The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-15
Hartman Says Odell's Influence
Is Due to Him.
Instead of His Influence Being
Due TO Odell.
UP LEGISLATION
To Turn the Equitable Over to
the AIexanders
By kilograms to Gov. Higgins
and Speaker Nixon.

New York, Dec. 15.-E. H. Hartman,
in the insurance investigation today
said that he was instrumental in pre-
venting bills from being introduced in
the legislature to aid one faction in
the Equitable to get control of the so
ciety.
1T has been openly charged said
Mr.. Hughes, that you get your politi-
cal influence through your relations
with Mr.. Odell.''
4 should say that Mr.. Oden gets his
political influence through his relations
with me- responded Mr.. Hartman.
Mr.. Hartman said that when a move
was on foot to give the control OF the
Equitable to James ". Alexander and
his friends by means of legislative ac-
ton at Albany, he wired certain per-
sons at Albany to keep him informed
as to the progress such proceedings
might make. Asked who these persons
at Albany were, Mr. Hartman re-
quested that he be excused from an
swering. He said he did not want to
answer because he did not want to
give occasion for sensational newspa-
per headlines.
The committee and counsel, Mr..
Hughes, retired for consultation.
Mr.. Hartman said he should like to
consult before replying.
The committee decided, however, that
he should answer and he did so, say
ing that the persons from whom he had
requested the information were Cover
nor Higgins and the lat Speaker
Nixon of the assembly.
Mr. Hartman said he learned of the
sale Of the Hyde stock on the day that
Mr.. Ryan bought it. He telephOned to
Mr. Ryan and asked him if he had
bought it.
Ryan said the purchase was condi-
tional," said Mr.. Hartman, land that
he wanted to see me and talk with
me and that he wanted my help 1
criticized his plan and wanted to know
what he meant by it, Ten or fifteen
minutes later I went to Mr.. Ryan's
Office He told me he had decided to
buy the stock and said it was time
for him to make a name for himself.
He said he had decided to buy Hydes
stock provided he could get his nomi-
nee elected chairman of the board He
said he had made a good deal of mon
ey and never had done anything to
make a name for himself. I question
ed his motive. He had told me he
wanted nv help; that I was the one
man in New York whose help he de-
what kind of help?" asked Mr..
Hughes, counsel to the investigation
committee.
10 heip MIN get ms nominee eject
ed chairman of the board" replied Mr..
! Hartman.
Asked upon what grounds he had
criticized Mr.. Ryan's plan, Mr.. Harri-
man replied:
well, it was rather staggering to
anybody that Ryan wanted to control
the Equitable or should have control
of it,
Ryan's Motives Doubted.
Il told him" continued Mr.. Hartman
that if I was satisfied that he was act
ing from a pure and unselfsh motive in
the matter of the Equitable, I would
help him. He told me his plan. I did
not tell him that I wanted share in
/ the HYDE stock I assisted him to get
his nominee elected
why did you, if you were not salts
/ fed, as to the purity of his motives? ~
asked Mr.. Hughes.
It became satisfied that with Mr.. Nor
! ton in charge and if Mr.. Ryan was sin
cere, the affairs Of the Equitable would
/ be safe. was convinced that Mr.. Ryan
was sincere. I did not then think Mr.
Ryan would share the stock with me-
AssembIyman Rogers, of the commit
tee here asked:
when did you resign as director of
| the EQuitable?'
when the Prick committee made
their report
This was June 2.
/ 1.-The next interview with Ryan was
the Monday following the purchase of