The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-30
PALMETTO AGENTS CONVENTION.
annual Meeting Of Agency Force OF
Insurance Company.

The annual convention of the agents
Of the Palmetto Fire Insurance Com
pany at the home office in this city is
becoming an event of considerable i'm.
portance and interest. 1t brings to-
gether many of the most successful
and progressive insurance men of
South Carolina and by the exchange of
ideas the men who are making the
Palmetto the leading South Carolina
insurance company increase the ef-
fectiveness of the organizations
The convention held yesterday was
even more successful than that of
I9l7 and there were a larger number
OF agents in attendance. The reports
from all sections of the field were en-
couraging to the officers of the COM
pany and proved that their plans for
he future growth and development Of
the company are founded upon SOL
id foundation-the loyalty and per-
sonal interest of the agents.
The convention was brought to 81
close with a banquet, served in the
hall of the Elks Club, and the officers
directors and agents of the company
spent several hours in pleasant social
intercourse. &
AT the close of the banquet Presi-
dent L. c. Strauss made an address in
which he spoke Of the organization
and growth of the company telling the
agents that the success and growth of
the Palmetto was due in the largest
measure to the splendid backing that
the officers had always received from
the agents, who in looking out for the
interest of the company had made it's
continued development possible. He
announced that it had been determin-
ed to again double the capital stock
of the company, making the paid in
capital 100000 and surplus of not
less than twenty-five per cent. of the
capital. This immediate increase is
but another step in the plans Of the
officers, for the Palmetto will ere long
have a half million capital and then
q million. The new stock is already
guaranteed, he said, by local stock
holders, but if any of the agents
wished to subscribe for stock an al
lotment would be made to them in
preference to the local capitalists
This statement was received with ap-
p,ause and a number of the agents
asked for stock. Mr.. Strauss went
somewhat into detail concerning the
plans for the development Of the COM
pany and told the agents that all plans
were founded upon the fact that the
Palmetto felt that it had the strongest
agency force in the State.
Directors Neill O'Donnell, A. C.
Phelps. d. ID. Noise and G. A. Lem
mon were called on and each Of them
made brief and snappy talks. Mr..
Strauss then called on the agents to
tell something about the Palmetto
from the outside point of view. Talks
were made by Messrs. Bowden, of
Hampton; Q. Frank, u Johnse, Of Ander-
son; Judge Smelling, of Barnwell; j.
Il. Callahan, of Honea Path; Il. r.
Fewell, of Rock Hill, and Mr.. Sewell
Of the home office.
Among the agents attending the
were the following:
r. A. Watson, Ninety-Six; j. A.
Counts. Prosperity; r. Il. Fewell, Rock
Hill; j. C. Grier, Spartanburg; G.. e.
B. Walsh, Mrs. Andrena
Moses, d. NJ. Dick, r. d. Graham, B.
9 Wallace, II. p. Moses, of Sumter; r.
NJ. Laird, Aiken: Q. Frank Johnson.
Anderson; Judge j. *. Smelling, Barn
we'll; j. w. Tyson, Bennettsville: VIM.
Reid, Bishopville; T.. M. Robertson.
Charleston; Joe Strauss, Clio: w. III.
|Iarlng, Edgefeld; j. S. Howe. Es-
till; ID. M. Arail. Graniteville; r. O.
BOwden, Hampton; j. r. Callahan.
Honea Path; Barlow Walsh, Jr., John
'ton; McFaddin, Lynchburg; e. p. |
Vest, Leesville; j. r. Clack; ]. Nj |
Jennings. Winnsboro; c. A. Boney, |
Y ork. and others.