Agent's Coup

Ben A. Brower is a piccolo-sized (140 lb.), tuba-voiced salesman who once dealt in dry goods in Omaha, now is an insurance broker in Shenandoah, Iowa. Three weeks ago Brower heard of a law* which requires the Government to advance premiums for two years (in the form of interest-bearing certificates) on life insurance up to $5,000 carried by National Guardsmen, volunteers and conscripts taken into the Army.

Go-getter Brower, who knew western Iowa Guardsmen would be inducted next month, smelled big business. But he had to work fast: the law applied only to insurance in force 30 days before induction.

To Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Co. Brower sent an excited wire: "I can get $1,000,000 worth of insurance at once." Then he and five agents descended upon western Iowa towns, buttonholed Guardsmen right & left, kept physicians' stethoscopes buzzing with medical examinations at the rate of four an hour for four days. Fortnight ago, he flew to Columbus with the policy applications, got them accepted. He and his agents had written 300 policies for $1,438,000. Their estimated commission: $10,000, plus $1,250 a year for nine years if the policies remain in effect.

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For fear 1942 model changes will be limited by defense needs, the Automobile Manufacturers Association broke a 40-year precedent, canceled this autumn's National Automobile Show.

* The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940.

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