Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-15

friends, by means Of Legislative action
at Albany, he wired certain persons az
Albany to keep him informed as TO the
progress such proceedings might make.
Persons from whom he had requested
information, he said were Governor
Higgins and the late Speaker Nixon.
Before giving the names. Hartman
consulted his counsel, saying he wished
to spare the men, and not bring thelr
names into newspaper headlines.
Further on in his testimony Harrt-
man, in speaking on the subject OF
Odell and political influence. said: Mr.
Hughes, you spoke about Odell and
my having political influence because
Of my relations or affiliation with him.
would like to say that all last spring
during the Equitable controversy, be-
tween it's inside factions, that Odell
was not here, nor was he commnni-
Gated with about it., so that he had
no hand in the matter whatever
"And during that period We're you IN
consultation with members of legisla-
ture?" asked Hughes.
mot specially. / had insurance
matters watched at Albany to see
what attempts were being made to
use the legislature improperly"
when you refer to the possession
OF political influence thru relations to
YOU. you mean because of the many
important matters in which you are
interested for which you stand?'
Yes, in many ways"
Haven't you in prominent position
referred to, a great many subjects that
NO lac Ia n
mo, have no special interest IL
MANY matters that come before the
| legislature"
"Well, I was referring to matters af-
fecting the railroads, banks and trust
companies"
mo, never had any hand In that
"Well, don't just understand what
you meant by political influence thru
relation to you," said Hughes
"Any common citizen has some In
fluence," said the witness, and II any
body in politics can get the friendship
and backing of the people who nave
no political end to serve, why that
| gives them more or less standing"
| "Now, Odell might resent such a
statement as that. I don't nknoW
whether he would or not, but / think
| IL 1 was In politics would try to ge.
as many men as possible OF promin-
ence to be friends Of mine"
Hartman Contradictions.
| Hughes read Harrimans previous
\ testimony in which he said he did not
try to buy the Hyde stock and Harri-
man said he did not then have IN
mind his attempt to get the Ryan hold
ings but meant he made no attempt to
buy the stock direct from Hyde. Har-
riman asked Hughes If he did not
think that answer was proper ana
Hughes said he thought 1t was; that
Hartman had in mind only that ne
made no offer to Hyde. Hughes asked
what Hartman did at Albany to pre-
vent naturalization of the Equitable
Hartman objected to telling, but
Hughes insisted and Hartman SAID
that in the Equitable trouble Hyde Of
fered to trustee the stock as Ryan did
later. The sub committee e. Oh the
Equitable had recommended mutual-,
zation. 1t was put into the hands OF
| lawyers to take care of. This was at
| Albany. "The Alexander faction went
| to Albany to oppose the plan, said the
witness, and Mr.. Pratt went there to
| represent the committee of policy
holders.
Hartman Saw Higgins.
"I was neutral; not with either fac
| tion. I was in communication with
men who were to inform me If there
was any possibility of the Alexander
faction succeeding. I do not want to
tell you what they reported. There
was mo bill introduced. took steps
with some members of the legislature
to let me known if the bill was intro
duced. 1 told them what wanted to
know. l don't want to go further, but
7 will consult with counsel and II they
saw I should I will do So" Senator
| Armstrong consented and the three
men went into an ante room to confer
When they returned Hartman said he
had had communication with the late
| Speaker Nixon and Governor Higgins.
He requested that If anything came
| to their notice that the people IN the
Equitable opposed to, that the Alex
ander faction he notified. The under
standing was not that the governor or
speaker should take any other action.
Hartman in leaving the witness stand
said his reason for wanting to keep
Higgins and Nixon's name out Of the
newspaper headlines is that most peo-
pie read only the headlines.