The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-07
Most of Us
Die Poor
(By NAT KAPLAN.)

Z LEVEN persons out of a hundred
II pass on to their heavenly reward,
bequeath less than $500 to their
heirs and thereby enable actuaries
and advertising agents to display the
soul and money-saving virtues of
life insurance.
Read further and weep-ten leave
from $500 to $1,000; twenty from
$1,000 to $4,000; and eighteen from
$1,000 to $4,000; about fifteen out of
the hundred will leave estates valued
from $1,000 to $4,000, and between
five and six will bequeath estates
valued at from $4,000 to $4,000
These figures are supplied by re-
cent survey made by the Federal
Trade Commission. The records were
compiled from the reports of twenty
four Sample" counties throughout
the United States, covering a period
of twelve years.
Exploiters Come High.
Watch the mass of insurance adj
vertising that will be released short
ly, conveying the above dread infor-
nation. How does the value of your
life compare with that of the fol-
lowing noted Americans?
Rodman Wanamaker is insured for
$7,500,000. He was the first man to
apply for more than a 100000 pol
ICY That was twenty years ago.
Now there are between 200 and 800
policies in force for one million dol
lars and over. William Fox carries
a round six million dollars worth. S.
S. Kresge, ]. l.. Lasky, Adolph Zukor
and Marcus Loew carry $5,000,0oo.
John Bowman and Ralph Jonas are
in the $4,000,O00 class.
Movie Stars Hides Precious.
John Barrymore and Gloria Swan
son are insured for 100000 each,
Norma Talmadge for $1,250,000, and
Constance Talmadge, Buster Keaton,
Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford,
Douglas Fairbanks, Eric Won Stro-
helm, June Mathis, Richard Thomas
AMI Cecil DeMille are insured for ST.
100000 each. Red Grange was in
sured for half million while making
a picture, and Marion Talley recent
ly took out similar amount. So if
one can't pass screen test the best
bet is either banking, singing or pro-
fessional football.
Three policies exceeding one mil
lion dollars were paid out in 1925,
according to the National Under
writer's of February 81. Figures. for
1925 are the latest available. The
largest claim paid was for $1,767,0 900
to the estate of Solomon Rosenbloom,
deceased Pittsburgh banker. Horace
Saks was insured for $1,201, 900 and
Julius Fleischmann was the third
policy-holder to die in 1926 with more
than one million dollars in insurance.
His policies were for $1,049,249.
These three men were under sixty
and all died suddenly.
Lots of Prosperity.
The insurance companies of Amer
lea had one Of their best years in
1925, the year under review. They
paid out $1,541 ,016,000, exclusive of
the 43,61s,490 paid by the United
States Veterans Bureau.
The dread lesson conveyed in the
findings of the Federal Trade Com
mission will doubtless increase the
saleability Of insurance, and sons of
Eli, John Harvard, Princeton, ct al,
will find an answer to their quest
for a life work embracing Profit and
Service and rally under the stand
ards of the anxiously waiting insu-
rance companies. The few who are
sadly left behind may find consola-
ton in other typically American pro-
Misunderstanding, bond-selling or
chiropractic.