Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-12-14
TELLS OF HARRIMAN's THREATS
IN ORDER TO GET SHARE OF
EQUITABLE STOCK.
HInted at Possible Legislative Action
Unless Demands Were Complied
With, in Which Event His Influence
Would Be lmportant-President Dry
den of the Prudential Life Tells Of
Campaign Contributions.
Campaign Contributions.

SGEIRdiAU SOThflDQbtOfSs
New York, Dec. 13.-Thomas F.
Ryan during the day appeared before
the insurance investigating committee
and told what e. H. Hartman did M
threatened to do when he demanded
that Mr.. Ryan concede to him a share
In the control Of the Equitable Life AS
swrance society last June. Mr.. Ryan
assured the committee that he had
meant no disrespect by his former re-
fusal TO disclose their conversations,
and said that he had determined to an
swer the questions to which he had re-
fused replies on Friday last because
District Attorney Jerome said he ought
to do so.
Mr.. Ryan's version Of what Mr.. Har-
riman demanded and what he threaten
cd to do upon the refusal Of his de-
mands, was in substance as follows:
That Hartman demanded one-half
Of the 500 shares of the stock of the
Equitable Life Assurance society
which Mr.. Ryan had purchased from
James H. Hyde and which gave Mr..
Ryan control of the property.
That Hartman threatened, unless he
was conceded this share In the control
Of the society, to exert his political and
oil other influences against Mr.. Ryan
and his project.
That Hartman declared there prob
ably would be legislative action and
that In that event his influence would
be important.
to name two of FIVE trustees to vote
the controlling stock In the election Of
directors of the society.
Replies to Questions.
In reply to repeated questions by
Charles f. Hughes, counsel of the com
mittee, Mr.. Ryan stated that Mr.. Har-
riman did not threaten that there
would be legislative action unless he
was given a share in the Equitable
control, but said there probably would
be such action. Neither did Mr.. Harri-
man threaten any action by an officer
Of the government.
It was a strenuous interview, Mr..
RYAN said. and was held in the pres.
ence of Elihu Root, then Mr.. Ryan's
counsel, now secretary OF state, and
Paul d. Cravath, also Mr.. Ryan's coun-
sci. Mr.. Ryan told the committee that
he drew the inference from 1t that Mr..
Hartman did not want anybody to
control the Equitable society unless he
had a share in 1t.
Mr.. Ryan also stated that he paid
no attention to Mr.. Harriman's state
ment that his influence would be i'm
portant in the event of legislative ac-
tion and informed him that he wanted
no partners in the enterprise. Mr..
Hartman did not get the coveted
share in the stock.
Mr.. Ryan declared that this inter.
view took place within a few days
after he got control of the Hyde stock.
United States Senator John F. Dry
Den of New Jersey, president of the
Prudential Life Insurance Company OF
America, was on the witness stand all
the remainder Of the day. He testi-
fed that his company paid SIG, 900 to
the Republican national campaign
fund in 1896, 1900 and 1904. 1t also
paid $4,000 to Andrew Hamilton, form
erly the New York Life Insurance COM
pany's legislative agent at Albany.