New-York tribune., 1906-04-27
REPLIES TO CRIMMINS.
BAKER HITS DIRECTORS.
Admits Many Are Men of Integrity
Doubts If They Did Duty.

rohn n Cri-,nnius who in refusing 10 become
a member OF the policyholders' association Of the
Mutual Life Insurance Company said he would
cast his influence for the reelection Of the pres
ent board OF trustees. received reply from
Bernard y Raker chairman of that committee
Yesterday Mr. Baker oommends the policy
holders movement on the ground that they
SHOULD not leave the company entirely in the
hands OF others. the interests OF msny Of whom
were not such could he commended.
Mr. Baker says he has policies calling for
S1oO0 600 SAG 600 Of which is IN deferred dividend
poli-ies Continuing, he says:
can YOU for one moment. blame any other
INFESTED in > company aud who not even exercises
The privilege OF voting his stock, unting with
ional civic life II every ofceholder were allowed
ers themselves 10 10 their own fun duty has re-
suited to-day in one OF the greatest scandals 10 the
Known
aeree with YOU perfectly that the investment is
TOO sacred for those We leave 10 jeopardize II by
placing IN the hands of irresponsible parties. nut
10 oG protdt % for % our families should az least say
into whose hands the management Of those FUNDS
such character and position that they Nouic never
for one moment allow their own personal Interests
10 he u ,ognized in the management OF the trusts;
You must admit that this has been done. Inc
ment. but has ii prospered and accumulated as
much surplus az II should have done. or paId me
no douht many Of the present trustees are men II
did they not, in many cases. neglect il?
samuel Untermyer. representing the Interna-
tionsi Policyhoders' Committee. has sent TO AL
hsny an amendment 20 the bill regulating the
elections in mutual companies. II provides that
the companies shall file twenty-five extra copies
Of the lists Of their poicyholders with the State
superintendent OF Insurance 10 be loaned by
him TO responsible policyholders' committees
for a. the elections
some twenty editors and publishers OF insur-
ance Journals az the Astor House last night be-
gan movement 10 have the insurance press
~ the country act as q unit in the policy IL
adopts in the elections Of the mutual companies
next fall Henry - sommers. Editor Of The
Insurance Record" said. after the meeting:
We want to get unanirnity of action IN the SUP.
port o: tho tickets whicA we believe 10 oe tle oest
~ those put in the nelo Tor the various nlutuaI
companies. During The last year we have quite
think ] can say, however. that il our plan for
ursnimous action is decided upon there vii Be Ger;
I4fe Who viii be opposed by the insurance press y
ne present MANAGEMENT tres 70 reieSt al OF ~, t.e
Interests OF the polcyholders. In many OF the
iaauenoe with the Insurance. departments and the
general agencies. and they would make powerful
engine. II working in unison.
Franklin Webster. OF The Insurance Press;
Judge Nichols of The Insurance Monitor; G.
A Jenney. of The Weekly Underwriter": J. B.
Mcclellan. ~ The Baltimore Underwater" and
c. J. Smith. Of The Yigilant," were named as
committee to put the idea before the manage
rnent Of the seventy-odd insurance journals in
the country and call a convention 10 act on the
proposition in this city within the next month
or So
Mr.. Sonmers denied that any complaints were
heard yesterday that the insurance companies
had cut of advertising in insurance journals
He said that il had been curtaied somewhat. but
II was understood 10 he due TO the desire Of the
companies TO reduce expenses in general.
William Rand. Jr- counsel for Frederick A.
Burnham George Burnham jr.. and George ID.
EldridRe. officials of the Mutual Reserve COM
pany. yesterday concluded his argument for the
quashing Of the indictments against them. He
argued before Recorder Goff that the indict-
ments. which charge forgery and grand larceny,
were obtained evidence that was irrelevant,
immaterial and incompetent. Assistant District
Attorney Nott opposing the motion opened his
argument, which is 10 be finished to-day.