The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-02-10

those looking for the best, how to
get it with the greatest possible as
surance and the least possible incon-
venience.
My First Company
In August, 1898, was looking for
job and the manager of large
life insurance company was seeking
an agent. We met by chance, and
made deal by shutdown. Thus my
entree into life insurance was like
that of thousands of others;I simply
took the first opportunity offered
there was no casting about to select
the best company. But, of course,
the manager told me his was the
best" l accepted his statement,
went to work with a will and in a
short time took first honors for writ
ing more insurance on Rally Day"
than any other agent in the territory
Learn Something
Some time after this victory met
rather unexpected defeat. A friend
whom l had been soliciting advised
me one day that he had decided to
take policy in another company,
being convinced that it was better
than mine. This was sumner; not
quite solar plexus, but near it. The
thought that there could be any
question about my company not be-
ing 1.-THE best in the world was
something entirely new Yet here
was a conservative man who, after
careful investigation, had con-
cluded that one at least was better
This set me thinking, and l finally
came to these conclusions:
1. Altho the legal reserve COM
panies are safe, they certainly are
not all of equal merit from the
policy-holders' standpoint, and there
must necessarily be one which has
advantages over all others.
2. 1t is my duty to my patrons and
myself to Investigate thoroly, learn
which company that is, and repre-
senttit.
na A Novel Contest
Realizing the Importance of such
an undertaking, desired assistance
and organized The Acme Insurance
club among several well-known bust
ness men at Ashtabula, Ohio, who
agreed to insure in the company,
which we together should select as
the best. then wrote to every old
line company doing business in the
state, advising them of the club and
it's object, and requesting each to
send a representative to Ashtabula to
present its policy forms, rates,
guarantees, dividends and such other
data as would aid us to determine
the real character of the company.
sThere was hearty response to
these invitations, and Ashtabula be-
came a Mecca for insurance men.
State agents, managers, and specials
came, and the talk fest" was soon
in full swing. In week the drug
gist member was about "all in" and
threatened to put up sign that he
would talk-or, rather, listen-to no
more agents. But was looking for
light and was amply repaid for my
time. In my heart-tO-heart talks
with these men l got more valuable
inside information" about the diff
ferent companies in few weeks
than probably would have secured
in years of ordinary insurance ex-
perience.
The arguments closed December
10 and on the twelfth the club con-
vened to make it's decision. 1t was
an important occasion; it not only
meant much to each of us directly,
but to many others who would be
influenced in the future by our &C
ton. Never before had such an uni
que, conscientious and absolutely
impartial method been adopted to
determine the best life insurance
company. Realizing the respons'b-
ility, we proceeded carefully AS Is
evidenced by the following record Of
the deliberations of the club which
las since become famous.
Mutual Company Preferred
In order to simplify, the members |
first discussed the merits and de-
merits OF stock and mutual COM
panies. After half hours talk pro
and con, it was unanimously decided
hat a mutual company was by far |
10 be preferred
First, because it has no stock /
which might be bought by d few peo-
pie who could change its methods
Ind management and thereby pos
,ibly impair ito usefulness to q
greater or less extent; and