The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-10
The COMPACT
WAS BROKEN.
New York and Equitable Life
Insurance Companies at War.
AFTER EACH OTHERS AGENTS.
Equitable Said 10 Have Secured Over -Four
Hundred Of New York Co. S Men,
Mr.. MIX THE CHIEF CAUSE OF TROUBLE
With SsVsnl Others Hs Transferred His Services
10 tie tQlLabs Company Agsns Hold a
Meeting and Some Decide 10 Return.

New York Jan. 10.--In room 407 OF
the New York Life Insurance Building
a crowd of agents had an animated
meeting yesterday. 1t was stated by
one OF the officers OF the company that
nearly all of those present were the
agents who. il was reported. had left
the New York Life TO enter the employ
OF the Equitable. 1t was also stated that
all or nearly all would return to the
New York Life. and that the meeting
would result i'm a compromise or agree
ment which would be satisfactory TO all
parties interested.
Another officer Of the company said
that the whole trouble lay with r. J.
Mix. manager of the Manhattan depart
inent. 1t had been observed for some
time past that Mr. Mix was endeavor-
ing to cause some dissatisfaction among
the agents, and was frequently seen
talking with representatives OF another
company 1t was expected that he
meant TO take with him as many of the
working force OF the agents as he could
command over TO the Equitable.
PLAN MISCARRIED.
The same informant added that Mr.
Mix's action had evidently miscarried
for the old agents. who had keen per-
suaded to go. were returning in full
force.
Mr.. Mix, II WAS further stated, was
sion which had been created TO the ef-
feet that the commissions OF the agents
were to be cut 10 per cent. and this
was among the subjects di.sussed at the
meeting.
The officers OF the company were
much annoyed at the unsettled state OF
affairs. They exhibited no resentment
however. toward any OF the disaffected
agents. On the contrary, they were well
coined to the agency rooms and invited
10 discuss their grievances. Many new
men also presented themselves for po-
sitions vacated by the men who had
gone over to the Equitable Life. Mos
OF them were told to report later to the
superintendent.
when asked IL the statement was tru,
that Mr.. Mix was the sole cause OF the
trouble replied: "Yes, It's correct"
*. r.. Whitney, manager OF the Sea
board branch, said: II think the trouble
Is over. There will not be more than
eight or nine who will leave us perma-
nently. The rest are loyal, and the ef-
forts OF Mr.. Mix 10 control them are
futile"
AT THE EQUITABLE.
At the Equitable Life building sever
al former managers OF the New York
Life were closeted with officers OF the
Equitable. They We're said TO be pre-
pairing lists OF agents.
George +. Tarbell the second vice.
president OF the company. displayed
several sheets containing about 100
names. He said they were those oS
agents OF the New York Life. who had
signed the agreement with the Eauit-
able
our new agents sent In IS applica-
tons for policies yesterday. and we ex-
pect still more" he said I'VE are onen-
ing new Offices all over the city We
have the whole Manhattan department
OF the New York Life. AIS agents and
10 managers.
Here is the whole story OF the dis
pute In brief" continued Mr.. Tarbel
The New York Life sent us December
rs. the letter abrogating the compact
which We have had with them for
seven years in regard to enticinR awav
each others agents At the same time
that they mailed that letter kilograms
were sent to all their agents declaring
the compact broken. and instructing
them 10 secure as MANY of the Eauit
able agents as possible They secured
only two, by the way. and one we were
going 20 let go anyway We communi.
Gated repeatedly with Mr.. Perkins. one
OF the vice-presidents Of the New York
Life. but were unable TO come TO an
agreement. Since they broke the treaty.
we considered ourselves free and have
taken as many OF their agents az We
could. Here Is a list OF the Manhattan
managers who have signed with us. r.
j. Mix. w. &. Flsbree ] r Hawke
Julius Bohm. w. F. wilkinson. May
Saymon. Rudolph Bohm. NJ. Franklin.
Fred Tollman and l. wembech."
ACTION FORCED.
Some Of those who had signed. how
ever, expressed their intentions OF re-
manning with the New York Life.
Wembech, who is a Brooklyn manager.
said:
We are forced into position whore
we were Obliged 20 decide at once. and
under pressure decided 90 20 in a BODY.
There is a good deal OF esprit de corps
among the New York agents and that
accounts for their going IN BODY.
We were told that larger commissions
would be given 90 US nv the Equitable.
but on seriOus second thought I. for
one have Seeded 10 stay win the New
York life"
Mr.. Nix speaking of his reason for
severing his connection with the New
York flfe said.
There IL one important point OF
dissatisfaction. but th-re are y thou
sand petty annoyances which our
agents have been forced 90 put up
with. Perpetual nagging. correspond
ence which one gentleman would not
hold with another and other annoy