The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-02
Would a sheep XIII a Butcher?

As against a vast and scattered flock
Of sheep Of both sexes and all ages, in
diligently called policyholders, there is
at this time opposed the benevolence Of
I one man, Mr., EDWARD H. HARTMAN.
There is nothing else 20 be anywhere
| discerned that is 30 interesting 70 the
general public, and TO the sheep, as this
particular activity OF Mr.. HARRIMAN's.
1t Is not too much TO say that the vel
fare Of the whole business, the entire
system Of life insurance, depends upon
its outcome. Gravely as life insurance
has already suffered by the deplorable
scandal Of the Equitable, great as the
damage has been which every life In
surance company, large or small, has
already sustained, It is as nothing COM
pared TO what threatens in the imme-
diate future.
The trustees Of a great life insurance
company doing business Of a billion and
having cash assets Of over 14OO, 900 900
quarrel among themselves over its con-
troll. in the quarrel a few, a very few,
facts concerning its management leak
out. Although these facts are rela-
lively trivial they paralyze the policy
holders With apprehension and stun
the public. Only a quarrel on the In
side could have led to their disclosure,
and only over the division Of the spofls
Of management could a quarrel have
arisen. This Is the plain truth; plain
enough now that II has been brutally
brought into the daylight, but which,
until 1t was so brought out, no one could
have been persuaded for one moment to
believe.
Mr.. HARTMAN, with his associates,
is determined 70 have the control Of
the Equitable, the control Of the $780,
100000 Of the policyholdes' money,
money which is, or ought TO be, the most
sacred and inviolable trust known to
decent and honest mon. theoretically,
men are called to administer such trusts
only because to high and special ability
they join unblemished reputation for
integrity and personal honor. To sane
minds no other concept Of the business
OF life insurance Is possible Mr.. HAIR
RIAiAS desires the control Of this vast
sum because he needs it in his business.
He does not desire it in the interest Of
the policyholders, and, indeed, does not
pretend to. He desires it in his own in
terest, and he means TO have Il. Mr..
HARTMAN will probably get it. Sheen
never have been known 10 rise I'D and
slay a butcher
Sheep, however, have emotions. COM
mon 70 both sexes; and II becomes Of a
passing interest to note how they viii
be impressed with Mr.. HARRndAN's as
tendency In their fold, the EQUITABLE.
Mr.. HARTMAN is the associate and part-
ner Of BENJAMIN B. OpELL. Through
his partner, opELL, he has the State
Legislature at Albany to-day In the
hollow Of his hand Would the bleat-
ing victims OF the Equitable 20 for relief
and succor 10 the Legislaturef What
have they to eXpectf The certainty Of
additional letters II they are not already
shsckled 70 the butchers liking. Would
they turn to the Attorney General OF the
Statei What have they 70 hope from
him7 He Is ODKLL and HARRrAtAN's
good, true and trusty henchman. Whittier
then can they turn In their desperate
plight7 Probably nowhere, but we shall
see.
With the Equitable transformed into
another Rurnaceville where Mr.. H4RRI-
MANS peculiar alchemy has fun sway,
the outlook for the sheep is dismal. They
can hardly be blamed u they fail 10 re-