New-York tribune., 1906-11-22
DEXTER VICE TWOMBLY.
Many Ballots rrith This Change Are
Nozc IN Circulation.

The name of George T. Dexter. Tribune re-
porter learned last night. has been substituted
for that OF Hamilton Mex. Twombly on pro-
administration ballots received by many policy
holders from Mutual Life agents In insurance
circles there is much speculation as TO whether
agents have been instructed TO make this
change. and if so. who ts sponsor for the in
structions Mr. Twombly has filed at Albany a
refusal TO serve. If reelected told in The
Tribune several weeks ago.
Mr. Dexter was already a selected fusion"
ticket nominee. He is second vice-president OF
the Mutual Life. There is a bylaw of the com
pany. much in evidence In the recent coercion"
question. which prevents any officer lower than
the first vice president from serving a trustee.
In October an isolated instance of this change
was brought to Mr. Dexter's attention. 1t was
believed at the time that well meaning
friend was responsible for the substitution Now
however, there are so many ballots IN circula-
tion marked In this way that IT is thought there
is a well organized movement among agents or
others TO obtain Mr.. Dexters election should the
united committees ticket fail of success.
George R Scrugham. the international COM
nittees manager, declared yesterday that Rob-
ert H. McCurdy ex-President McCurdy's son.
had been canvassing for the administrati ton
ticket in Cincinnati and other cities.
now pending against the McCurdys. 1t will be
recalled that certain Of the alleged ''coerced'
managing agents based their refusal to support
the administration ticket on an objection to fits
'.AIcCurdy trustee" feature This also is one OF
the arguments the opposition interests gen
orally make use of in their criticism OF the ad-
ministration ticket.
James c. Colgate. president of the pro-admin-
istration Colgate committee. characterized as
"absurdly false" the printed report that the
McCurdys had contributed to the Colgate COM
mittee's campaign fund. Mr Colgate has sent
a protest TO Superintendent Kelsey against the
alleged clause in the international committees
ballot statement which tells policyholders TO
return the ballot by mail az once in inclosed
enveIope 10 Richard OIney" the
international committees chairman, at No 20
Broad street Mr. Colgate says this is contrary
10 the letter and spirit of the Armstrong law.
MIR. Colgate adds:
The law does not contemplate that sealed ball
lots. sent by mail, shall he received. opened and
for a long period retained. by a partisan com
mittee composed, in the main, or persons nav
ing no connection with the company. 10 per-
mil the adoption of that course would be TO
defeat the very purpose of the law: and would
open the door 70 possible coercion or the PolicE-
holder and fraud upon the company
Mr. scrurham issued yesterday a typewrtten
have forgotten that the International Policy
holders Committeeman are rot candidates for
trustees in either the Mutual or New York Life
The candidates for trustees nominated
by them are policyholders in the re-
spective companies.
Mr.. Scrugham added;
The purpose of afTording the policyholders an
onnortunity 10 vote the complicated ballot that
has heen devised for this election through this
committee was that these ballots might be
checked and he in proper legal form before de
livered 10 the inspectors of election Again,
there are thousands of polcyholders who say
that they would not dare vote against the ad-
rnjnistratton and send their ballots into the
companv's office (they might be lost in trans
nortationl Letters have been received by US
n this effect from every section Of the country
Tho vote cast al the home Office OF the Mutual
= ice has practically ceased, while the largest
daily vote we have received has been recorded
during the past week our vote is in correct
legal form.
Mr.. Scrugham received a reply yesterday from
sunerintendent Kelsey saying that President
Peabody had sent a letter 10 him declaring he
was lnstructing the Mutuals Albany manager
70 discontinue the electioneering methods OF
which Mr. scrugham had complahed.s