New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-10
DENIES MUTUAL CHARGE
NOT COLGATE COMMITTED
Secretary Says His Organization
Didn't Send Illegal Ballots.

William II. Griffin. the secretary OF the Col
gate committee. denied unequivocally yesterday
that Il was this committee which had been send
Ing out either the single administrator Nut
uai Life ballot IN advance OF the Official ballot.
or the administration Endorsement" petitions,
as alleged by various Mutual Life officials It
was considered that Mr.. Griff1n's denial presses
homo the International committees charge that
It is the company itself which Is employing the
policyholders' time and money in canvassing In
dorsenents SIS well es evadins the Armstrong
law by sending out administration ballots IN
advance OF the official ones.
Russell W. Fish. secretary of the Mutual Life
Policyholders' Association. made public an Aus
tranan letter from II. Vincent Harris, of New
castle. New South Wales. protesting against the
cornpary's present administration indorsing the
associations work.
In letter which Mr.. Fish sent TO George IT.
Dexter apropos OF the cornpanys assurance that
4. not employing its agents IN electioneering
work. Mt. Fish declared that Julius B. Gerow. OF
George 3. Brinkerhofs's general agency In this
city, had been visiting various policyholders
suggesting the best ticket and urging tho
disregard OF ell Opposition literature"
A meeting OF the governors OF the Associa-
ton OF Bronx Real Estate Brokers on October
4 urged real estate men 10 vote only for big
Three" trustees n favor OF good first mortgage
Investments instead OF stocks and bonds.
James 81. Mcintosh. general counsel OF the
New York Life, wrote q letter yesterday 70 In
suranoe Superintendent Kelsey. IN which he
said that Mr.. Kelsey had Officially told the
company that ballots should be voted by
mall before October IS until the company
had mailed TO the policyholders the official state
ments proxy forms. etc. Mr.. Mcintosh said
that although he understood that Mr.. Kelsey
had Communicated this ruling 10 the inter
national committee, the committee had mailed
TO the companys poltcyholders on Monday
printed ballots. with accompanying statements
return envelopes, ETC., urging pOlicyholders not
10 delay, but 10 vote nowI"
MIR. Mcintosh said the international committee
had thus Openly violated the specific ruling OF
the State Insurance Department.
The company said Mr. Mcintosh, protests and
objeots' to these methods and to the reception
at the election Of any ballots solicited
After the reporter had read the conpanvss
statements TO George r Scrugharn, the tnterna-
tional committees manager. las. night, Mr.
Scrughan said he had received notice OF any
such ruling by Mr. Kelsey. In support Of his
action, he said. he had had the opinion Of ex-
Judge Parker, Richard Olney, OF Massachusetts,
Samuel Unternyer, Louis Marshall and other
counsel that policyholders might vote at anv
time between September IS and October IS
Mr.. Scrugham said that he had understood
from Mr.. Kelsey that the New York Life would
opinion that the committees action was entirely
lawful. A double ballot" with the "adrninfstra
ton candidates cancelled by a red ink Y was
the form Of ballot sent cut by the committee
There VIII be a meeting OF the cornpany's
trustees to-day. when this affair Will probably
come up for consideration.
Mr.. Untermyer is expected back from Europe
next week