The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-12-16
HARTMAN INSTRUMENTAL IN
PREVENTING INTRODUCTION
OF INSURANCE BILLS.
QUESTIONS MOTIVE OF THOMAS F. RYAN
DOES NOT BELIEVE HYDE STOCK
WAS PURCHASED AS AN ACT
OF PHILANTHROPY.

New York, Dec. 16.-E. Fl. Hartman
testified before the insurance inves.t
eating committee that he was instru.
mental In preventing bills from being
introduced In the legislature to aid one
faction OF the Equitable to get control
ct the society.
1T has been openly charged" said
Mr.. Hughes, that you get your polit.
ical influence through your relations
with Mr. Odell.'
81 should say that Mr.. Odell gets his
political influence through his rela-
tions with me-" responded Mr.. Harrt
man.
Mr.. Hartman said that when move
was ON foot ~ give the control Of the
Equitable to James w. Alexander and
his friends by means of legislative &C.
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 per-
sons 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 con-
sultation. Mr.. Hartman said he would
like to consult counsel before replying.
The committee decided, however,
that he should answer and he did 80,
saying that the persons from whom
he had requested the information were
Governor Higgins and the late Speaker
Nixon of the assembly.
After Mr.. Hartman had answered
concerning Governor Higgins and
Speaker Nixon Senator Armstrong.
chairman OF the committee, said:
Inquiries Regular and Common.
I'VE are sorry you gave such an al
OF mystery to this matter as We all
know such inquiries are regular and
common"
Mr.. Hartman then said:
II, ask the press to spare these men
and not bring their names into the
headlines"
At the beginning of his testimony
Mr.. Hartman said he learned Of the
sale OF the Hyde stock on the day that
Nr. Ryan bought it. He telephoned to
Mr.. Ryan and asked him II he had
bought II. Ryan said the purchase
was conditional" said Mr.. Hartman.
'and that he wanted to see me and
talk with me and that he wanted my
help. criticised his plan and wanted
to know what he meant by 1t. Ten or
hfteen minutes later I went to Mr..
Ryan's Office. He told me that he had
decided to buy the stock and said 1t
was time for him to make . name Tor
himself. He said he had decided to
buy Hyde's stock provided he could
get his nominee elected chairman OF
the board. He said he had made q
good deal OF money and never had
done anything to make name for
himself. / questioned his motive. He
had told me he wanted my help: that
was the one man In New York whose
help he desired"
what kind OF help?" asked Mr..
Hughes. counsel to the investigating
committee.
ITO help him get his nominee elect
Cd chairman Of the board" replied Mr.
Hartman.
Asked upon what ground he had
criticised Mr.. Ryan's. plan Mr.. Harrt.
man replied:
.Well. It was rather staggering 70
anybody that Ryan wanted to control
the Equitable or should have control
OF II"
Mr.. Hartman next told Of several
eonfsrenccs he had had with Mr.. Ryan