The news & observer., 1905-12-16
DOUBTED PURITY
OF RYAN s MOTIVE
Harriman's Story of the
Hyde Stock.
TOSAVETHE PROPERTY
To This End Ryan Asked Harriman's
Cooperation, But He Did Not
Satisfy Hartman of the Un-
seIfishness of His Motives,
Declares Hartman.
Declares Hartman.
CBv the Associated Press.

New York, Dec. 15.-Before the
legislative insurance investigating
committee another chapter was added
today to the chronicles of what
Thomas F Ryan called strenuous"
interviews between himself and E. H.
Hartman. Mr. Ryan gave his ver-
sion of the conversation to the COM
mittee a few days ago when he said
that Mr. Hartman, at the time of the
acquisition of the James II. Hyde
stock in the Equitable Life Assurance
Society. demanded an equal share,
and threatened to use his political in
nuence against him if he did not sur
render it, Today Mr.. Hartman re-
cited to the committee his version
and added some interesting state
ments affecting his relations with
former Governor B. B. Odell Jr.,
chairman of the New oYrk State Re-
publican Committee, and also as to a
request to watch legislation affecting
the Equitable Society. which he had
made upon Governor Francis w. Hlg-
gins and the late S. Fred Nixon,
speaker of the New York State AS
sembly.
In substance Mr. Hartman test
the Hyde stock, carrying control of
the Equitable Society, he asked Mr..
Hartman to cooperate with him In
saving the property; that Mr. Harri-
man agreed to do it if satisfied that
Mr. Ryan was acting from pure ana
unselfsh motives: that Mr.. Ryan did
not satisfy him as to the purity of
his motives and that Mr.. Hartman
notified him that he would use his in
huence against him. The test which
Mr.. Hartman said he applied to de-
termine Mr.. Ryan's purity of motive
was an offer to take One-half of the
HYDE stock, and to name two trus-
tees of the society. Mr.. Ryan re-
fused TO agree to that. MIR. Harri =
man testified that Mr.. Ryan should
have assumed that he (Harriman)
would use his pOliticale influenc
against him. He was not certain
whether he said anything about legis-
lative action as warning TO Mr'
Ryan, but declared that he had moth
ing to do with starting the political
insurance investigation.
Harriman's Keen Retort.
Charles F. Hughes, counsel for the
committee, informed Mr. Hartman
that it has been charged that he got
his political influence through his re-
lation with former Governor B. B..
Odell. .Jr. Mr.. Hartman said:
"Wcu I should think Mr.. Odell had
political influence because of his re-
lation with me-" Laughter followed
the remark. Later Mr.. Hartman said
to the Associated Press that the re-
mark was meant in a jOcular sense.
Mr.. Hartman declared to the COM
mittee that he did not confer with
Mr.. Odell about the advisability OF
legislative action and that he has not
yet taken any action to thWart MI.
Ryan's plans.
Last spring, Mr.. Hartman said,
when the management of the Equlta-
bic Life Assurance Society was di-
vided into two factions the one head
ed by Presiden James w. Alexander
and he oher by James Fl. Hyde an at
tempt was made by the Alexander
faction to induce the Legislature TO
mutualize the society. Mr.. Harri-
man said he asked members of the
legislature to watch out for any leg
islation favorable to the Alexander
faction and to report to him if it ap-
reared. He was aVcrsc to disclosing
the names of the menC to whom he
made this request, and only consented
to do so after repeated urging on the
part of Senator VIM. NJ. Armstrong;
chairman of the committee. and by
Mr.. Hughes, and after he had been
allowed to consult with rs counsel.
He then stated that it was Governor
Higgins and Speaker Nixon, whom he
had asked to watch out for the Alex
ander legislation He added that no
such legislation was introduced and
he took no steps through Governor
Higgins and Speaker Nixon to pre-
vent it,