Evening star., 1934-03-19
PRESIDENT LAUDS
INSURANCE WEEK
White House Greeting Sent
for Opening of D. c.
Observation.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

n
President Roosevelt relative to "Finan
cial Independence week" was received
with tremendous applause by NOR
than 200 members of the District O
Columbia Life Underwriters Asso
citation today when the weeks specia
activities were opened with break
fast at the Willard Hotel
The message from the White House
addressed to the president of the ma
tional association, said:
"I have learned that the life insur
ance agents of the United States
through their official body, the Ma
tional Association of Life Underwriters
and other organizations interested IL
the life insurance business, are Il
sponsor the celebration of Financia
independence week, beginning Marcf
19 The purpose of this celebration
I understand, is to emphasize th'
benefits that accrue to the American
people through the institution of lif
insurance.
Life insurance is very importan
factor in the economic life of thi
Nation. 1t is a source of qualification
to me that the people of the United
States have availed themselves OF lit'
insurance. with its attending wide
spread benefits. to larger degree thai
have the people of any other country
Our advance in this direction has dort
much to bring increasing soidity II
the spiritual, social and economic
structure of the Nation.
'I welcome this opportunity to senc
greetings to the life insurance mer
and women of the United States anc
to wish them success in their effort
to improve and to preserve what I be
lieve is one of the Nations real assets.
Morgan Reads Greetings.
Todays meeting of the District
Underwriters Association was pre-
sided over by Thomas P Morgan, jr.
president of the organization, who
made some brief and stirring remarks
in opening the independence week
drive. He called attention to the
fact that in the last four yearS-the
depression years-life insurance CON-
panies in this country have paid
s11.041 100000 to policyholders. In
1888 alone S2.175 100000 was paid tC
living policyholders, s925000,000 tc
beneficiaries, making a total of So
100000,000. At the same time. Mr.
Morgan said, more than S13.000,000,-
600 was purchased in new insurance
in 1888
Mr.. Morgan presented a grist OF
other facts along the same line and
concluded by pointing out how much
these immense life insurance pay
ments have done to tighten the ef-
fects of the depression.
Mr.. Morgan read the special mes
sage from President Roosevelt, as
quoted above, the greetings coming as
a complete surprise to large repre-
sentation of WaShington's insurance
leaders present.
Stockdale Guest Speaker.
Rev. Allen A. Stockdale. pastor Of
the First Congregational Church, wa:
introduced as the guest speaker. DR.
Stockdale made stirring inSpira-
dous applause After telling severa
witty stories. he offered a slogan fol
life insurance men, Get near, think
clear and sign here"
He stressed the art of saying the
right thing at the right time and de-
hnied repartee as Saying on the spot
what you think the next day" DR.
Stockdale has made a great many
speeches before insurance organiza-
tions and his remarks today were
most timely. He said this was his
first "after- breakfast speech"
j. B. McCombs, general chairman
of independence week, declared thai
the week should be made more of E
educational period than mere sales
manship drive He expressed The
gratitude of the association to the fol.
lowing chairmen of subcommittee
John McElfresh, John H. Snyder
John F. Cremen. Morton H Wilmer
John P. Lynch, Earle w. Sapp, George
B. Farquaher and G. S. Carter, anc
to Herbet O. Mclean, treasurer, anc
Loren C. Cluster, secretary Of the as
sociation Among the special guest.
also mentioned were Dorsey w. HYDE
Joseph Kaufman and John A. Mar.
shall. superintendent of insurance 1r
the District of Columbia.
Thirty-fve new members we're pre-
sented to the association, and Johr
Dolph, chairman of the Membership
Committee. was rendered a vote ol
thanks During the similar week las
year, 81 10000 in new insurance wa!
written in Washington. An effort il
being made to pass that mark this
year. ...
Barney g. Co. in New Offices.
Charles D. Barney & Co., membe'
OF the New York Stock Exchange
opened for business today in thei
new offices IN the Washington Build
ing, having moved in over the weel
end.
Frank p. Morse and Edward w
Gamble, the local managers, received
a host of congratulations on thu
spacious and completely equipped
Offices These offices take the entir'
northwest corner of the second foo
of the building and have an excep
tional outlook toward the Treasur,
and the White House. They wer'
originally planned for the brokerage
business and have always been uset
by New York Exchange houses.
When today's ticker and the trans
lux started off, everything was il
readiness. Customers expressed mucl
satisfaction with the new surround
ings, the greatly increased space re
ceiVing special praise.
Banker Is Felicitated.
c. j. Gockeler, president of th'
Washington Stock Exchange and al
Official in the Hamilton Nationa
Bank. had a birthday today. He re-
ceived a happy surprise from hi
former associates in the District Ma
tional Bank, who remembered hin
with handsome bouquet. sent to the
Hamilton Hotel. His associates OF
the Stock Exchange showered hin
with felicitations, but saved theil
money on flowers.
Evidently the members of the ex
oh