The Washington herald., 1907-06-16
BY MAX COHEN,
Editor Views. Washington. d. c.
The Late John A. Mccall.

The Late John A. Mccall.
That the names Of The Three Johns
will be inscribed in capital letters in the
future history Of American life insurance
IS a foregone conclusion. The untimely
death of the late distinguished president
Of the New York Life will also therein
constitute a chapter of an awe-inspiring
and sad tragedy. The fearless historian
will also unhesitatingly rebuke New
Yorks too strenuous lawmakers for con-
STRUNG McCalrs voluntary and frank ad-
mission before the Armstrong Committee,
OF his contribution 10 the @. o. P. cam
paign fund. and his employment Of Law
yer Hamilton 10 make his generally sue
cessful fights TO best defeat oppressive
taxation and legislative financial raids
upon the funds Of the company, as an
unjustiiabe infraction Of New Yorks in
surance laws, when, as matter Of fact,
the Hamilton hastily-declared waste" Of
trust funds saved millions of dollars, not
only for the policy holders of the New
York Life, but of other life insurance in
stitutons. That John A. Mccall. despite
the grievous wounds inflicted upon him
by the barbs of the metropolitan yellow
journals and howls for his indictment
and removal from office, manfully shoul-
dered all blame and responsibility, and
strong in his rectitude and In the honesty
Of his intention, for many months valiant
y faced his accusers. That so sensitive
was he Of maintaining his reputation for
honor that he made uncalled-for restora-
tion TO the company of the criticised ex-
-
worldly possessions to his bereaved fam
fly. That not until Mccall discovered the
treachery Of the false friends in his own
official household, which so brutally
crushed his heart. did he give up his good
fight Then, after grim death took him
into its colder but less hostile embrace.
even some of his heretofore seyerest
critics did not hesitate TO aver that he
was truly an honorable man." and to
attribute his untimely death to foul muir
der.
The Late John VI. Pattison.
It may not be generally known to the
public at large that the death Of this
next "John." the late president Of the
Union Central Life. Of Cincinnati, and
governor Of the State of Ohio, was also
greatly FASTENED because of a legal, but
nevertheless unjust and extortOnate tax
case decision against the company.
This was the suit fled at Cincinnati,
Ohio. in October 1905. by the solicitor Of
Hamilton County against the Union Cen
tral Life Insurance Company for the col
lection Of S2.2H.HO alleged back taxes,
with interest, bringing the sum total up
to S2,3531S1. As President Pattison was
then running for governor Of Ohio. many
Of his friends solely looked upon this un-
expected suit as a poor political dodge
70 iniure his candidacy.
Without any fear of contradiction, we
also assert that to this uncalled for and
unexpected heavy Judgment for back
taxes against his company can be traced
the first sign of breakdown IN the here
TOfOre good physical powers of this great
leader In the arena Of life Insurance and
universally esteemed citizen OF Ohio The
editor Of Views. an intimate friend Of
the deceased. well knows Of the anxieties
and strain on his mind and nervous
forces By this legal raid upon the com
pany's treasury, and how he exerted all
Of his energy and mental faculties IN
order 10 defeat such eXtOrtiOn, and thus
primarily protect the interests Of the com
pany's policy holders Verify. this caused
him many sleeDless nights heavily taxed
his mental resources and largely under
mined his heretofore vigorous and healthy
constitution. This tax case is still before
the Ohio court general term, but de-
eision thereon may be expected any day
We also know that it was his firm inten-
ton, In case this extortiOn should he rat
flied by the Ohio courts 10 remove the
dou1irffe 0F fNa ro-1UaD-- and TO wit hdTd
Il from that State.
John Il. HegemRn-Only Survivor.
It is indeed the irony Of fate that now
tie only survivor Of this undeniably great
t7io Of American life insurance eTecu-
tives-the n0blest Roman Of them all
should also recently have become the
tbrget Of technical indictment for alleged
ATTRACTION Of New Yorks insurance laws.
Persecution Of the heads Of ufe insurance
<corporations must, indeed, still be a fad
IN Greater New York" when its district
attorney and the grand jury of the Coun-
ty Of New York were prompted 10 placard
Hegeman upon charges based upon the
very facts which he so frankly and volun-
tariIy disclosed before the Armstrong
Committee, and which were subsequently
ErfIeQ in LL- l+Hbll "a l--t-- AblAllll4AtN-
without any adverse criticism,
Fortunately, the facts in evidence. re-
enforced by the unanimous testimony Of
the board OF directors OF the Metropoli-
tan Life, very Clealy prove that no
violation Of State requirements was in
tended by its president; that no wrong
was committed; that no profit accrued
20 him his associates or 10 any other
g-Fs--;GrsaT IA ho IN
uual statements of the company were
reported as incorrect, in that they desig-
mated cash instead Of collateral loans is
also well refutcd by these directors. The
latter sOlemnly affirm that as a matter
Of fact the cash SO reported was in the
c0mpany's treasury, and the collateral
loans were not: that the collateral loans
were always promptly paid in full, with
interest when called and that the COM
pany and its policy holders never lost
dollar through that form Of investment;
that the criticised transfers were made 10
avoid the annoyance Of applications for
similar loans from Wall street brokers
We speak all the more strongly in pro-
test Of these indictments, because an in
innate acquaintance with John r. Hege-
man during a period Of nearly twenty
years we'll enables us TO testify to his
compelling and lofty sense of honor
Most firm also is therefore his belief that
these undoubtedly well-intentioned guar
Cians OF New Yorks morals committed
q blunder and injustice in thus placing
John r. Hegeman in the humiIiating p0-
sition Of almost a criminal
To portray true sketch Of this ieonine
type Of man-how every fiber Of his being
IS imbued with moral obligations to his
connanys policy holders: to his country.
.-g-- l. -s- ff---. 81. H.
10 his church, 70 his company associates
I'D 70 the nnhlic AZ largn-WOuld renuirn