New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-19
INDICATION OF HARMONY.
EOUIT4BLE CONFERENCE.
Still Radical Differences Regarding
Naturalization, HO1ceUer.

Approaching harmony between the warning rae
lions In the Equitable Life Assurance society "ou'o
appear to be indicated by the fact that conferences
were held between President Alexander and Vice
Presidents Hyde and Tarbell yesterday, AFTER
u-bicb a ioint statment was made by them that no
charges of treachery had been made by any OF them
against any OF the others. NeVertheless on the
question of naturalization of the company there Is
lust as wide a breach as there was before the
meeting on Thursday, and it seems to be the IN
tention of President Alexander and Mr.. Hyde to
stick to their guns. which means a lively nsht IN
the committee which is to report on the plan OF
naturalization.
The report printed yesterday that Gage f. Tar
bell one Of the signers of the petition that Mr..
Hyde be deposed from his place in the Equitable,
had gone over to Mr.. Hyde's side. and that conse-
qsently Mr.. Alexanders people were deeply ag-
greved, brought forth official statement from
President Alexander, Mr.. Hyde and Mr. Tar.eli
himself, as follows;
The statement that charges of perhdy and be
trayal of trust were made as the Aftermath Of
Life Assurance Society is in its entirety unquall-
fedy untrue and without any foundation in fact
charged with being traitor TO the interests OF
any one connected with the Equitable or to any
ment or charge was made at any meeting of the
respect is purely the creation OF somebody's imagi
nation
PRESIDENT ALEXANDER's PLAN.
Anything less than the adoption of plan by
which every policyholder matter where he
might be- should have the right to vote would
be accepted by President Alexander, it was
declared in his behalf yesterday. The plan ia
vored by Mr.. Hyde. whereby only those policy
holders who attended the meetings should VOTE
was unfair to the policyhoders who were in dis
cities. would result in the control of the
assets of the society by a little ring scarcely
less bad than "one man. control, declared the AL
exander adherent This meant absolute danger to
the millions Of money belonging TO the society and
would be fought to a finish by President Alexander
What's the of taking this question in unm-
portant detatls?" asked of Mr. Alexander's ad-
vfsers. What difference does II make in the end
if one person holds certain Views quits holding
them? Take the problem in it's broadest aspect
II means the control of the assets of this company
either by man. by the policy holders-the
people without whom the Equitable could not
exist the people who must be safeguarded Now
1t seems to me that President Alexander with his
years of knowledge of the insurance business saw
what all this meapt when he went into the fight
He didn't go into 1t intending to quit and he
won this reelection shows that pretty plainly
He's going to get out, form any new
insurance company. IL he did go there'd be little
left of the Equitable but shell He, and the
people with him know that this company be
rebuilt a certain extent. must be modernized to
be equal to other great companies, and they re
bending all their energies to bring about the best
conditions for the society and the people who are
paying their money into the society and look TO it
to protect them"
Mr. Hyde and his counsel decline TO talk but his
attitude, expressed by his friends remains
changed. He will work for naturalization OF the
company. but not for which would put into
the hands of the people who could collect the most
proxies the control OF the society. That would be
only ring control" he maintains. His friends point
out that the meetings OF other companies which
have that form of voting attended by the stock
holders and few poicyholders. who perfunctorily
go through formal business.
If a true naturalization of the company is to be
reached it will be by a plan which provides for
retirement of the stock holdings, some insurance
men say This would probably meet opposition
from the Hyde people, and would present n COM
plicated problem. The committee naturalization
will probably hold its first meeting tomorrow.
While the Hyde men claim four members Of the
seven lively debates predicted before any plan
be adopted.