The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-25

New York, April 20.-After First
Vice President James II. Hyde OF the
Equitable Life Assurance Society had
informed a committee OF managing
agents this afternoon that il would be
impossible, because of previous engage
ments for him to address them today.
the agents convention, which has been
in session in this city for three days
adjourned without doing anything
This committee did o see Mr.. Hyde
but telephoned to him at his Office and
was given the Information that the
first vice president Of the Equitable
could not accept; that, however, he
would prepare a statement and trans
NIT ii TO the committee, covering the
situation as lie conceived IL. This
statement, 1t its understood, will be
circulated among the agents when 1t is
received.
The invitation to address the agents
followed a call by a committee on Mr..
Hyde this morning with a request that
he resign as an officer of the Society.
This Mr.. Hyde declined to do in an sd-
dress in which he said he would consit-
er such an action unworthy and dis
graceful to the memory Of my father"
and he added further: 1T is evident
from your extraordinary request, and
from the report of the proceedings at
your meeting that you have not the re-
hottest conception of the unfortunate
controversy or the motives behind the
struggle for the control of the Socie-
ty."
In this same address he promised to
write the agents tomorrow in reply to
their demands.
Mr.. Hyde's speech had followed one
by JOS. Bowes, of Baltimore, chairman
of the agents committee, in which Mr.
Doves recited that the request for the
resignation was practically unanimous.
These were the principal develop
ments of the session Of the agents
which began at the Hotel Savoy ibis
morning and continued until 3 o'clock
this afternoon. Permanent organiz1-
ton was effected and officers chosen.
and shortly before adjournment 1t Was
decided that the committee named yea
ter6ay to wait on the state superintsn-
dent of insurance and upon Governor
Higgins + urge legislation favorable
to naturalization should proceed 10
Syracuse tomorrow.
The executive committee of the
Equitable also met today in President
Alexander's Office, but other than the
announcement that the demand for Mr..
Hyde's resignation was discussed moth
ing Vas given out.
The committee of investigation Of
which II. c.. Prick is chairman, was In
session in the course OF the day All
unanimously agreed to employ former
United States Attorney General Knox
as counsel. Announcement was made
that the investigation will be pursued
with all possible speed and thorough
ness.
In connection with the legal ends In
lie Equitable tangle today's announce
:aent that Elihu Root remains as QUO
of Mr. Hyde's counsel, in spite OF sto-
RES 10 the contrary was interesting.
The retaining of Joseph Choate az one
of Hyde's counsel was also announced.
A permanent organization of The
agents was effected, the following off-
GERS being elected:
President, Edward A. Woods. Pitts
burg.
Vice Presidents, F. II, Hazelton, port-
land, Maine: E. VI. Shields, San Fran
cisco; c. z. Townsend, Boston; 8. D..
Sterans, Montreal; w. J. Boldly, Roca-
hill, s. c.; A. B. Newman, Chicago.
Secretary, Charleg Wake, New YORK:
Treasurer, F. p. Chaplin, Toledo. F. l..
Levy, New Orleans, was made q mem
Der of the executive committee.
The agents adopted resolutions urg
ing the organization Of policy holders
under the agents In a campaign to n
force their rights. There was some
talk tonight of the settlement Of diff
ficulties between the Hyde and Aexan-
der parties, but no confirmation could
be secured. A rumor that such steps
were on foot was widely circulated