New-York tribune., 1906-06-15
HOT SHOT AT PEABODY
TBROUN BY UNTERMlER.
Tart Letters add to Gdyefy OF
Mutual Commands Fight.

Come snicv additions TO the literature OF une
,,olicyholders' campaign against the piese"'
,oanaren,ent of the Mutual Life insurance ooih-
r,, -n.-A furnished by President Peabody or
,hat company and Samuel Untermyer' oouHsei
of tbe international Policyhoders' Coihilit'ee'
Yesterday. The first is answer by Presloeh'
peabody tn the letter, recently published, In
which Seymour Eaton secretary OF the COM
,,,,ttee. asks whether the former had spent his
own money or that of the policyholders for the
advertisements appearing under the head OF
..-rhe Truth About the Mutual It is as fol-
lows:
Your letter Of the 9Th inst. which appeared
In the newspapers some time before ii reached
this office has at last arrived. regret mat
YOU have been troubled with letters OF inquiry
which were intended for the company. IL you
will suggest to the policyholders from "noin
your office is being flooded with INQUIRIES
address the comapny direct, i have no DOUBT J
can answer them satisfactorily CertaliIy
shall not refuse 10 them any information 70
which they may be entitled; out IL must pe
apparents that cannot answer all the anony-
nous communications which reach me.
When Mr. Eaton showed President Peabodys
letter 10 Mr.. Untermyer. the latter Immediately
dictated scorching reply. in which he says:
lam surprised at the tone Of your letter. and
particularly at your suggestion that the policy
holders who arc trying to oust you ana gouI lul
associates from your self-constitutea hala6e
rnent OF their property should appeal 10 you 20
stop using their money in the attempts TO retain
your Office against their wishes
Referring TO the recent advertisements of the
Mutual Mr.. Cntermyer says he was told that
they intended 10 stop the attacks against
fhe Mutual. and ADDS:
It was natural that the policyholders should
resent these latest assaults upon their property.
which were ia many respects, quite as daring
as ANY that had been exposed. This they did
by writing TO the secretary OF the committee.
lIe courteously inquired of you for your version
OF the facts, but il seems from your reply that
you do not consider such legitimate inquiries
entitled TO an answer Perhaps you believe that
this defiant and contemptuous attitude toward
the victinized policyholders Will tend TO restore
confidence in the discredited management
Your reference 10 Mr.. Eaton's polite letter as
an -aaonymous communication" IS on a par with
your sighting chara cterization Of the work of
the recent grand jury In the Indictment or TWO
yice-presidents Of your company, whom You re-
tail.ed until the eve OF their Indictment as
mountain laboring to bring forth mouse" and
happy expressions which you have contributed
10 insurance history since your sudden elevation
the dizzy heights OF an important Office. It
IS evident that anything less than president
caught in the act IS house"
NJ Untermye- finished by saying that 1t
would not be difficult TO select a dozen policy
holders from the one hundred thousand whose
behalf Of Mr. Eaton wrote who represent three
times as much insurance and have three times
rs much interest at stake the entire self
constituted board OF officers and directors OF
TIE Mutual and that the latter would be held
personally responsible for the money spent in
the transparent efforts to conduct campaign
against the poIcyholders at their expense"
JEROME TELLS HIS IDEA OF HIS DUTIES.
AS a last word before taking TO the woods OF
Canada for a fishing trip. District Attorney
Jerome took occasion yesterday TO speak at
some length on his idea Of the scope of his Off
cis duties II was in connection with the re-
cent work Of the insurance grand jury and fol-
lowed an answer 10 the criticisms OF Governor
Folk in reply 10 his statement OF Tuesday in
which he said he did not believe in bringing
indictments that would not stand the test of the
higher courts and referred TO the reversal Of
some Of the convictions obtained against the
ST. Louis boodlers when Governor Folk was
Circuit Attorney.
District Attorney Jerome said he had not re-
ferred to Governor Folk In a personal manner
but simply 10 illustrate his point He said he
had never questioned the sincerity of purpose
Of Governor Folk and that what the latter had
done had gone a long way toward removing
had conditions that had existed in St Louis for
many years lie had rendered a great public
service TO The state and the country at large
The District Attorney said he did not see why
Governor Folk should get angry with him. all
though the latter might have thought his inter-
view an ungracious and unjust criticism Of him
District Attorney Jerome then referred TO the
IeXow investigation rs another instance OF
where harm had been cone by the finding OF a
number Of indictments which did NOT resul, IN
final punishment He said:
Those indictments we're hastily drau,r 49,.
did Tot hold good The result was that police