Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-16
Declares He Was Only TEST
ing M. RyaR's Motives.
ASSERTS HE DIDN'T START
INSURANCE INVESTIGATION
Railroad King JOcuIarIy 0pines 0deII
Got Political Influence
From Him.

New York, Dec. 15,--Before the
legislative insurance investigating
committee another chapter was added
today to the chronicles of what Thom-
as F. Ryan called the strenuous in
terviews between himself and T.. II,
Hartman. Mr.. Ryan gave his version
of the conversations to the committee
few days ago, when he said that
Mr. Hartman, at the time of the ac-
QUESTION of the James Fl. Hyde stock
in the Equitable Life Assurance soci-
ETY., demanded an equal share and
threatened to use his political infu-
ence against him If he did not surren-
der it. Today Mr.. Hartman recited
20 the committee his version and add
ed some interesting statements affect
ing his relations with former Cover
nor Odell, chairman of the New York
state republican committee, and also
as to a request regarding legislation
affecting the Equitable society which
he had made upon Governor Francis
w. Higgins and the late S. Fred Nix
on speaker of the New York state as
sembly.
today that when Mr. Ryan bought the
Hyde stock, carrying control of the
Equitable society, he asked Mr.. Har-
riman to cooperate with him in saw
ing the property; that Mr.. Hartman
agreed to do it if satisfied that Mr.
Ryan was acting from pure and un-
selfish motives; that Mr.. Ryan did
not satisfy him as to the purity of his
motives, and that Mr.. Hartman no
tilted him that he would use his infiu-
ence against him. The test which Mr..
Hartman said he applied to deter
mine Mr.. Ryan's purity of motive was
an offer TO take one-half of the Hyde
stock and to name two trustees of the
society. Mr.. Ryan should have as
sumed that he (Mr. Hartmann would
use his political influence against him.
He was not certain whether he said
anything about legislative action as a
warning to Mr.. Ryan, but declared
that he had nothing to do with start
ing the present investigation.
Hughes Gets IL backwards
Charles II. 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.,
We'll, | should think Mr. Odell had
political influence because of his rela-
ton with me-" Laughter followed the
remark.
Later Mr.. Hartman said to the As
sociated Press that the remark was
meant in a jocular sense.
Mr.. Hartman declared to the COM
mittee that he did not confer with MIR.
Odell about the advisability of legisla-
tive action and that he has not yet
taken any action to thwart Mr. Ry-
ans plans. Last spring, Mr. Harri-
man said, when the management OF
the Equitable Life Assurance society
was divided into two factions. the one
headed by President j. W. Alexander
and the other by James II. Hyde, an
attempt was made by the Alexander
faction to induce the legislature to
mutualize the society
Mr.. Hartman said he asked mem
bers of the legislature to watch out
for any legislation favorable to the
Alexander faction and to report to
him If 1t appeared. He was averse to
disclosing the names of the men to
whom he made this request and only
consented to do SO after repeated urg-
ing on the part OF Senator Armstrong,
chairman of the committee, and by
Mr. Hughes and after he had been
allowed to consult with his counsel
He then stated that 1t 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
that he took no steps through Cover
nor Higgins and Speaker Nixon to
prevent 1t.
The committee adjourned until
Monday