We have now briefly considered the extent of the waste of the most vital asset of the nation, and how we are conserving it, or rather how we are not conserving it.
Now let us rejoice over the fact that we not only know how to reduce this waste, but that thanks to those who have aroused the life conservation sentiment in this country, a general improvement in the public health service is taking place in many States and cities. The experiment has been successful. We now know what we can do. We have the wealth and knowledge, and the machinery is organized throughout the country to rapidly correct our appalling record of life waste. Our work is to induce our people to use it.
Every business and social organization should do its full share of this work.
The life insurance institutions of this country have a constituency of 25,000,000 policyholders. These policyholders are directly interested in the promotion of longevity, not only from the humanitarian but from the financial viewpoint; for the lower the mortality among policyholders, the greater will be the saving and the larger the dividends to policyholders, which means a reduction in the cost of their life insurance. It is estimated that about $50,000,000 is lost annually by postponable mortality among the insured.
The Equitable Life Assurance Society, with which I have the honor to be connected, is endeavoring to do its part not only in conserving the lives of its policyholders, but in stimulating community action. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York is also rendering a valuable public service in Conservation along somewhat different lines. Two or three of the small companies, and perhaps the same number of fraternal insurance societies, have also given it attention. Let us hope that the time is near at hand when the other two hundred-odd life insurance companies, and the fraternal societies as well, will also increase their usefulness to their policyholders and the public by joining in this great work.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
This Congress will be asked to do and to advocate many things, for there are a multitude of independent activities connected directly or indirectly with this general subject. Among others I sincerely trust the following suggestions will be duly considered:
1. To encourage business institutions, civic, social and religious organizations which have influence over any considerable number of people to join in at least some of the many phases of the life conservation campaign.
2. To encourage the education of the individual to adopt healthful habits of life—to avoid the intemperate life, which means excess in eating, drinking, working, playing—and unhealthful indulgence in indolence as well.
3. To encourage communities to establish and maintain ample public health organizations consistent with the magnitude of the work in hand.