Fraternity-Testvériség, 1951 (29. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1951-10-01 / 10. szám

4

TESTVÉRISÉG

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I IN PLAIN AMERICAN |

A monthly page conducted by Edmund Vas vary

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THUS FAR, during 1950 and 1951 we paid out death benefits for 17 accidental deaths. In these 17 cases only three members had accidental death benefits; the rest were satisfied, while still living, with the straight life insurance. Since accidental death insurance is so cheap, almost ridiculously so, it is indeed strange that so many Federation members neglect it. Why don’t you see your branch secretary about it?

This year the American insurance companies will pay out at least 30 million dollars in accidental death benefits.

* • * *

ONE OF THE LARGEST FRATERNALS in the U. S., the Polish National Alliance, held its convention in Detroit during the last days of September. The editor of a Communist weekly, published in the Polish language, appeared uninvited at the convention and sat down at the press table. His quick recognition created a turmoil, the delegates loudly demanding the removal of the comrade, who finally was unceremoniously evicted.

The comrade told the other reporters that the real reason for his eviction is that his is the only Polish paper which opposes and exposes “corruption” in the Alliance’s administration.

If the comrade would have really known what he was talking about he would he aware of the fact, well known in fraternal circles, that the so-called “corruption” in the fraternal business is the most dangerous and certainly the most hopeless undertaking. Very few examples of such “corruption” ever reach the public, for the simple reason that they don’t and can’t exist. (Where it does exist, as, for instance, in the Communist controlled IWO, the retribution from the part of the authorities is swift and stern.) Anyone who would be foolish enough to be “corrupt” in this business, very quickly will find out to his own sorrow that honesty is really the best policy. Otherwise, he will find himself soon at the wrong side of the iron bars.

We are not intimately acauainted with the Polish National Alliance, but we know that it is an institution of more than 300.000 members and with over 56 million dollars

of assets, steadily growing in membership and wealth.

Their own directors, conventions and actuaries, and above all, the Insurance Departments of many states are competent guardians of the affairs, administration, assets and investments of an institution like this, safeguarding, at the same time, the interests of the members — which safeguards, incidentally, are required by the insurance laws of every state and are the same with all nation-wide fraternals. Outside of this all-embracing protection, they don’t need the “watchful eyes” of the comrades.

• * *

WE HEARTILY CONGRATULATE the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association for its highly successful and exemplary convention. Our own convention will be held in June, 1952, in Ligonier, Pa., and we certainly hope that this quadrennial get-together will be just as successful and memorable. Knowing the results of the years which have elapsed since the last convention in 1948, we almost dare to predict it. * * *

OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN Hungarian circles there are outstanding and even touching examples of appreciation and loyalty of leadership. For instance, the Air Line Pilots’ Association just retired (a little forcibly) its president, David L. Behncke, with his full former salary, $15,000.00 a year, for life as a pension, praising him that he had “worked his heart out” for the' association. Brother Behncke is only 54 years old, so there are many years ahead of him to enjoy his princely pension for doing nothing and to rest whatever remains of his “eaten- out” heart.

The Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers International Union (A. F. of L.) similarly has shown its appreciation by raising the salaries of its two top officials by more than 100 per cent.

The president of this great-hearted union will receive a yearly salary of $30.000 instead of the former $12,000.00, and the secretary-treasurer’s salary will be $28,000.00 instead of the former $10,000.00.