The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-15
HARTMAN SAYS
RYAN ASKED FOR HELP
CONTINUED from Page one.)

"Why did you object?' asked Mr..
Hughes
IL wanted two trustees Independent OF
Mr.. Ryan. | think that any trustees
named as Mr.. Ryan named them must be
TO a certain extent under his control.
especially as he had named a man out OF
his own organization az president l did
not demand a right TO name two trustees,
but merely that they should be indepen-
dent OF Ryan. / offered TO turn my stock
over TO the sciety II all did l don
see why he should not make the trustees
number a hundred II his motives were
just. | am not a philanthropist and did
not consider II such for him To pay
81 500 000 wt1icf hr- -w7ts going ~ *
when he got control OF the society. IL
was because OF my interest In the Equl-
table that | wanted n share.
There was no possibility of panic
No one but Ryan had such view. /
doubt whether he had tt
did YOU tell Ryan If he did not give
you share OF the stock you would op-
pose whatever he did" asked Mr.. Hughes.
mo sir. A wrong Interpretation has
been put on what came out OF this. l
have no recollection Of having said TO
Ryan I did not intend to let anybody con-
troll that stock unless had share In II
cannot say positively that did not say
IT,
'Did you tell him he would have your
help # ne gave you share"
II made no demand for the stock but
insisted that he should satisfy me Of the
purity OF his motives which he could do
by giving mo a share"
Did you tell him he could not succeed
without your help?'
''! was convinced he intended TO enter
the CONTROL OF the Equitable in himself
and | told him that my influence would
be th.own against him"
Did you refer 10 legislative action or
say anything about the legislature?"
"T do not recall any such thing. nor that
7 would do anything 10 induce legislation.
/ can't deny positively that / did"
did you take any steps 20 thwart his
plans?"
mot yet. I had no conversation with
Gov. Bell about the adyissbility or
legislature Investigation nor about any
kind OF Legislation whatever ] knew moth
ing about this investigation whatever"
Mr. Hartman said he was in politics
and had some political influence, and he
did not consider It Improper % use his
political influence against Ryan
Nothing improper in Ryal's contsrf
OF the Equitable has yet come to my at
tention and have not had time % attend
to H. II anything had come 20 my at
tention j should have acted.
What Is your political lnflueuce7'
1T Is sucn az any man OF prominence
has who has never asked anyone 20 do
anything improper. I have great inter-
ests I'm New York and am otter CONSULT
ed"
Mr. Hughes asked how he was con-
suited.
II had 10 do with preventing bills from
being introduced in the legislature by one
faction OF the Equitable TO get control OF
the society"
Mr. Hartman said that when a move
was on foot to give the control OF the
Equitable to James w. Alexander and his
friends by means OF legislative action az
Albany. he asked certain persons at Al
bany to keep him Informed as TO the
progress such proceedings might make
Asked who these persons at Albany
were, Mr.. Hartman requested that he
be excused from answering. He said
he did not want to answer because he
did not want 10 give occasion for SEN
sa0ional newspaper headlines. The COM
mittee and counsel Mr. Hughes. retired
for consultation.
Mr. Hartman said he would like 20 con-
suit counsel before replying. The commit
tee decided. however that he should an
swer and he did SO. saying that the per-
sons from whom he had requested the
Information were Governor Higgins and
the late Speaker Nixon OF the assembly.
After Mr.. Hartman had answered con-
cerning Governor Higgins and Speaker
Nixon. Senator Armstrong, chairman "
the committee said:
1--WE are sorry you gave such an air OF
mystery as we all know such Inquiries
are regular and common
Mr.. Hartman then said: Il ask the
press 90 spare these men and not bring
their names into the headlines"