The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-19
ENORMOUS VOTE IN
TRUSTEE ELECTIONS
Claimed Administration Ticket
New York and Mutual Win
100000 BALLOTS CAST
II viii BE Weeks Before Results of the
Campaign Are Definitely Known.
Grand Jury Investigates
Legislative Features.

Y New York, December 1s.-Probably
never before in the history of the coun-
try has there been anything to compare
with the election in this city today ol
trustees for the New York Life and the
Mutual Life Insurance companies. In
number of ballots cast and in the ex-
pendture of time and money the cleo
tion approached that of one of the states
| of the union, certainly no corporation OF
society election ever measured up to II
| in magnitude or interest.
| The total vote cast in both companies
will approximate 100000, of which about
| 900 will be in the New York Life, III
| which the contest has been more vigor-
ously and more bitterly waged. 1t is eX-
pected it will be some weeks before votes
are counted and the result of the cam-
paign known.
The Equitable Life Assurance society,
the Mutual Reserve Life Insurance COM
pany and the Security Mutual of Bing-
hampton also held elections today, but
as there We're no opposition tickets in
the field in these companies the elections
of their administration tickets were but
perfunctory proceedings.
Officials of both the New York Life
and the Mutual company declared to-
night that the administration ticket had
without doubt been elected by large ma
iorites. The interest of the policyholders'
committee, through Samuel Untermyer,
its general counsel, expressed the conclu-
sion that the reform tickets would win
in both companies, but by comparatively
close margins. While the ballots were
being turned in at the company's offices
today the grand jury was investigating
affairs of the New York Life Insurance
company. as brought out before the leg
islatve investigation committee
District Attorney Jerome examined sew
eral witnesses. among whom were Ed
mond B. Randolph, treasurer of the New
York Life, and his chief clerk, M. NJ.
Matison Both viii be recalled.
William Nelson Cromwell of counsel for
the New York Life Insurance company,
after the close of election today, issued
a statement in which he said;
'The number of ballots received at the
home office and delivered by the admin
istration to the inspectors of elections
was 1872, ,56S. and the votes by proxy cast
for the administration ticket were n40OO,
making total of 100000.
sFrom the fact that the ballots In
favor of the administration have generally
been sent to the home office and those in
favor of the international committee to
the offices of the latter, it is reasonable
to presume that at least from 80 to 80
per cent of ballots sent to the home office
are In favor of the administra alton ticket,
which makes a total administration vote
of considerably over 100000.
"3oth Mr.. Untermeyer and Mr.. Scrug-
ham who cast the votes of the inter-
national committee stated. under
much public questioning upon tender of
their votes, that they did not know how
many votes they were casting and could
NOT state | make no comment upon this
curious statement but | have every rea-
son to believe the total vote of the In
,ernationaJ committee does not exceed
150 600 | believe that the administration
ticket has been carried by 100000, after
making allowances for errors ana dupll-
cations"
Samuel Irntermeyer estimated the
united committees ticket OF the Mutual
life company would win by a majority Of
1o0O Mr.. Untermeyer said that 1900
bailots were sent to the home office Of
tho conpanv by mail and otherwise up to
and including yesterday. OF this amount
he claims 15 per cent were defective. Mr..
irn+erniever said further that he believed
thai 70 per cent OF the rmainder left after
deducting the IS per cent for detectives,
are votes cast for the united committee s
ticket.
According to his estimate this would
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