Milford chronicle., 1905-12-15
HARTMAN THREAT
TO RYAN COMES OUT
Declared He Would Use Political
Pull Against Equitable.
SOME MORE CAMPAIGN GIFTS

New York. Dec. 1S. = Thomas F.
Ryan appeared before the insurance
investigating committee and told what
z. H. Hartman did and threatened to
do when he demanded that Mr.. Ryan
concede to him a share in the control
of the Equitable Life Assurance So
eiety last June. Mr.. Ryan assured
the committee that he had meant no
disrespect by his former refusal to
disclose their conversations, and said
that he had determined to answer the
questions to which he had refused re-
plies 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 threat
ened to do upon the refusal of his de-
mands, was in substance as follows:
That Hartman demanded one-half
Of the 502 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 po-
litical and all 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. That Hartman demand
ed the right to name two Of five trus-
tees to vote the controlling stock in
the election of directors of the so
ciety.
In reply to repeated questions by
Charles E. Hughes, counsel for the
committee, Mr.. Ryan stated that Mr..
Hartman did not threaten that there
should be legislative action unless he
was given a share in the Equitable
control, but said there probably would
be such action. Neither did Mr.. Har-
riman threaten any action by an Off
Ger 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
counsel. Mr.. Ryan told the committee
that he drew the inference from it
that Mr.. Hartman did not want any
body to control the Equitable So
ciety unless he had a share in it. Mr.
Ryan also stated that he paid no at
tention to Mr. Harriman's statement
that his influence would be important
in the event of legislative action and
informed him that he wanted no part
ners in the enterprise. Mr.. Hartman
did not get the coveted share in the
stock.
Mr.. Ryan declares 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 tes-
titled that his company paid $4,000 to
the Republican national campaign
fund in 1896, 1900 and 1904 It also
paid $4,000 to Andrew Hamilton, for
merly the New York Life Insurance
company's legislative agent at Al
bany.
The senator also said that he got
a 25 per cent. commission on some of
the insurance in the Prudential on his
own life and As and so per cent. on
first premiums and 715 per cent on re-
newals on other policies held by him |
in the same company. He also re-
ceived a commission on a policy he |
holds in the Provident Life and Say
fngs connanv