Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-16
ANOTHER CHAPTER
To ''Strenuous" Interviews
Of Ryan and Hartman.
Latter Says He Threatened to
Expose Friend Ryan
Because He Was Not Convinced Of
Later's Purity Of Motive.

New York, Dec 15.-Anothcr chap
ter was added today to the chronicles
of the series Of what Thomas r. Ryan
called strenuous interviews between
himself and E. II. Hartman. Mr.. Ryan
gave his version of the conversations
TO the committee a few days ago when
he said that Mr.. Hartman, at the time
of the acquisition Of the James II.
Hyde stock, demanded an equal shore
of the Hyde stock Of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society and threatened
to use his political influence against
him if he did not surrender it. Today
Mr.. Hartman recited to the committee
his version of the affair and added some
interesting statements affecting his re-
lations with Former Governor b. B.
Odell, Jr.. chairman Of the Republican
state committee and as to request to
which legislation affecting the Equita-
BILE Society which he had made upon
Governor Francis w. Higgins and the
late S. Fred Nixon, Speaker of the
New York State Assembly.
IN substance Mr.. Hartman stated to
the committee today that when Mr..
Ryan bought the Hyde stock carrying
control of the Equitable Society, he
asked Mr.. Hartman to cooperate with
him in saving the property; that Mr..
Hartman agreed to do so if satisfied
that Mr.. Ryan was acting from pure
and unselfish motives; that MIR. Ryan
did not satisfy him as 10 the purity of
his motives, and that Mr.. Hartman
notified him that he would use his in
fluenca against him. The test which Mr.
Hartman said he applied to determine
Mr.. Ryan's purity of motive was an
offer to take One-half of the Hyde stock
and to name two trustees of the soci-
ETY.. Mr.. Ryan refused to agree to
that. Mr.. Hartman was not certain
whether he said anything about legis
lativa action as Il warning to Mr.. Ryan.
but declared that he had nothing to do
with starting the present insurance in
VeStiga ton.
Charles T. Hughes, counsel for the
committee. informed Mr.. Hartman
that it had been charged that he got
his political influence through his re-
lation with Former Gov. Il. B. Odell
Jr. Mr.. Hartman said:
"Well, | should think Mr.. Odell had
political influence because of his rela-
tion with me-
Laughter followed the remark.
Later, Mr.. Hartman said to The AS
ISOLATED Press that the remark was
meant in jocular sense.
Mr.. Hartman declared to the COM
mittee that he did not confer with Mr.
Odell about the ACCESSIBILITY of legis-
lative action. and that he had not yet
taken any action to thw&rt Nj. Ryan's
plars.
Last spring, Mr. Hartman said. when
the management Of the Equitabe Life
factions, one headed by President
James w. Alexander and the other by
James II. Hyde. an attempt was made
by the Alexander faction to induce the
Legislature to mutualiZe the society.
Mr.. Hartman said he asked members
of the Legislature to watch out for any
legislation favorable to the Alexander
peared. He was averse to disclosing.
the names of the men to whom he made
this request and only consented to do
so after repeated urging on the part
of Senator William w. Armstrong and
Mr.. Hughes and after he had been all
lowed to consult with his counsel. He
then stated that it was Gov. Higgins
and Speaker Nixon whom he had asked
to watch out for the Alexander legis-
lation. He added that no such legisla-
ton was introduced and that he took
no steps through Gov. Higgins and
Speaker Nixon to prevent it.