The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-01
UNTERMYER Is TO
COUNSEL A. A. RYAN
Will Represent Interests, but
Graft Probe Must Not Be
Hampered.
AIDS TO DO FIRST WORK
Lawyers Letter Hints at Plan
tn Modify Arrangements
With Banks.
AIDS TO DO FIRST WORK

When Samuel Unteruyer acceded yes
terday to Allan A. r ms request -
represent his il terests he beca re an inn
portant { ctur in the controversy sur
rounding the affairs of that operator,
whose assets have been taken over by
bankers from whom Ryan obtained
loans. The acceptance of the retainer
was contained in a letter from Utter
myer to Ryan in which the stipulation
was made that Ryan's affairs were not
to interfere with Untermyer's work in
the Lockwood committees housing graft
Investigation. Another condition made
by the attorney was that Ryan must
abide absolutely by Untermyers judg-
ment and that he must not make any
public statements without the latter's
specific approval.
The details of the transaction by
which Ryan's assets were taken over by
the banking interests are to be left, for
the present, in the hands of Alvin Inter
myer. son of Samuel Untermyer. and
Harold A. Content, of the law firm OF
Griffiths, Sarfaty & Content and these
two lawyers will work under the general
supervision of Samuel Untermyer in CO.
operation with Ryaf's former attorneys.
That the efforts of, Untermyer will be
directed toward modification OF the
arrangements by which Ryan's assets
were taken over by the banking interests
was indicated in the lawyers letter of
acceptance.
Such study Of the situation as 1
have been able to make" the Inter-
meyer letter reads, confirms me in the
belief that your interests require prompt
and vigorous representation. The banks
are manifestly overwhelming secured
and you have an equity of millions of
dollars, provided you are properly safe
guarded, with respect to which 1 have
not yet had an opportunity of investi-
eating or making up my mind. So far
I have found no reason to question the
good will of the banks, which II is your
duty to assume until something tran
spires that convinces you to the con-
trary, although / believe that the tran
saction as contaminated should In jus
tice to you be substantially modified
MY only remaining hesitation about
accepting the representation of your in
terests arises from the fact that 1t Will
involve constant attention on my part
during the next few weeks and that. in
justice to the public duties l have as
summed and which are of vastly greater
moment to the public and tb me than
the interests Of any one man or set of
men, however relatively important, and
permit my private interests or anything
else to interfere, 1t will be impossible
for me to give to your affairs the con-
slant personal attention that they re-
quire.
IF you are willing that I shall, for
the time being. entrust the details of
these transactions to my son, Alvin I'm
termyer, and Harold A. Content. to
work out under my general direction. in
80 III. e.. ttlrt ave
I am prepared to act for you, provided
you will be content to accept such of
INV time as l can spare from my public
and other duties. 1t must, however. be
clearly understood that you will In all
things abide absolutely by my judy
ment and that you will particularly
refrain from conducting negotiations or
making public statements except as spe-
officially and in each instance approved
by me.
"If these conditions are not satisfac-
tory, fear you must turn elsewhere, as
7 will under no conditions sacrifice or Inn
peril or be for q moment ttirned away
from the much needed constructive work
upon which have embarked In the pub
lie protection for any private interests,
however important"
The terms on which Untermyer ac-
cepted the representation of Ryan's af-
fairs were accepted by the latter In the
following letter:
II accept the conditions you impose, al
though l would have greatly preferred a
larger share of your personal attention,
which am hoping to receive at your
hands as soon as the present pressure
upon you has been relieved.
II realize. however, and sympathize
with your determination not to permit
the interests or affairs Of any private in
dividual to hamper you In the valuable
and unselflsh task you have undertaken,
and will accordingly be content with such
of your time as you can spare from your
more important public work.
I'm the meantime ] will. with the aid
of your son and Mr.. Content. have the
statements OF my affairs put in such shape
as to relieve you of all unnecessary
labor"