Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
INVALID VOTES ALLEGED.
Policy Holders Committee Protests in
Insurance Election.

Insurance Election.
Beaten by big pluralities in the election
for trustees of both the New York and Mu-
tual Life Insurance companies. 1t is be-
lieved, the international policy holders
committee yesterday tried to explain by
alleging that thousands of invalid proxies
and ballots had been cast for administra-
ton tickets of both companies.
This charge was made in particular
against the Mutual company by George r.
Scrugham, organization manager of the in
ternational policy holders committee.
James McKeen, general solicitor for the
Mutual, made light of the charges, stating
that in preparing for the election and the
casting Of ballots it had complied fully
with the law.
One of the charges brought by Mr.. Scrug-
ham was that many of the Mutuars policy
holders in South Africa and Australia had
been deceived into voting for the companys
ticket by the statement of its South African
manager that there was but one ticket in
the field and requesting policy holders to fill
out q proxy in favor of the administration
ticket or a proxy to be voted for some other
ticket.
Must Count 7s5, 900 Votes.
The task of counting 7s5.OOO votes cast
will begin probably early next week.
The board of inspectors. Of each company
has secured the services Of expert account
ants, who will have charge of the counting
and tabulating. Separate accounting firms
have been employed by the two companies.
Before the actual work begins representa-
tives of each of these firms will consult to-
gether with view to perfecting a system
for canvassing the votes.
Yesterday a conference was held between
a representative of the firm engaged by
the New York Life and George Scrugham
of the international policy holders commit
tee at which time the system for canvass
ing the votes in the New York Life was
considered. This plan will be laid before
the inspectors of that company on Fri
day.
The five inspectors of the New York Life
conferred yesterday with the representa-
tives of the administration ticket and the
international committee ticket. Samuel
Untermyer and Mr.. Scrugham represented
the policy holders. while James H. McIn-
tosh represeI. ed the administration. The
conference was called for the purpose of
considering matters relating to the canvass
ing of the votes. Nothing definite was
done. Mr.. Mcintosh raised an objection to
counting the policy holders tickets on the
ground that they were received In sealed
packages and were not opened in the pres
ence of the inspectors. The inspectors took
no action on this protest.
The inspectors Of the Mutual Life also
met yesterday and conferred with repre-
sentative Of the accountants employed by
the company.
Each viii Have Watchers.
When the count begins both sides will
have regularly commissioned watchers pres
ent. and ballots and proxies which are con-
sidered fraudulent or Illegal will be duly
challenged. Undoubtedly q large number
of duplicate ballots have been cast mad
vertently Many policy holders who have
held in either company more than one pol
icy have cast vote on each. although only
entitled to vote once. Many of the proxies
are made out in foreign languages.
The officers Of the New York Life have
not reduced particle their estimate Of
victory for the present management by
plurality Of 100000. and the administration
of the Mutual estimates its plurality at
10000. The International policy holders
committee however. still lays claim to hav-
ing carried the Mutual's election by from
500 to $4,000 votes. and the New York Life
by from 5000 to 12.o00.
Grand Jury Goes Ahead.
The grand jury continued the examina
ton of witnesses In the Investigation which
that body is making of New York Life In
surance affairs Witnesses before 1t were
Edmund D. Randolph. treasurer of the
company and NJ M. Mattison. chief book
keeper in the treasurer's office. Inquiry into