Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
HYDE Issues, Statement.

James H. Hyde issued the following state
ment tonight:
ITO the agents and policy holders Of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society:
1.-The public press for several weeks past
has been filled with scandalous charges re-
lating to my conduct as director and oH1-
Ger of the Equitable Society. These charges
are false. They have their origin in an eff
fort by individuals to obtain control OF the
Equitable society and it's assets. 1t Is I'M
possible for me to meet them and to have
their falsity established in the newspapers,
and as the only way to meet them I have
requested the superintendent of the in
surance department of the state OF New
York to make an immediate thorough and
drastic investigation of the entire manage
ment of the society.
LAS to the granting or participation IN
the control of the society to policy hold
ers, have, ever since the subject was nrst
preached expressed my willingness to have
the stock left by my father voted by the
trustees in whose hands he left it, in favor
of granting such participation; and upon
that subject l am in entire accord with
the board of directors of the Equitable so.
ciety with the New York policy holders
committee and with the superintendent of
insurance of the state of New York.
Il do not control the Equitable Life AS
surance Society. The stock left by my
father, the founder of the society, is held
by trustees, of whom the president of the
society, Mr.. James w Alexander, is one.
The only power of that stock is to elect
directors, and as to that no question has
ever arisen between the trustees and my
self since my fathers DEATH.
''The Equitable society is governed by
board of. directors, most of whom were
l was of age. They body of men of
the highest character and standing in the
community.
Il have no official power in the society
except such as the president of the society
chooses to give me, and l have exercised
no power except with the concurrence and
for the benefit of the society itself.
THE management of the society during
the brief period of my connection with it
has been successful prosperous and in the
highest degree beneficial, both to policy
holders and to the society. challenge the
fullest investigation of that management,
including every official act of mine, and I
ask the agents and policy holders who have
shared in the prosperity Of the great in
stitution built up by my father to form
their Judgment of me as well as of my
associates upon the results of such an in
vestigation. rather than upon irresponsible
and sensational newspaper articles inspired
by selfish personal, interests.
Il believe that against any effort which
may be made to continue controversy for
personal ends this, fmatter will shortly be
disposed of with advantage to the society,
and in the meantime l beg you to believe
that your companyI never was stronger nor
JAMES H. HYDE
President Alexanderis Attitude I'm
known.
The statement issued directly after the
meeting has the APPROVAL of all sides to
the controversy, except. that the attitude
of Mr.. Alexander. the president of the
company. toward ,ethe aiagreement is not
known His positDnscoHld not be learned,
inquiry at his hoAh2 Being met with the
he consent. the plaB outlined viii be adopt
ed - he dissentsfhe agreement will still
next meeting for its action. II Mr.. Alex
ander does not approve the result reached
at today's conference, his future course is
a matter of conjecture
As explained to the Associated Press by
one of the attorneys present. the agreement
reached means that the Crimmins policy
holders committee, as party of the first
part; Mr.. Hyde, principal stakeholder. as
party of the second part; Mr.. Hendricks.
superintendent Of insurance. as party of the
third part, and Mr.. Root. chief counsel Of
the Equitable Society, as party of the