New-York tribune., 1897-10-31
DAWSON STICKS TO 1T.
THE STORY OF PLATT'S ALLEGED DE-
MAND.
THEODORE NJ BANTA. CASHIER OF THE NEW.

MAND.
THEODORE NJ BANTA. CASHIER OF THE NEW
YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. AGAIN
DENIES MIR DAwsoN's STATEMENTS.
Theodore NJ Banta. cashier OF the New-York
Life Insurance Company. and formerly its treas
urer Is positive that there Is some error in the
statement made by Miles VI. Dawson in his letter
10 John Brooks Leavitt in which he states that he
had conversation with Mr.. Banta in regard to
Mr. Platt demanding $50 900 from the insurance
company campaign fund in 1880
Mr. Banta said: II know Mr. Dawson and have
met him seven eight times here in the office.
He was formerly with company in Chicago
and later came to New-York as a consulting actu-
AIRY. | am positive had no conversation with
him in regard Mr. Platt demanding $780, 900
from US.
Il do remember talking with him In regard to the
John f. Smyth impeachment Of 1871. and COM
menting on 5000 which It cost for the nvestiga
lion OF company. At the time people generally
understood that this investigation OF the various
companies ordered by Mr.. Smyth. who Com
missioner o. Insurance, was for the purpose OF
raising campaign funds Either Mr.. Dawson has
confounded this conversation with something else.
and has done II innocenly or he lies right straight
out OF whole cloth, and do not hesitate to say So
There Is not shadow OF truth in the letter he has
written or the statement purported 10 have been
made by Mr.. Leavitt
II have no admiration for Mr.. Platt and would
like to see him defeated. but do not want to
an injustice done him in this matter
Mr. Dawson has to The Tribune the follow
Ing letter:
Both in the pubc's interest and on account Of
my own reputation IT is not possible for me to rest
With the direct challenge OF my veracity which
Theodore NJ Ranta. cashier OF the New York lHte
Insurance Company. has published refer to his
statement that my assertion that he told OF the
instance Of demand from Mr.. Patt on behalf OF
Republican organization f. "unqualihediy false IN
at which / first moo,ed this matter, entirely with
ont generalization. had the second interview with
Mr Banta. in which he confirmed all that he had
before said. except that the money had been paid
pains 10 know that | was on solid ground, must
myself set aside the alternative which he offers
and am compeed to concede that either ne or /
nave deliberately led
/ know that / have conscenticusly told the truth
without any expectation that the publication OF so
well-knowa a fact as that the pocical parties col
ect assessments from mon and corporations would
ha We told the truth / may in view OF the fact that
Mr. Banta has .ived longer In the community and Is
goc, thai NO motiyn FOR nv wing can possibly be
conceived am likely to lose some very valuable
inopporiune truth-telling and can gain nothing
That Mr.. Banta might conceivaoly not desire 10
GERS less endurabe by bravely vorchlng for the
truth. ls at least readily conceivable.
enough 10 decisvely tip the balances in my favor.
Beng comparatively unknown TO your readers
overcome Consequently. am eonstrained TO brave
further alicnatons both for the axe OF my own own
what has been told them by Mr.. Leavitt on my au-
thority IS truth.
When came to New-York. about three years ago,
am emboldened by tokens q his confidence in nm me
tatlon which. while well known among insurance
men of my class was not 80 well known by others
Mrf
PRESIDENT OF the New-York Life Insurance Com
pany. Of my presumption lie replied as as roG~s oIiy s.
any inquiry addressed to me concerning yourself
II " Nawburv. ESQ President Mercantile CO.
operative Bank. No. 26 East Twenty-third-st.'
"near s,r. | have yours OF the sth inst. regard
ing Miles VI Dawson. His reputation Is excellent
90 JOHN A. MCALr. President"
I nee, no, say tha, should not publish this dl
I not consider 1t necessary in order to protect my
good name The correspondence may be seen at
nv ofnce and no doubt Mr.. Newbury will on re-
Sn9s' Isn, me- Win Mr McCais letter do not believe
that Mr. Ranta can show 80 strong an Endorsement
r. may be- that ns Mr Banta now says. this
story Is without foundation | almost believe my
h,s rested upon the story ot man whom now
know to have He'd about having told II TO me
h.st wholly upon hlS ve-acy must be deemed
doub,rui. II he VIII now tell falsehood IN order order
20 shield himself from the consequences or taxing
too freely II s. credible that he may have tod a
,asehood ih,n IN order TO exalt my esteem Tor ms
lmprcgnable virtue. This Is also the more credible
since his mrs, and his second versions 20 mo di'-
agreed tho second being a distinct hedge
cannot close without saying that taken alone
I cannot soc how ,hls reflects upon Mr. Platt. who
/ -, course eIo.. not collect money for the campaign
fund ~ his party and who might have been nr9m-
ised ms contribution by President Beers Unless
II can be- shown that he made a wrong use or inc
money. converted Il 10 his own use or promised
some improper favor In return. the clrcnmstanr
pas no special Significance. mentioned II nrst IN
/ connection with Mr.. Plaus refusal 10 cooperate
r hrtreing Suparlntenlent ~ Insurance Pierce be-
fore a senate committee for investigation. In
,rbtcb no said 70 me: The Insurance companies
,ron, Mr. Pierce" II seems 10 me that evidence
that Mr. Plat, and other politicians were unduy
| ineuenced bv such contributions "a what Mr. L<av-
M and his associates need - -, ,,,.,o,.