The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-02-25
RUSSELL ATTACKS
INSURANCE CROWD.
Reprehensible Methods Says the
Governor in Message to
Legislature.

Lee M. Russell this morning sent tC
both houses of the legislature a spe-
cial message calling attention "tc
the very highly pernicious activities
Of the old line fire insurance COM
panies which last year used the most
reprehensible methods imaginable tC
escape the penalties of suits filed a.
gainst them by the revenue agent fol
the violation of the antitrust law
The Governor says that these
companies have maintained a lobby
in Jackson since the first day of the
legislative session and have left nc
stone unturned not only to embar-
rass and checkmate the antitrust
suit, but to get themselves reinstated
in Mississippi upon their own terms;
that one of the attorney, R. L. Nc
Laurin of Vicksburg, "and a large
number of his cohorts have worked
day and night to produce for these
companies such legislation as they
demand"
DENoUNCES RECENT MEETING
Continuing, the governor denounc-
es the meeting of the Mississippi as
sociation of fire insurance agents
held in Jackson on Monday and Tues
day of this week. He says that this
meeting was largely secret, and that
little If anything was said about it
by the "pliant and willing tools of
these fre insurance companies, the
daily press of the CITY,"
He says the meeting was attended
by brother of c. j. Doyle, that
willy, arrogant lawyer who defed the
laws of Mississippi, and demanded
certain rights and privileges at the
hands of the people. as outlined to
you in my first message on this
subject.
The governor charges that this
meeting was held at the behest of
the fire insurance companies, altho
the agents may claim that they were
representing the property owners of
Mississippi, but 1 warn you in ad-
vance that any such claims are false
and without foundation"
Continuing the governor says, 81
am advised that they finally procur-
ed the assent of all the local compa-
MES of this state to their proposed
legislation, with the exception of the
Mississippi Fire Insurance Company.
This convention proceeded to not on
ly call but demand of the officers of
the Mississippi Fire Insurance Com
pany that this company come into
their session and accede to their de-
mands. These off1eArs attended this
meeting reluctantly, whereupon the
agents proceeded by threats and de-
mands and the most reprehensible
ccercive measures to sandbag this
company into compliance with their
request. They charged this local
company with cutting rates. They
openly charged that they, the local
agents of the old line companies that
have left Mississippi, were giving
this local company IS per cent of the
business received by this local COM
pany and that they had come to the
parting of the ways-that they were
going to cut off this IS per cent of
the revenues of this local company,
and thereby leave this local company
in practical bankruptcy or else this
company must yield and join them
in their demands for legislation, and
one wildeyed speaker, Bob Wilkin-
son, of Vicksburg, became so enrag-
ed that he rendered his resignation
as agent of the Mississippi Fire In
surance Company, which was prompt
ly accepted. This mans activities in
this convention together with many
others, were not only outrageous and
indefensible, but damnable in the ex-
treme."
The governor then proceeds to give
list of the fire insurance agents
who attended the meeting and de-
clares that the outlawed companies
are behind the movement to secure
the passage of the law establishing
rating bureau.
Continuing he says, II have toe
much respect for the high preroga-
tive of this legislature to attempt tc
influence you in passing any Law
which is right and proper for the
benefit of the whole people, but
have seen Vaccinations of these or.
ganizations and their footprints are
SO plain and unmistakabIe through.
out America, that I am making spe
cial mention of this so that you may
be on your guard"
DAMAGE SUIT BLAME PLACED.
The governor also charged tha
the insurance companies are respon
sible for the 100000 damage sui
filed against him by Miss Frances c
Birkhead. On this subject he says
ALLOW me to call your attention t
another matter. ! beg that this will
not be regarded as personal to my
self, because there is more involved
in this than any personal interest
may have in it. The recent suit o
blackmail filed agaisnt the chief ex
ecutive of this state was fostered
aided and abetted by the agents ant
tools of these outlawed insuranc
companies. For what purpose? Tha
might be browbeaten, cowed, hu
inflated, disgraced to that exten
that I would not dare to speak o
their unwarranted and unpardonabl
action.
"These methods, gentlemen, ar
of the gravest concern to the homo
and integrity of our state, to it
constitution and laws and ! woul
not use the emphatic if not hars