The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-16
A BIGGER NATIONAL LIFE
Was the Theme Of Discussion at Com
pany Banquet.

Pavilion hotel in Montpelier yesterday
afternoon and evening. About 40 agents
attended, including the four genera
agents, Roger w. Hulburd of Hyd'
Park, Smith S. Ballard of Montpelier
Earle s. kinsley Of Rutland and Ar
thur g. Sprague of st. Johnsbury.
conference session in the Pavilion par
lors during the afternoon was followed
by a banquet in the Pavilion dining
room at 5 o'clock. The after dinner
speeches were concerned largely with o
plan outlined by Fred A. Rowland
president Of the company, for three
million dollars worth Of business dur
| ing 1929.
| A. B. Shepard, agency supervisor for
Vermont, presided at the afternoon ses-
sion. Loriman 7. Brigham. assistant
superintendent OF agents, spoke on the
ideals of the state and identified with
| them the ideals Of the company. 10y
| atty to the company he stressed az a
prime factor in its success.
A. B. Bisbee, NJ. d., medical director
OF tho company, spoke Of reflections Of
prospects and the reasons for them.
Robert n Wilmington, agency super
visor, gave an address on the functions
of insurance, which he defined as the
capitalization Of human life in terms
OF insurance, the completion of plans
for obligations, the setting aside of
small sums regularly against sold age,
and the substitution of thrift for
worry In speaking Of the necessity Of
providing for old age, he quoted figures
to the effect that only one man In 10
has an independent income at the age
of 65 years
During the banquet, singing was led
by L. +. Brigham. Edward D. Field. su7
perintendent of agencies, acted as
toastmaster of the postprandial exer
cises. Mayor George l.. blanchard Of
Montpelier welcomed the agents and
told Of MontpelieriS great pride in the
company. Joseph @. Brown, state in
surancc commissioner, gave an inter
esting account Of some of his expert
ences as insurance commissioner.
Speaking of the growth of the COM
pany, he spoke Of its sound policy and
the loyalty of its agents as important
factors in the growth. Mr.. Brown also
explained the system Of issuing agents
licenses not only on the basis OF their
character as bona fide agents but also
Of their knowledge Of life insurance.
Harry Nj. Cutler. vice president Of
the company, described the new build
ing which is 10 be opened next sum
mer. Steps were taken toward the ercc
tion Of a new building as long ago as
1902 by Joseph A. DcBoer, then presi-
dent, VINO purchased lot on State
street. The non-feasibiIity Of increas
ing the size of the old building was
discovered and the new building re-
suited from the increased necessities |
of the growing company. The new
building win cost 10 times what the |
present one cost Mr.. Cutler said, but |
the company's assets are now l2 times |
as great and the number Of people en-
ployed j. II times as great as when
the present building was erected.
Fred A. Rowland, president Of the
company, outlined plan Of campaign /
which would put National Life pol
lev in every town in the state in eel
of the opening Of the new
building next summer. II this could be
the amount of insurance
written by the companv's agents for
1922 might be three millions of dol
lars. During 1921, two millions were
written In The course Of his remarks,
Mr.. Rowland stated that while some
states employed expert actuaries in
he Offices Of their insurance commits.
'ioners. no state could boast of more
'fficient commissioner than Joseph G.
Brown of Vermont. The remark was
greeted with applause Mr.. Rowland
,redited A. b. Shepard. agency super
fisor for Vermont. as the good shcp
nerd" responsible for the gathering.
To day II the golden era of insur.
lnce selling, Mr.. Howland said. ~and
here is no more favorable place 10
write insurance than the state of Yer
mont. The Importance of life insurance
o business to-day. he pointed out. by
howing that the life insurance com
lanies Of this country undertook obli-
ations in 1919. 1920 and 1921. which !
xceeded by several billions Of dollars ,
Ne country's national debt at the end !
4 the World war. The year, 1919. was
he highest point reached in the sale ,
4 life insurance TO that time, but this
ecord was exceeded in 1920 and again ;
n 1921. Although war risk insurance .
nd the influenza epidemic has stimu- ,
lted the writing of life insurance dur /,
ng the past few years. the underlying !
actor in the increase Of business is the
enera recognition Of life Insurance as
necessity. Mr.. Rowland said. While ,
re insurance has for some time been /.
,ol<ed on as necessity, the insurance
{ lives as more important than prop
rty is the principle on which the in
reascd sales Of life insurance are
ased.
IN outlining his plan for increased
slcs Mr. Howland said that the sale \
insurance in particular locality
nly requires the right man, citing as
n instance Barre, where the CON- a
iny's average business has been raised a
ON $1,000 annually 70 $4,000. ri
The fact that the National life is a +
ermont company is = tremendous as A
q in it, favor. Mr.. Rowland said. be- h
use Of the reputation of the state n,
ID its people for conservation and in \,
gritty. Vermont hanks. hr said, have ee
greater reputation in this regard nj
an those Of any other state in the fo
ZION. He concluded BY quoting from a
stional Life booklet Of many wears N,
%. a policy Of the company 20 put q,
fety beyond any doubt. sud stated =,
az on this principle the 1922 selling ~
mpaiCn could 20 through "a
Mr.. Field stated following Mr. How. m,
nd's speech. that no complaints OF ma
a. -