The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-03-29
oDoM DEFENDS THE
NEW INSURANCE LAW
(Continued from Page One)

please notice that proVlSo IN Sec
ton 1 of the act allows two or more
companies to employ a common
agent or agents to prepare and fur
nish maps and other data as to risks
and to supervise and advise of de-
fective structures and to suggest I'M
provements to lessen fire hazards.
In other words, the insurance COM
panies can have a common agent or
agents to do all those things that
the Southeastern Underwriters as
sociation formerly did except to
make rates. The making of rates
by a combination of insurance COM
panies called the Southeastern Y n
derwriters' association constitutes
the whole bone of contention, any
statement to the contrary notwlth-
standing.
"The Southeastern Underwriters
association was an insurance trust
whose chief function was to main
tain high rates-to put on all the
revenue the traffic would stand.
They got little too arrogant and
overstepped the danger line, hence
all these tears. heard Columbia
insurance agent say on the floor Of
the house in effect that he had told
the Southeastern officials to slow up,
there was danger ahead, but they
paid no attention. This same agent
fought the anti-compact bill from
start to finish.
81 notice in The State Of Tuesday,
that James A. Cathcart says he lit
tie doubts that steps will be taken
to repeal the law when the full ef-
feet is felt by the people. All OF
which means, of course, when the
people feel the full effect of the evil
designs of the insurance companies
they will be like dumb driven cattle
and will meekly submit to be driven
hither and thither at the dictates OF
the insurance barons. :,
"I want to give just one concrete
example of how the dear old philan.
thropic Southeastern Underwriters
association took care of the dear
people. In a town in the Pee Dee
section there is a factory whose
president is interested in an 1nsur-
ance agency. It does seem that this
man would have placed the insur-
.ance on his plant through his own
agency, but he did not, and Tor.
sooth why? Here is the answer:
The best rate he could get through
the Southeastern Underwriters as
sociation was rs cents. However
he placed this insurance IN Ne"
York through brokers at 40 cents
and. mind you, he placed the lnsur'
600 ance With the same companies do
mo business in South Carolina un;
der the authority of the dear r., oio m
Southeastern, bless her heart. iney
could write him for As cents IN I'VE"
York. but when it comes to wrlting
i in South Carolina where our phlii-
anthropic insurance trust operated:
T. cost Is cents. This is just one OF
manv instances that could cite.
ut is the small business man and
former who does not have large
amounts of insurance to place that
has naid the tribute to this Caesar.
II is the small man who, has tne
most grievous burdens TO- bear' anu
now it behooves the small men 70
stand together and defeat the efforts
of this octopus to get a more secure
hold upon us. Let US be men IN this
crisis. and emulate the spirit Of oul
forefathers. It is a fight against
slavery to big insurance companies
and it will require intelligent effor'
nroperly directed and applied te
win. If we lie supinely upon ou1
back, this juggernaut Will run ove'
us. We can defeat them II we Try.