
of orphans and widows, with the ex-
ception of those OF the promoters
and their strong imaginations are
worked overtime In convincing men
Of means that the greatest money
making proposition on earth is an
insurance company. Expenditures
are made which are unwarranted.
speculation takes the managers on
their feet; bad investments, and the
desire 20 make grand showing, in
way of business sold at the end of
each fiscal year. make the guiding
spirits OF some organizations more or
less reckless.
Often from the head 10 the foot
this wild chase is followed out. and
at last unreliable methods are prae-
ticed which lead 10 utter ruin, pro-
.-.oters. stockholders. agents and
insured.
Insurance Is intended as beneyo-
lent institution. II Is for the puT-
pose Of protecting as much as possi-
bic the helpless during the time OF
their sorest distresses.
Fraternal love with brotherly over
sight is uppermost in the minds OF
most of our citizenship. First. at
ones own home one will try 10 pro-
vide for the necessaries OF life for
his family. Second: man wishes no
other children TO cry unheard for
bread and clothing.
The promoters who are honestly
striving for sound insurance princi-
pies. desiring only moderate recon-
pense for their labors are to be COM
mended. Many look into the future.
and see visions OF what may be and
act with true devotion for the cause
OF humanity. The average man
wishes TO continue his good deeds
after his bones have been planted in
the family burrying ground.
Few men really consider the fu-
ture sufficiently to prepare for the
emergencies Then the honest agent
gets 70 WORK. and forces men Of every
class to listen to the feasible plan
which has worked 80 successfully for
years. Of laying aside 4 Few spare
dollars. annually. which when placed
III a general fund. with general ex-
pense. and scientific investments.
may average out for the good Of the
whole membership saving which
comes az the time most needed. 10
sneeor the needy ones.
with no exception. is there class
Of men who are In position TO give
advice as TO this purpose. who are
more familiar with the family CON
dltions. aud financial standina OF
every man Of the community Iii
which they live. than the conscien-
tious. lctcl-headed. honest agents
among Us. who have more III mind
than the mere living they get from
their hard efforts 10 sell their invest.
meats. Naturally such an agent be
comes efficient. Is reliable. and re.
spects the secrets Of others. His
word Is his bond. and he sho-'d be
beyond reproach.
Who can resist such a man. Ant
II Is well that he becomes 50 inter.
esscd In his work that turn-downs
sights. ana disappointments do uoi
shake him from his post. lie has /
duty 10 perform. and does II.
/ Laws have been passed In thii
state which are intended TO prevent
fraudulent attempts on all practices
OF commercial dealings. for the pro