The Kansas Co-Operator from Topeka, Kansas • 1

t'4M( yWwteii uii.PaT. N. I i ft THE KANSAS CO-OPERATOR. "Burdens are the lightest with many hands to bear. Pleasures are the brightest with many hearts to share.

YOL. I. NO. 7. 534 Kas.

Ay. TOPEKA, KANSAS, SEPTEMBER, 1900. Published Monthly. 25 CENTS A YEAR. 7 ce i a call invitiDg the representatives all the Mutual Insurance companies in the state to meet at the most opportune time and place for the purpose of forming a state organization.

It is Mr. Gasches desire to act along the lines suggested the above resolutions, and he would be pleased to have suggestions from the different Mutuals so that the time and place of holding the proposed meeting may be made to meet the wishes of jhe majority cf those who are interested. Any ccmmunication on this or any other subject may be addressed to him at his heme at Hartford, Kansas, or at the principal cffice of his company, 534 Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas. Pennsylvania has a mutual 146 years old, and 35 that are 34 years of age. Farmers of the vicinity of LaCross, Kansas, are said to have formed a co-operative association for selling their wheat.

Farm and Town of Lincoln, Nebraska produces strong argument in favor of Co-Operation, as applied to insurance in proving that the Aetna of Hartford has less than 2 per cent of its risks in its boasted capital, and that the German of Freemont has only about 1 per cent. W. B. GASCHE, of Hartford, Kansas, President of the Alliance Co-Operative Insurance Company of Kansas, and Kansas Vice President of the National Mutual Insurance PROF. WILLIAM DAVID GILPIN, Secretary of The Alliance Co-Operative Insurance Company, of Topeka, Kansas.

risks to organize the above named company. November 4, 1896, Prof. Gilpin succeeded J. B. French in the position he now occupies, and his work is en open besk-vath which the members of his company are thoroughly familiar.

Accuracy, dispatch, constant and conscientious application to business crown his success. It would solve a knotty problem if some one would define the responsibility of wind and tfire insurance companies where hail and wind together cause the damage. The Co-Operative wind and fire company of Topeka pays the percent of the loss that is caused by the wind, and what percent that is is reckoned in the adjustment. TilE Farmers Federation Is deserving of the patronage of all farmers. The time for the farmers to show their appreciation of this effort in their behalf is now.

Not enough interest has been shown. Pres. Allen and Secy. Butler have spent a great deal of time and money to perfect this organization. Farmers take hold of it and help yourselves.

It is your own fault if you do not profit by it. It Is of extreme importance that a superintendent of insurance be elected who is a co-operative man and great care should be taken that the incumbent in this office should not be tool of old line companies. It is well to have positive knowledge that the candidate voted for has proved by actual demonstration that he is a friend to co-operative and an enemy fearless and bold of old line swindlers. Hon. Webb McNall in condemning old line companies once said There should be a dividing line between profit and highway robbery.

John Reicherter Writes. A staunch writes from Nortonville, Jefferson county, and shows that he is pleased with cooperative adjustments: The Alliance Co-Operative Insurance Company. Gentlemen: Yonr check for $16.32 received for damage done to barn. All is satisfactory. Your company, instead of old line companies, ought to be patronized by every farmer in Kansas.

Your losses are paid promptly and liberally and yonr insurance costs less than old line companies. Mutually, John Reicherter. There is not a more devoted or Farmer friend to co-operation nor a oore earnest worker in the CAnse han W. D. Gilpin, of Topeka, Kan-as, the secretary and one of the hief promoters of the Alliance- Co-)perative Insurance Company of William David Gilpin, son of Itephen Gilpin, was born on a farm (ear Belmont, Wright county, owa, August 24th, 1866, His early ears were spent at work on his fath-rs farm and in the district school rhere he learned to both work and hink and formed the determination make more of himself than the irdinary boys to do.

He aocom-dished his work with dispatch and ixcelled in his studies. In 1874, at the age of eight years, rith his parents he left Iowa and hey took a homestead in McPherson sounty, Kansas, where he continued odo faim work and pursued his itudies. After completing the common tranches he graduated with distinc-ionfrom the McPherson Business College and taught school two years McPherson county. On August Sth, 1894, he married a beautiful Kansas girl, Miss Lottie M. Boyce, yho is now the charming center and buoyant inspiration of his cozy dome at the south end of Kansas Avenue, Topeka.

The sad and sadden death of a iweet baby Howard, February 22, L900, is the darkest grief that has srossed their pathway. During the fall of 1894, Mr. Gilpin iccupied the position of secretary of he Farmers Alliance Insurance Company of McPherson, Kansas. Afterward he accepted the chair of penmanship and pen art in the Wesleyan Business Univer- Commissioner of Kansas to the Alliance Co-Operative Insurance Company with headquarters at Topeka. GROWTH OF THE CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY.

This company has made a remarkable growth, as the last annual report, with the company less four years old, showed $2,061,000.00 at risk, all losses paid, no debts, and the membership receiving their insurance at the actual cost of operation, which has been very satisfactory notwithstanding the fact that adjustments have been fBr more liberal than those given by old line companies, which are doing business simply for the money there is in it. ELECTED PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR. At the annnal meeting of the members in January last Mr. Gasche was re-elected as a director, and then in the directors meeting on the following day was elected President of the company. His election was highly satisfactory, and the business of the company promises even a greater increase this year than last.

BECOMES A NATIONAL OFFICER. Mr. Gasche attended the fourth annual session of the National association of Co-Operative Insurance companies which was held at Tadian-apolis, Indiana, March 6, 7, and 8. He served on some of the most important committies and was elected Vice President for Kansas, of the National association. FOR A STATE ORGANIZATION.

The question of state organization in Kansas is now being agitated and will be effected in the near future. Bearing upon this point the following is quoted from The Cyclone, the official organ of a Town Mutual with headquarters at Pittsburg RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the N. M. I. at their quarterly meeting held iu Pittsburg, April 11, 1900.

Whereas we believe that a State organization of the Mutual Insurance Companies of the State of Kansas would greatly -conduce te the growth and safety of our business in the State and bring us into co-operation with National Association. Whereas, Mr. W. B. Gasche was appointed as National Vice President for Kansas, at the last meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Therefore, Resolved, that we most fraternally request Bro. W. B. Gasche to issue The subject of this sketch was born on a farm in Fulton county, Ohio, February 3, 1859. He is principally of Germany descent, though some of his ancestors were French, s- His father, Jacob Gaitbr; was -'torn and educated in the father land and after reaching maturity came to the United States and made his home in what was then the backwoods of Northwestern Ohio.

Here he married Elizabeth Pelton and to them five children were born, Welfred, the person of whom we write, beiDg the youngest. Mr. Gasche, was an accomplished linguist and one of the leading educators of his county, and was called to fill numerous public positions. In the spring of 1881, W. B.

Gasche, with his young wife and infant daughter, Carrie, (the latter is now a graduate of the Kansas State Normal, at Emporia, and has taught three very successful terms of school) left Ohio and went to Nebraska, settling on the Rebublican river in Webster county. Here he remained nntil the autumn of 1886, where he with a view to finding a less rigorous climate another move was made to Lyon ty, Kansas. Mr. Gasche, though not wealthy, is well-to-do, owning 240 acres of land, well stocked and improved. Mr.

Gasche takes a lively interest in school and church work, being an officer in both. He is public spirited to a large degree, and is what may be called an advance thinker, having written some meritorious articles on the Equality of the Rights of Man which have attracted considerable attention, being freely copied by papers in different parts of the union. Mr. Gasche is a firm believer in co-operation rather than corporation, and has given much time and energy lo the advancement of co-operative ideas. HIS CO OPERATIVE EFFORTS.

Five years ago he and a few others undertook to organize a co-operative farm, fire and tornado insurance company. SUCCESSFUL. They were successful in the undertaking, and in the spring of 1896 a charter was issued by the Insurance That mutual insurance companies sometimes fail is not surprising. They have the competition and the entire influence of old line com panics against them. Rates are frequently cat for the purpose of killing them.

The only method is to stand by mu -tuals and maintain their existence even though old lines insure for half rate. In the end mntnals are cheapest and best. The Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance association gained $15,000 000 in risks last year. It paid $43 ,000 in losses last year to 1,200 members. The total membership is 58,000 and total risk $72,000,000.

It has only assessed its members $6 per $1,000 in 16 years. Its membership fees halN paid its expenses to date. Loan companies frequently refuse to accept mutual policies. The remedy is for all mutual and fraternal business men to borrow only of firms that honor mutual policies. That will bring them to time.

Otherwise they seriously iDjure mutual companies. There is a movement in Lincoln, Nebraska, to establish a general sup-Kiv linn a a nn the cc-nnerative nlan. National Mutual Protective Association. This association with headquarters at Pittsburg, Kansas, is very popular among its members. A member who required a great deal of argument to induce him to join it remarked to the writer upon renewing his policy last week.

Why this is the cheapest insurance I ever heard of. It is only about 40 per cent of the cost of old line insurance. The other fellows might jnBt as well be in it as not. This company is a successful town mutual. J.

(J. Armsrong is secretary and B. M. Scott is president. Fraternal Security Association.

P. A. Rohrbaugh of Wichita, is establishing a Fraternal Security Association. One manager transacts the business and that is Mr. Rohrbaugh.

He appoints a banker who is custodian of the funds. Orders pay $5 for a years membership and in case of default of any fraternal effieer the amount limited to 1 ,500 is raised by assessment and paid. After resigning this position he devoted the whole of his time to janizing the Alliance Co-Oper-ve Insurance Company and proving the principles of co operation general, traveling through Osage, irion, McPherson, Dickinson, ay, Washington, Morris and awnee counties. He with others lined the farmers with the princi-8 of fraternity and assisted in- tl, nnmoQUPV ilHf) 050.