New-York tribune., 1905-04-24
TO BLOCK AGENTS PLAN.
PROXY GETTING BARS.
EoujfabLc Committee Would Raise
Them in Naturalization Plan.

The conferences of agents of the Equitable
life Assurance Society, at which the agents
determined to form themselves into proxy get
tors in anticipation OF forced naturalization OF
the society. have had one important result which
tbe agents did not expect II President Alexan-
der and Gage r. TarbelI called together the
agents solely to make them part of the cam
naign against James II. Hyde. the Hyde par
tisans declare their scheme is likely to go far
astray for it was learned yesterday that the
naturalization plan finally reported to the di-
rectors will make special provision that policy
holders proxies be not gathered through the
agents.
A committee OF directors consisting Of Sena-
tor Depew, August Belmont, Cornelius n Bliss
and Alvin W. Krech is awaiting the decision
of Justice Maddox in the Lord action 10 take
up naturalization plans, as agreed to by Mr..
Hyde and the lawyers for Mr.. Alexander. for
discussion OF certain details concerning the rep
resentation Of policyhoders in the directorate
and the executive committee. When the MEM
bers of this committee read the resolutions
passed by the agents announcing their intention
to form bodies Of policyholders who should
transfer proxies to them pending naturalization,
they decided then that it would be unwise TO
allow the agents practically TO control the vot-
ing by proxy.
Mr. Hyde's lawyers and his supporters in the
plans which. they say. would work directly into
Mr. AIexanders hands. If the committee on
naturalization does not take a firm stand on the
question of proxy getting the lawyers will sub
NIT arguments showing how the agents could
swing their power toward any faction in the
society
Reports that Gage f. Tarbeu would be asked
to resign. following a special meeting of the
directors to be called this week, continued yes
terday. No official confirmation could be OBJ
tained
Mr.. Tarbell was not at home yesterday. He
had gone TO SmthvilIe 10 visit relatives it was
said at the Ansonia. Private detectives have
gone to Chenango County TO look up Mr.. Tar
bells record. according 10 information received
yesterday. Stories that from mining deals Mr..
Tarbell acquired considerable money and other
people much experience have interested both
factions in the Equitable fight
If Mr. Tarbell should be forced to resign from
the society, with possibly the resignation of Mr.
Alexander TO follow, many of the agents who
have been active in the service of Mr.. TarbelI
and in the recent conferences would have TO go,
too say Hyde men. for a complete reorganization
of the agency forces would be necessary to get
rid of the Tarben influences.
Agents who had remained neutral would be
promoted TO general agencies, where they would
receive all possible help to overcome the an
tagonism of the old Tarben appointees, who. of
course, would hold their renewal accounts
IF any other company wants those men it is
welcome TO them" said Hyde supporter. It's
much better that the traitor should go over to
the enemy than he should remain in our camp.
There We're many agents who acted as they did
simply because the Tarbell-Alexander faction
forced them into it. Others did it from hope OF
reward"
Arguments on a phase Of the Lord suit will
be heard in Brooklyn before Justice Maddox
this morning. The Alexander lawyers want to
have struck out from the petition TO intervene
submitted by Samuel Untermyer for Mr. Hyde
the copy Of the address made by the vice-presi-
dent to the directors of the Equitable. and the
trust agreement by which Mr.. Alexander be-
came one OF the trustees Of the Hyde stock.
The Hyde lawyers will object TO any attempt to
remove these documents from the records.
Stories that Elihu Root had withdrawn from
Mr. Hyde's staff Of counsel We're denied last
night Samuel Unteunyer declared that there
was absolutely truth in the story that Nr.
Root had withdrawn" Mr.. Root was in a con-
ference with the rest Of Mr.. Ryde's counsel on
Saturday afternoon. and took prominent part
in outlining the policy which the Hyde party is
10 follow.
The Frick committee is settling TO earnest
work in investigating Equitable conditions. Some
Of the information requested by Mr.. Frick has
been received. Other documents and transcripts
Of the records Will be delivered as soon as the
clerks canfnish them, and the committee will
IA ke up the information soon as il is received.
That committee and its experts are goingg
about their work with a calmness absolutely
judicial" said Hyde partisan When It makes
it's report that report will be based on indisputa
BILE facts. and no essential facts will be missing.
There will be important developments then.
am willing to prophesy. The great sums which
the Alexander family receives in salaries and
fees each year. and the various incidentais which
20 10 their relations. will be merely sidelights.
There win be a housecleaning then, YOU may be
sure and II will net harm the Hyde party any.
Senator Depew declared yesterday that all de-
velopments in the difficulty hinged ut present on
the report Of tho Frlck committee. He could see
no reason for any immediate meeting of the
board OF directors. which alone had power to re-
move an officer from his place
Il have grea. faith in the investigating
inittee." said the Senator 1T is a strong body
Of men, men representative of high business
character. Mr. Frick stands with Mr.. Carnegie
in his own field. James j. Hill and f. IL Harri
man are well known D. O. Mills and Melville
y Ingalls, of the big Four" and Brayton Ives
are all level headed shreWd business men. IL
the committee should reach any opinion as TO
any phase Of this question that opinion would
be final. ] should think it would be at least a
month before any decision could be given. |
have been through that sort of thing myself,
and | know the work IL entails.
John D. Crimmns. too felt that the contro-
versy should he let alone until the report Of the
Frick committee.
1t is a good thing that the factional fight is
quiet" said he. The public rs not interested III
this dispute among the directors. but II has
great interest in the question of whether the
surulus and assets Of the society intact.