The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-28
S250,000,O00 GRAFT
CHARGED BY LAWSON
Boston Financier Says Insur-
ance Kings VIII Yet Wear
the Convict Livery.

BOSTON. Feb. Elm series of COM
municatlons issued tonight Thomas W,
Lawson OF this city, who for several
IT Honths has been active in securing proX-
les from policyholders In leading life in
surance companies, states that he is
ready and willing TO do all In his power
to aid in the passage OF the laws rec
commended by the Armstrong investiSat-
Ing committee. Mr.. Lawson issued three
letters one addressed to tho Armstrong
committee, another TO the so-called COM
mittee OF Governors, to whom he has
turned over all Insurance proxies that ne
has thus far secured, and third 10 the
pollcyholders themselves
Mr. l~awson's statement regarding the
proxies he has obtained has been awaited
with interest In view Of the fact that one
OF the laws recommended by the Arm
strong committee would invalidate each
and every one OF the proxies already
secured.
Cost Him Large Fortune.
In communication TO the Armstrong
committee Mr.. Lawson says. in part;
policyholders of the New York Life and
Mutual Life Insurance companies, I
would respectfully submit: AT an expense
OF hundreds of thousands of dollars
have collected sufficient proxies from
pohcyholders to give me power at pres
ent 70 control all the coming elections OF
both the New York Life and Mutual
companies 1 have turned these over to
a committee composed OF Governors OF
States and equally representative public
men.
My reason for collecting such proxies:
j had reason to believe the policyholders
Of these two companies have been plum
dered of from Sl75,O0OO OO0 to $50, 900 OOO
which can be recovered provided these
companies are placed In the hands OF
honest. fearless men.
Il believe that If these companies are
placed In the hands OF such men some of
the richest and best-known men In the
country who have Systematically plum
dered the people for n quarter of a CEN
tury, Will be sent to State prisons for
long terms"
In a letter to the Governors commit
tee, Mr.. Lawson advised IL to assure the
New York Legislature that the commit
tee approves OF the new election law pro-
vlded by the Armstrong committee. He
urges the Governors committee to do all
In Its power to assist In the passage OF
the law. Mr. Lawson advises the Gov
crnors' committee, in the event of the
board OF trustees 'as near Ideal In It's
composition as Your honesty, fearless
ness and ability can formulate.
Urges Political Work.
In third communication, adressed to
tho polcyholders OF the New York and
Mutual Life companies. who have sent
him their proxies, Mr.. Lawson explained
the situation and urged them to do all
In their power TO aid in the passage of
the law In regard to the conduct OF the
annual election
The most effective work YOU can do"
said Mr.. Lawson. rs to cause your Gov
ernorS. State Commissioners and different
committees to serve notice on the New
York Life and Mutual that II they op-
pose the passage Of the law they will
be debarred from doing business In your
State"
Mr.. Lawson also speaks of an alleged
secret contract I'm use by the companies
which the Armstrong committee. in their
istence Of