The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-12-14
RYANANSNERS QUESTIONS
Owner of Majority If Equitable
Stock Tells of Threats by
E. q. HarrimS3.
WANTED NAME TWO OF The TRUSTEES
The Railroad President Declared lie Would
Use Hts Whole Influence Against the
New Yorker Unless Let In On the Deal to
Purchssc the Hyde Interest In the
Insurance Company.

New York, Dec l2.-Thomas +. Ryan
who purchased the Hyde stock of the
Equitable Life Assurance society was
the first witness before the committee
Tuesday. Mr.. Ryan said; did not
mean any disrcspeCt to the committee.
wish TO preserve harmony, did not
was satisfied that Mas Obliged to an
swer H. The district attorney has de-
termined that | shall answer the Ques-
ton and shall give my best reco!lec-
ton Of the conversation"
''What did Mr.. Hartman say to you
about sharing the Hyde stock" asked
Mr.. Hughes.
Immediately after my purchase of
man called on me. We had several
conversations, Mr. Hartman said that
! should not have come into the sit
uation without consulting him and that
ought to let him have an equal share
in the Hyde stock. declined. He
objected to tEH trustees and wanted
to name two of them. He said he did
not think could carry out my plans
divest myself of control OF the EQuita-
BILE and | regretted very much 10 have
his opposition, bat | was going TO
carry ouI my plan Watcher had hi,
opposition or not"
The purchase of the Hyde stock. MIR.
Ryan said WAS made on Friday, June
9. Mr.. Ryan first heard from Mr., Har-
riman on thar day, Mr.. Hartman.
(Ryanl was in ON the deal and had a
talk with him IN that day. Mr., Harri.
man saw him again on the following
Monday or Tuesday in company with
Elihu Root and Paul Crayath, Most OF
the things said were said at the second
interview. Mr. Ryan told Mr., Harri
man who the trustees were to be. Har-
riman then said that he had given
much time to straighten out the Equi-
table. The witness then said that Har
riman gave no other reason than that
for demanding a share in the purchase
of the Hyde stock.
In reply to questions by Mr. Hughes,
Mr.. Ryan said that Mr., Hartman did
not say in so many words that his po-
litical influence would be against Ryan,
but the witness understood Hartman
TO mean his entire influence whether
political financial of otherwise. The
witness understood this to include the
possibility Of legislative action. The
witness was not wiling to allow Mr..
Hartman to name two trustees because
he did not want anybody as a partner
in the enterprise. The witness talked
with Mr.. Hartman over the telephone
and finally Mr.. Ryan said to Mr.. Har-
riman that there was no use talking
about it; he would not change his
mind.
Ibid Hartman say there would be
anything injurious to your interest II
you refused to SELF" asked Mr.. Hughes.
"He said his entire influence would
be against me" replied Mr.. Ryan.
Did he refer to the political influ
ence he would assert. at the interview
at which Mr.. Root and Mr.. Cravath
were present." asked MIR. Hughes.
"My recollection is that he did,"
did he refer to the probability Of
legislative action at that same inter-
view" "He did"
And you understood fully that in re-
fusing to meet his wishes you were
taking the chance of whatever opposi-
ton he could bring to bear upon it?'
IT did"
And you told him lat you intended
that the management Of the Equitable
should be entirely independents" 81
did"
Independent Of what?" "Independ-
ent of me and everybody else"
Ibid he threaten any action by an
officer of the state government HE
did not"
Mr.. Ryan testified that Hartman
offered. II Mr.. Ryan would sell. to put
his share Of the Equitable into a trust
my conversation with him was siren
uous" said MI Ryan. 81 think he
said he did not want anybody to con-
troll this property unless he had a
share In it. Mr.. Hartman did not say
any thing to indicate what action the
legislature would take No other per-
son made any such threats"