The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-27

WI. Lawson S statement regarding inc
proxies he has obtained has beer
awaited with interest, in view of the
fact that one of the laws recommended
by the Armstrong committee would in
validate each and every one Of the
proxies already secured. - ~
To the Armstrong Committee.
In communication to the Armstrong
committee. Mr.. Lawson says in part:
con behalf of scores of thousands of
policyholders of the New York and Mu
tual Life Insurance companies, l. WoulE
respectfully submit: g..
cat an expense of hundreds of thous
ands of dollars | have collected suffi
cient proxies from policyholders to give
me Cup to the present time), control at
the coming election Of both the New
York and Mutual companies
IL have turned these over to a COM
mittee composed of governors Of states
and equally representative public men.
"My reason for collecting such prox-
les: [ had reason to believe the policy
heds of these 6de
$3.50, 100000, which can be recovered,
provided these companies are placed in
the hands Of honest, fearless men.
Prison for erich Men,
1T 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 systemati-
cally plundered the people for quarter
of a century past will be sent to state 8
prison for long terms
! 81 also believe that, in the trial for
the recovery of the moneys looted from
these companies and the punishment of
In0farS will hn hrnr1 c1,t
out which will show how and by whom
the people have been robbed Of over a
billion dollars during the last twenty
five years thru the instrum entality of
banks, trust companies, railroads and
other large corporations; how munich
pal. state and federal governments and
state and federal courts have been de-
bauched and lawmakers and lawyer-ad-
! ministrators corrupted.
Looks to Congress.
81 believe such revelation will
| cause congress to appoint an investiga-
! ting committee and if such committee
! is appointed with full powers, there
will be exposed a frightful condition of
affairs, compared to which the insur-
ance unbottiinge will be as altar of
laid bare how United States presiden-
cies have been bought; how courts have
been corrupted; how the federal gov
ernment has been debauehed;- how
scores Of millions of dollars are taken
each year from corporations after hav-
ing first been taken from the people
and used in the debauching and cor
rupting of the people s institutions, in
fact the American people will be shown
that by the foulest fraud a large ma
jority Of the multimillionaires have
criminally collected their great fortunes.
Believing the above resolutions will
follow the recapture Of these two great
companies which have been taken from
their real owners by fraud, I have been
willing to make any sacrifice to assist
policyholders in recapturing them
Not Touched Real Criminals.
~ have closely followed the entire
work Of your committee and while
know it has accomplished much, I also
know from personal knowledge it has
not exposed or touched upon single
foundation evil or exposed or even
placed upon the witness stand single
one of the head criminals responsible
for the evil.
"From personal knowledge I know
the policyholders cannot come into their
own or be insured against the total de-
structlon OF their. companies and the
loss, in whole or in part, of the funds
that have m past years been grated
from them, unless their companies are
taken out Of the hands of the men who
have either looted them or stood by
while the looting was going on.
con the other hand, I know if they
turned over to such honest. fearless
men as the governors committee will
nominate for directors and trustees,
all necessary reforms will follow and
the first real blow will have been struck
at the SYSTEM which is rapidly send.
ing this nation to destruction:
Will Aid New Workers.
"Therefore, if your committee will
ask the legislature to enact the law
which you have said should be enacted
to-wit, that all proxies now in exis
tence, by whomever collected or held
shall be made void, that the annual
election shall take place only after suf
ficient time has elapsed to allow the
companies to send to all policyholders
as many sets of names for directors and
trustees as shall be nominated by any
100 .policyholders, together with a sci
nominated by the companies present
trustees, and that such nomination.
shall be treated fairly and alike; that
there shall be open to all list Of
poi!cyholders' names and addresses,
will not only advise the governors
committee. to consent to voiding al
proxies collected by me, but / will dt
all in my power to assist in the passag'
of the laws you havo recommended ant
advise the governors committee to d.
the same, and would respectfully sa,
that, in such close touch as I am will
some hundreds Of thousands of policy
holders, governors, state insurance com
missioners, legislators and differen
committees, I have little doubt that
over this country that the sgrafters nov
in controol Of the big Three compa
MES will not dare nnnnse the nassa o.