Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-19
THE EQUITABLE FUSS
General Agents Continue to
Discuss Society's Affairs.
CALLED SNAP MEETING
PRINCIPALS SUBJECTED TO
SHARP CRITICISM.
Claimed That the Whole Trouble is
Instigated by Effort to
Supplant Officials.

NEW YORK, April l9.-GeneraI agents o.
,, the Equitable Life Assurance Society met
again today to discuss the societys affairs
and the advisability Of forming a perma-
nent organization of the general agents for
mutual support and protection. Before the
meeting began the corridors of the Hotel
Savoy We're crowded with groups of agents
discussing the overnight developments in
the controversy Including the letter from
James H. Hyde to James w. Alexander,
! concerning checks for underwriting profits
sent by Mr.. Hyde to Mr.. Alexander, the
letter from Mr.. Alexander to Chairman
Frlck of the Investigating committee, and
Mr. Alexander's reply to Mr.. Hyde.
The agents also talked over with consd-
erabie excitement a statement made by
Henry H. Knowles until a few days ago
superintendent of agencies OF the Equitable,
to the effect that the societys troubles had
been caused by Mr.. Alexander and Vice
President Gage +. Tarbell in an effort TO
oust Mr.. Hyde from the first vice presi-
dency and to have Mr. Tarbell succeed Mr.
Alexander when the latter should retire
from the presidency.
Was Ousted From Office.
Mr. Knowles, who suspended from
his position on Monday last, on lhe charges
of characterization after forty years en-
ployment with the society also declared
that the present meeting of general agents
snap affair arranged in the interest
of Messrs. Alexander and Tarbell Many
of the agents today denied empha tically
that the meeting had been arranged in
anybodys favor and said the gathering
was a representative one with no object
except the welfare of the society and the
removal of existing conditions, which, they
agents exceedingly difficult
Mr. Tarbell made a statement today in
which he said that President Alexander had
never thought of resignng. This idea, he
said, was ridiculously preposterous, be-
cause he is the one man in this country
emnently fitted for that position and that
he would have and he will hold it until the
day he dies -.~--
Mr.. Tarbelr also praised President Alex
ander's integrity and said he had made the
societys interest his life work.
The statements of Mr.. Tarbell were cheer
ed by a crowd of general agents who were
present.
After the speeches by the officers of the
company the agents voted a recess. After
the recess they adopted report submitted
by committee resolutions indorsing
President Alexander and favoring the mu-
tualization Of the society.
Another Charge by Knowles.
Mr.. Knowles, the former superintendent
of agencies, made another statement today,
in which ne charged that Second Vice Pres
ident Tarbell had shifted men about dis
charged some and appointed others, SO that
he could control the agents and managers
for the Alexander interests. When this
statement was shown to Mr.. Tarbell he
denied it fatty. "It is absolutely false in
toto" said he.
1t was expected that Mr.. Tarbell would
be asked to attend the meeting today and
tell what he knows of the Knowles state
ments
Reply to Knowles.
friend of President Alexander of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society made a
statement today in reply to the charges of
II. H. Knowles, one of the Equitable's
supervisors of agencies.
$50 far as Mr.. Knowles statement is
concerned, it calls for no reply from Mr..
Alexander whose position in the matter is
very simple. Mr. Knowles who is one of
the society's many supervisors, disobeyed
point-blank orders of the president, which
were that he go out and take charge of
an agency made vacant by death. Mr..
Knowles suspended pending an inves-
tigation of his action. 1t was not for Mr..
Knowles to raise any question as to whether
or not he should go; it simply his duty
to obey orders.
LAS for James II. Hyde and associates
it will be seen from Mr.. Alexander's latest
letter to Mr. Hyde that he (Mr. Al knows
very little about the syndicate and its men,
bers, while Mr.. Hyde knows all about 1t
and has the data relating thereto in his
possession
Regarding the intimation that Third Vice
President Wilson was kept away from yes
terday's meeting of the agents, President
AIeXanderS friend pointed out that Mr.
Wilson is connected with the foreign agen-
cies of the society and had no business at
any meeting of the domestic agents