Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-20
BIC REWARDS IN
INSURANCE FIELD
John K. Gore and Other Experts
Talk on Profession of
Soliciting.


Notwithstanding all the drawbacks
incident to the soliciting OF business
for various forms OF insurance, en-
perts in that line declared before the
East Orange High School Home and
School Association last night that the
position was now ranked with the
professions, that II was remunerative
and that 1t was the stepping stone to
influential places.
John K. Gore, vice. president Of the
Prudential Insurance Company, a
resident Of Orange, gave review OF
the volume Of business transacted by
the insurance companies and then de-
fined the duties Of the workers. Con-
tinuing he said:
ITO a new agent is entrusted the
collection OF a definite amount OF
premiums, generally concentrated
within convenient area. He receives
a percentage of the premiums collect
ed, but not all his income is derived
from this source. He is also expect
ed to canvass for new insurance.
Among the $4,000 or mora industrial
agents in this country there are many
who do not make a success Of the
work. and the four or i've thousand
superintendent or assistant Superin-
tendents, all OF whom started as
agents, are proof that many of to-
days agents will advance to higher
positions in the future.
at is true that for every vacancy
there are a hundred applicants. but
the number of those VINO can add
and subtract, multiply and divide ac-
curately, who can spell correctly. who
can write legibly and who can COM
pose a clear. concise. grammatical let
ter Is discouraglngiy small.
Thousands who obtain positions OF
one kind and another wonder why
their advancement thereafter is so
slow. The reason Is that either mod
ern school methods are not as thor
ough as those of a generation ago or
that the young people of today do
not take advantage OF their oppor-
tunities. l am simply repeating the
complaint of employers everywhere.
Life insurance as q vocation is
perhaps no better than a number Of
other branches of business. 1t pro-
duces failures aB well as successes.
1t demands the best Its followers can
give. Competition is keen In the field,
but to the energetic. capable and
faithful it offers permanent employ
ment with good prospects for ad-
vancement."
w. B. Robertson. manager OF the
Massachusetts Bonding Company,
gave an extened address on
Accident and Casualty Insur-
ance," giving it's history, In
which he stated that the rate today
was practically as 1t was sixty years
ago.
Speaking of the vocational feature
Mr.. Robertson said that the young
men going into the business will sue
coed If they have more backbone than
wishbone. Many instances were cited
where young men had succeeded III
writing great volume o business.
w. N. Bament. general adjuster Of
the Home Fire Insurance Company,
gave same inside history as
seen in his department. The largest
fire insurance policy was written last
ada, the agent receiving $4,000 as
his fee.
John Lenord Merrill, president Of
the association, opened the evenings
forum with short speech, speaking
of the desire OF the parents to know
more of the ways In which the boys
can take up their life's work, and
1t was thought that the insurance
business was a good one to have pre-
scented as a possible vocation for the
students.
Another important feature OF the
meeting was the presentation by Mrs,
William Wolfarth of letter she had
received from DR.. Edward c. Broome,
superintendent Of schools. In reply
to her query pc to the value OF schol-
arships. Dr. , come said that there
were several cases where. for f1nan-
leave school before the end of the
graduation year. working great hard
ship. He proposed In order to tide
over cases Of this character that a
scholarship fund be created. 1t was
thought that $3.50 would pay a boys
expenses for q period of ten months.
Then in order that the semblance of
charity might be taken from the
proposition, the parents or guardians
might give a promissory note. agree
ing to return the monev when f1nan-
cially able. The matter was re-
ferred to the executive committee.
William A. Barber. head of the
commercial department of the High
School. Pave a detailed account of
the two years activity there and OF
the results achieved. Now there are
930 taking the four wears course or
rs per cent of the enrolment.