The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-22
Shall | Disgrace Min
Fathers Memory?
NAY, I'll TALK TO YOU
He Promises the Equitable Agents a
Statement of The Situation as He
Sees 1t. They Urge Policy
Holders to Enforce
Their Rights.
(By the Associated Press.)


New York, April 2O.-After First
Vice President James Hyde of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society had
informed a committee of managing
agents this afternoon that it would
be impossible, because of previous en-
gagements, for him to address them
today, the agents convention, which
has been in session in this city for
three days adjourned without day.
This committee did not see Mr..
HYDE but telephoned to him at his
office and was given the information
that the first vice-president of the
Equitable was glad to receive the in
vitation, but could not accept, but
he would prepare a state
ment and transmit it to the commit
tee, covering the situation as he con-
ceived it. This statement, it is under
stood will be circulated among the
agents when it is received.
The invitation to address the agents
followed a call by committee on Mr..
Hyde this morning with a request
that he resign as an officer of the So
ciety This Mr.. Hyde declined to do
in an address in which he said he
would consider such an action 'un-
worthy and disgraceful to the memory
of my father" and he added further:
at is evident from your extraor-
binary request and from the report
of the proceedings at your meeting
that you have not the remotest con-
ception of the unfortunate contro-
versy or the motives behind the strug
gle for the control of the society"
Promises Reply Today.
In this same address he promised
to write the agents tomorrow in re-
ply to their demands.
Mr.. Hydes speech had followed one
by Joseph Bowes, of Baltimore, chair
man of the agents committee, in
which Mr. Bowes recited that the re-
quest for the resignation was practi-
cally unanimous. These were the
principal developments of the session
of the agents, which began at the Ho-
tel Savoy, this morning and con-
tinued until after three o'clock this
afternoon. Permanent organization
was effected and officers chosen and
shortly before adjournment it was de-
cided that the committee of seventy
two named yesterday to wait on the
State superintendent of insurance, and
upon Governor higgins to urge legis-
lation favorable to naturalization,
should proceed to Syracuse tomorrow
morning and see superintendent Hen
bricks at his office there and then re-
turn to Albany and meet Governor
Higgins Saturday.
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,
nothing was given out.
The committee of investigation, of
which H. c. Frick is chairman, was in
session in the course of the day and
unanimously agreed to employ form
err United States Attorney General
Knox as counsel. Announcement was
made that the investigation will be
pursued with all thoroughness.
Root One of Hyde's Counsel.
In connection with the legal ends
in the Equitable tanghg, today's an
nouncement that Elihu Root remains
as one of Mr.. Hydes counsel in spite
of stories to the contrary, was inter-
esting. The retaining of Joseph H.
Choate as one of the Hyde counsel
was also confirmed.
A permanent organization of the
agents was effected, the following OIL
GERS being elected:
President, Edward A. Woods, Pitts
burg; presidents, F. H. Hazelton,
Portland, Me-; r. M Shields, San
Francisco; c. e. Townsend, Boston,;
S. d. Stearns, Montreal w. j. Roddey,
Rock Hill, S. c.; A. b. Newman, Chi
cago; secretary, Charles Wake, New
York treasurer f. p. Chaplin, Toledo;
F. L. Levy, New Orleans, was made a
member of the executive committee.
The agents adopted a resolution
urging the organization of the policy
holders under the agents in a cam
paign to enforce their rights.
There was some talk tonight of q
settlement of the difficulties between
the Hyde and Alexander parties, but
no confirmation could be secured. A
rumor that such steps were afoot was
widely circulated, but could not be
traced to any authoritative source.