New-York tribune., 1905-02-16
HYDE READY FOR FIGHT.
HIS SIDE CONFIDENT
IF Alexander Loses He May Form
4nofher Com pany.

the organization. While Mr. Hyde would saw
no,hing yesterday. his friends made the most
positive statements that he would win easily
and would be able to dictate just what terms he
pleased TO his vanquished foes These terms. It
gas predicted, would be mercifuI. too save as 10
III leaders Of the revolt, who, naturally. would
have 10 suffer for a base personal attack on
str. Hyde"
James Y. Alexander, president of the COM
rany. serenely went on preparing for the meeting
to-day. in which he is determined to force 10 an
issue the question of .mutualizing" The
Equitable. with the possible deposition Of Mr.
Hyde from Office. OF his own plans he would
not speak but he issued a statement declaring
that he was acting solely for the best interests
of the Equitable and its policy holders and stock
holders The best minds in the insurance world
cecrie6 the one man power in a conpanv of
The vast assets Of the Equitable. he said and
b vas determined that this grave question
should be referred 10 the policy holders-those
vitaily concerned. For himself. he sought no
personal control and had no personal ambition
4 PRELIMINARY SKIRMIsH
The battle to-day, it is believed. will be in
reality only = preliminary skirnish The cleo
;ion # officers. adjourned from the meeting
week ago, Will probably be the irst gun in the
.znt and II is the opinion that when the smoke
The Hyde party, while in power. will probably
not force decision, but rather will play for
delay On one thing Mr.. Hydes decision is firm
Re viii not be deposed from Office in the COM
,any his father founded He does not object to
the naturalization Of the Equitable; in fact
he favors that. If II can be accomplished in a
rational dignifed fashion.
The attempt TO throw him out of Office how
ever. he regards as a base personal attack on
himself and his advisers and this he viii fight
Stories that he has packed" the board of di-
rcctors with personal friends who were not
shareholders until he gave stock to them were
declared absolutely false by his friends, who
pointed out that some time ago ne offered 10
puI his stock into the hands Of the board Of
trustees for voting This trust the board re-
fused To receive. More than that his friends
declared, he had never voted personally the
stock belonging TO his fatner-s estate. This was
handled by Mr. Alexander, but his trust would
expire in about six months, when Mr.. Hyde be-
came thirty years old.
The entire insurance world was speculating
On what would occur if Mr. Hyde carried
through successfully his determination not to
yield &c the demands Of Mr.. Alexander and his
associates. The agreement signed by the thirty
four of5oers Of the company was taken serious
ly Many Insurance men are heartily in sym
Eathy with the views expressed by Mr. Alex
aHder and believe that he and his associates
would resign and either found new company
or buy one nov II existence. To found new
company would in-oIve many difficulties. while
10 buy one would give Immediately a field for
their endeavors. There are in this city just two
companies which could be purchased. If the
Alexander people took either and the present
Equitable organization went into il. well in
formed Insurance men declared that the Equita-
hes business would be injured. On the other
hand. friends Of Mr.. Hyde declared that his
side was bound win, and the Organization
would stick TO the winning side. st
ConcIliauon appeared 10 be out of the ques-
tion. The two sides began to line up in battle
array yesterday. With the young vice-president
were Jacob H. Schiff, openly aid avowedy;
august Belmont, who was in consultation with
them; z. H Hartman and George J. Gould. BY
meeting time to-day it was predicted there
would be from twenty 10 thirty-hve Of the
directors on Mr.. Hydes side Predictions of
strength were not forthcoming from President
Aexander's party. but it was learned that an
appeal would be made 10 the policy holders for
their support in the protest the insurgent direct
ors are making
Last evening Mr. Hyde determined TO say
nothing for his side Of the controversy and il
was announced that no expression had been
authorized for him. But from large interests
Thich are allied with him in the fight there
came declarations that the attack him was
part of combined effort TO obtain control Of
The Equitable. at the head Of which nominally
wss Nr. Alexander. but really Gage T. Tar
bell and George T. Wilson. the men controlling
The business Of the company through the super
intendents Of agencies. The Hyde interests
would undoubtedly control the meeting to-day.
Il vas said
ASIDE from Messrs. Tarbell and Wilson James
". and William Alexander, Thomas D. Jordan
and Francis n. Jackson the signers Of the petit
lions il was asserted. were saIaried employees
q me company. Of whom were receiving
more than 5000 year, and all Of whom had
received Promises Of places in another company
The Hyde party. the givers of-these views went
o. recognized in the stand taken by Mr.. Alex
andeTs associates an attack on the integrity
o. ali the members Of the board Of directors and
az attempt 10 oust them by making change
y the system of voting. which would allow the
slpfrlntendents Of agencies. by acquiring the
proxies q the policy holders in their districts, 10
control the company
No charges Of mismans cement had been made
against Mr. HYDE fl was pointed out The stock
A~-1 Ly the estate of Henry 3. Hyde had always
D=eA Foted by Mr.. Alexander. as trustee. If he
1o1no this trust interfering with his duty TO
ne company why didn't he relinquish one or
ne other? The policy holders voting scheme
-@d heen tried by one company. il was declared.
R9th 10 marked success. Mr. Hyde said the
Informant had Lad sixteen years experience in
gae insurance business. This other commenters
oefiarcd rather remarkable, since Mr. Hyde was
%" not quite thirty years Old.
ADAY OF CONFERENCES
II VS. 5-- - .s..,o ,,,5 ,,,. -, .,o,