LOOKING BACK: INSURANCE ADVOCATE--75 YEARS AGO.

THE INSURANCE ADVOCATE LOOKS BACK TO THE YEAR WHEN THE WORLD FACED THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR II. HERE'S A FEW PAGES FROM THE JANUARY 27, 1945 ISSUE ...

Today in this year of war, 1945, we have learned lessons--at a fearful cost--and we shall profit by them. We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations, far away.... We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the world, members of the human community. We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, that "the only way to have a friend is to be one." We can gain no lasting peace if we approach it with suspicion and mistrust--and with fear. We can gain it only if we proceed with the understanding and confidence and courage which flow from conviction. From President Roosevelt's inaugural address, Washington, D. C., January 20, 1945. Public Relations Work of Agents and Brokers

Much was heard at the recent annual meeting of the Insurance Advertising Conference about the need of public relations programs. The Conference, whose active membership is composed of advertising managers and publicity directors employed by fire and casualty insurance companies, listened to addresses delivered by seasoned insurance workers in the field of education, journalism and advertising. It heard also from publicity men wholly new to insurance.

Among the newcomers was Hardy Burt, director of public information of the Association of Casualty and Surety Executives. He acknowledged that it would be presumptuous and unfitting for him to suggest to company advertising men how they should conduct their public relations, but asked to be permitted to present a few thoughts on the subject.

"It is an unfortunate truth," said the speaker, "that the majority of literate people, including business men and journalists, do not understand the meaning and nature of casualty insurance.... The name 'casualty insurance' carries no connotation that can be grasped without education as to the many coverages provided under the term." And he continued, "unless the public comprehends the meaning of the business, it cannot hope to understand the functions, services and social-economic contributions of the business."

As if to prove his point, he cited a conversation he had with a well-groomed man in the diner of a train from Washington, which revealed that the man did'nt know anything about insurance. As far as casualty insurance was concerned, why his fellow traveller couldn't even define it. From which isolated instance, Mr. Burt argued that what the man "didn't know anything about, he wasn't for. And what he wasn't for, he was against.... That's the danger of ignorance. It not only causes apathy, but breeds mistrust and suspicion." And to clinch his argument, Mr. Burt said, "Why, I, myself, had to read a book on casualty insurance before I knew anything about the subject."

Evidently, however, the speaker discovered some ray of light amidst this abyssmal public ignorance. He admitted that "Casualty insurance never fell behind in the march of the nation's industrial progress. Premium sales have constantly mounted--from a paltry fifteen million dollars fifty years ago to a colossal one billion six hundred million dollars in 1943."

Well, accepting Mr. Burt's figures as correct, one might venture the assertion that such a growth is hardly compatible with his dire picture of public apathy. "Advertising," he said, "has certainly not failed casualty insurance in its function of stimulting sales." True. The members of the Insurance Advertising Conference have done yeoman work, despite their circumscribed authority and the limited funds put at their disposal. But, what about other factors? What about the contributions of men who rose from the ranks of field work to executive positions in the company offices? What about the accident prevention work of engineers? And what about the public relation functions of agents and brokers?

Those of us who, from the...