The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-02
A PATHETIC STORY
"POOr John, He Always Looked
After Our Welfare"
A Faltering Father Brings
RumpIed Telegram.
THIS, THE FIRST TOUCH OF WAR
A Son Who Quietly, Effectively
Protected Parents.
How Government Insurance
. Gave Practical Illustration.
BY DAVID DEXTER.

evidently from rural district, alight-
ed from an interurban car in front of
division headquarters and stood be-
wildered. 1t was his first visit to the
camp. Endless rows of pine board
buildings met his gaze on all sides.
His attitude, his whole appearance in
Dictated deep grief and despair.
The aged man was about to make
inquiries of a passing officer when
he noticed a huge sign over a small
building, and the word information"
Inside the little building he met two
courteous young men who seemed to
understand.
MY SON he began, and then fall
tered. A tear coursed down his
wriDkled face. Words failed him.
From his pocket he drew forth
rumpled telegram.
One of the information men read
it. He understood. Such cases had
come to- his notice before. He I'M
derstood. The old mans son, a pri-
waite of the seth division, had fallen
before the enemy, disease.
Sympathetically and with kindly
advice, the aged farmer was given
a pass, and directions to his sons for
mer organization.
Iater, after various signatures which
the old man did not understand, the
captain turned over the son pcISOH-
al effects. 1t was a pitifully small
collection. A few toilet articles, some
knitted socks which had been loving
ly and painstakingly woven by mother,
an unfinished letter home-things
mother might cry over.
This was the first touch of war
With visions of the past in his mind,
the aged man retraced his steps
to the information building. His heart
was full of grief He wanted an out
LOT Tho informal
men drew a chair close to the fire.
He was all we had-John was" he
began, brokenly. 1T was hard to see
him leave, but he wanted to do his
part. Know just how he felt-felt
tat way myself back in the Old days.
He sent us nearly all he made here
and Mary and l just managed to get
along on it. I'm not much account
any more.
Don't know what wen do now that
Johns gone"
Didn't your boy have any govern
ment insurance? p asked the clerk.
Don't suppose he did-John sent
us pretty near all he got down here"
well go over the insurance and
find out" volunteered the clerk. So
together they went to the headquar-
ters of the division insurance agent.
4 clerk went thru card index sys-
tenn. Simpson-Simpson," he repeat
ed to himself as he went thru the
cards. His first name John % ne in
quired of the aged father.
Yes eagerly replied the aged
man.
Here it is continued the clerk.
John r. SimpsonAhe took out $10,-
600 worth of war risk insurance the
goth of December"
Then the clerk explained that the
insurance would provide the dead
boys parents with $3.50 a month for
twenty years.
At first the father couldn't seem to
understand. Then it gradually sifted
thru his troubled mind. and he huskily
whispered:
Poor Johnnie was always looking
after our welfare"
The father left the insurance office,
still sad of heart-yet the vista of
years ahead was changed
BY the provident act of the son talk
ing out insurance, the aged couple are
assured fairly comforta Bile income
for the remainder of their days. Of
course. the money could not compen-
safe for the loss of the SON. Nothing
could do that.
Soldiers in large numbers at Camp
Funston are taking advantage of the
war risk insurance. They seem. to
realize that in a city the size of Camp
Funston, the normal death rate will
prevail and that in actual warfare,
such as the men of the S9th division
will soon see, the death rate neces-
sarily will increase. They all intend
to come back from over there" It's
human nature.
The men seem to understand, too
that those who do come back, in
large percentage, will not be insurable
by many of the civil insurance COM
panies. The Civil war demonstrated
that point.
More than $4,000 soldiers of Camp
Funston have provided for wives
fathers. mothers. brothers and sisters,
by taking out the government insur-
ance About S125, 900, 900 worth of in
surance has been written here alone
But notwithstanding the authorities
are urging every soldier to apply for
insurance. They also are being shown
the advisa bility of taking out the max
irnum amount-S10O00. A big lin
surance drive has been started by
Lieut. Joseph f. Brown, division in
surance officer and formerly a lawyer
OF Kansas City. and his assistant
Lieut.. L. w. Hazard, also of Kansas
City, to induce every man to take out
the maximum amount.
The government insurance is cheap
within the reach, of every soldier
for men between 81 and 81 may obtain
$4,000 worth for monthly premium
ranging from $3.50 to $500.
One of the best features of the in
surance is that those who take it now
not only get protection during the war
at a low rate. but they may convert
their policy into any Other ordinary
Form of policy they desire after the
war still at a very low rate. And the
government will not require a physical
examination at that time. Many un-
married men who have no one greatly
dependent on them at this time. are
seeing the advantage of the insurance
in the future for almost all of them
expect some day. to have dependents
and they are not willing to take the
chance of not being able to get any