Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-21
HARTMAN vs.. RYAN.
Railroad Magnate Gives His Yer
sion Of ssStrenuOus" Interviews.
SAID he DOUBTED RYAI'S MOTIVES.
he DID Not Threaten Political Inau'
enoe Nor Was He Responsible
for the Present Inves-
tiRatiOn.

islatiye insurance investigating com
mittee another chapter was added Fri
day to the chronicles Of what Thomas
+. Ryan called strenuous" interviews
between himself and p. H. Hartman
Mr.. Ryan gave his version Of the con-
yersations to the committee few days
ago when he said that Mr.. Hartman
at the time Of the acquisition OF the
James H. Hyde stock in the Equitable
Life Assurance society demanded an
equal share and theatened to use his
political influence against him If he
did not surrender 1t. Friday Mr.. Har-
rlman recited to the committee his YER
sion and added some interesting state
ments affecting his relations with For
mer Governor B. B. Odell, Jr., chair
man of the New York state republic
can committee, and also as to q re-
quest to watch legislation affecting the
Equitable society which he had made
of Gov. Francis W. Higgins and the
late 8. Fred Nixon, speaker Of the New
York state assembly.
In substance Mr.. Hartman testified
Friday that when Mr.. Ryan bought the
Hyde stock, carrying control Of the
Equitable society, he asked Mr.. Harri-
man to cooperate with him in saving
the property; that Mr.. Hartman
agreed to do It II satisfied that Mr..
Ryan was acting from pure and unself-
ish motives; that Mr. Ryan did not
satisfy him as to the purity Of his mo-
tiyes, and that Mr.. Hartman notified
him that he would use his influence
against him. The test which Mr.. Har-
riman said he applied to determine Mr..
Ryan's purity Of motives was an offer
to take one half Of the Hyde stock and
to name two trustees of the society.
Mr.. Ryan refused to agree to that Mr..
Hartman testified that Mr.. Ryan
should have assumed that he (Harri-
mani would use his political influence
against him. He was not certain
whether he said anything about legis-
lative action as warning to Mr.. Ryan,
but declared that he had nothing to do
with starting the present insurance In
vestigation.
Charles q. Hugl %, counsel for the
committee, informed Mr. Hartman
that IT has been charged that he got
his political influence through his rela-
ton with Former Governor p. B. 0dell,
Jr. Mr.. Hartman said: well, | should
think Mr.. odell had political influence
because Of his relations with me-
Laughter followed the remark. Later
Mr. Hartman said to the Associated
press that the remark was meant in Q
jocular sense.
Mr.. Hartman declared to the COM
mlttee that he did not confer with Mr..
Odell about the adylsaL lily Of legis-
lative action and that he has not yet
taken any action to thwart Mr. Ryan's
plans. Last spring, Mr.. Hartman said,
when the management OF the Equit-
ABLE Life Assurance society vas divided
into two factions. the one headed by
James W. Alexander and the
other by James H. Hyde, an attempt
was made by the Alexander faction to
induce the legislature to mutualize the
soelety. Mr.. Hartman said he asked
Of the legislature to watch |
out for any legislation favorable to the
Alexander faction and to report to him
Il 1t appeared. He was averse to dis
closing the name of the men to whom
he made this luest and only con-
sented to D after repeated urging |
On the pa. Of Senator William w. |
Armstrong, chairman Of the commit
lee, and by MI. Hughes and after he
had been allowed to consult with his
counsel. He then stated that 1t was
lov. Higgins and Speaker Nixon whom
he had asked to watch out for the
Alexander legislation. He added that
10 such legislation was introduces and
hat he took no steps through Gov.
IIfrofna and Qnaakar Nivon IN nravaut Il