Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-02-17
NJ Err CHANTS ANNUAL
BANQUET.
Held at the Wausau Club House on
Thursday Evening. Of Inter,
est and Pleasure.

house on Thursday evening and was
memorable event in the history OF
that organization. 1t was attended
by about 100 merchants, all of whom
took seats around the festive board at
O'Clock. The tables were arranged,
running across the south and
north sides Of the large dining
room and another table across
the west end, at which were
seated the president of the as
sociation, w. f. Neuling; the mayor
OF our city, Jv:..i Ringle; the con-
mittee hasing the affair in charge, M.
Secor, Roman Deutsch and Oran
Liljeqvest and the speakers of the
evening, Hon. VIM. A. Fricke, FL.
G. Flieth, c. 6. Kreuger all of this
city, and Hon. w. I. Nolon of NJ n
neapois.
The tables were very attractive in
their decorations of red carnations
and center of fern leaves running
along the center lengthwise of the
tables. Throughout the banquet
hour the Columbia orchestra furnished
the most delightful music, the kind
which inspired all present. The
menu consisted of about all the deli
cacies of the season, splendidly ar
ranged and served by the cafe oe-
partment of the club.
The dinner was followed by pro-
gram which was delight to all.
When the cigars were reached, Presi-
dent Neuling called for order and In
we'll chosen words, welcomed all to
the festivities of the evening and
gave brief history of the association
after which he introduced Hon. w.
A.. Fricke, who talked upon "The
Attitude of the State Towards Insur-
ance.' 1t required fully an hour for
its delivery and all were intensely in
terested as it was upon a question
which was of vital interest to every
man, woman and child in Wisconsin.
The PILOT would like to give the
speech in full but want Of space for
bids and only part can be given:
He roundly condemned the two
proposed amendments to the state
constitution which will come up be-
fore the voters of Wisconsin next
fall for their approval or disapproval,
and which if approved would en-
power the state to go into the insur-
ance business which would be an en-
croachment upon private business
which none should tolerate.
The proposed constitutional amend
ments to article are:
Sec. IL. The state may grant an
nuities and insurance upon such risks
AID in such manner as may be pre-
-scrfbed' by law, and the Limitations
and restrictions provided in the con-
stitution shall not apply to this sub
ject; but provision shall be made fer
an annual account of all liabilities as
Sumed and for the separation and
safeguarding of all money and proper
W held by the state on account of
any such insurance.
Sec. 13. The state may grant in
Surance upon such risks and in such
manner as may be prescribed by law
and the limitations or restrictions
provided in the constitution shall not
apply to this subject; but the pro-
visions shall be made for annual ac-
counting for all liabilities assumed
and for the separation and safeguard
Ing OF all funds and property held by
the state on account of any such in
Sufance.
There was danger, the spea Ser
thought, in the excitement of a polit-
ical campaign, of passing the amend
ments, as they were framed in Ian
guage hardly intelligible to the aver
age voter and thus open the way for
compulsory insurance which would
impose unparalleled burdens upon the
people of the state. DR.. Fricke said
in part:
with either one of these amend
ments adopted it would be possible
for the legislature to enact fire in
srrance law providing for the levying
of fire insurance tax based upon the
assessed value of the property located
in this state, and SO compel every per-
son, on any such property, to take
his fire insurance with the state fund,
and by the enactment of such law
make it impossible for all the fire in
surance companies, including the city
and village mutuals, and the farmers
or town mutuals, from transacting
the business of fire insurance in this
state, and with the enactment of
such law depriving thousands of
our fellow citizens of the business
they have accumulated and the liyeli-
hood they are now making. More
than that, at one full cwoop the state
.of Wisconsin would be assuming a
liability of nearly s750,000,000 if We
accepted only as insurable the amount
now carried by the various fire iusuT-
ance companies in this state, ard it
would be no stretch of the imaeina-
tion to assume that we might meet
with confagration within few
months of the enactment OF such a
law that would involve the state into
an Indebtedness of millions beyond
their receipts for such fire taxes.
"With either one of these pending
amendments approved at the next
general election, there is nothing to
prevent the legislature from enacting
law TO enable the state of Wiscon-
sin to furnish accident, sickness and
linyalidity insurance. As matter of
fact. that undoubtedly is the inten.
tion of the influences back of these
amendments.
sThe state life fund, with more
than two years of preparation ami an
existence of six months, has proyen