The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-04-05
NEW DEVELOPMENTS In
EQUITABLE LIFE FIGHT
LETTERS PREVIOUSLY KEPT
SECRET FINALLF PUBLISHED.

vice President Hyde Accuses President
Alexander Of Gross Breach Of Trust
to HIS Father and HimseIf-Second
Vice President Tarbeil Charged with
Being the Real Leader Of the Alex
ander Forces--A sale Of His interests
in the Company for sl35,0OO
New York, April 4-The fight in the
Equitable Life Assurance society as
sumed a new phase tonight when sew
eral letters that have heretofore been
carefully kept secret were made public.
Further interest was aroused by a per-
sistent report, emanating from an ap-
parently reliable source and 50 far not
denied, that Vice President Hyde and
his friends in the society had decided
to assume the aggressive. According
to the report the Hyde party will force
James w. Alexander and Gage e, Tar
bell to retire from the presidency and
second vice presidency of the society
at the meeting Of the board of direc-
tors to be held next Thursday. This
report was strengthened tonight by
the fact that both parties to the eontro-
versy gave out certain letters and
statements, beaing on the questions in
dispute. Mr.. Hydes contribution was
the letter which he wrote to the Equit-
able directors ON February Is when the
fight for naturalization first came Off
cially before the board. At that time
the letter was carefully guarded and
only it's general tenor was allowed to
become known. The letter is lengthy
history of the Equitable and Mr.. Hyde's
position under the terms of his fathers
beqrests and in it Mr.. Hyde formally
charges President Alexander with
"gross breach of trust to my father and
to me-"
Mr.. Alexnader's contribution to the
history of the controversy is his letter
to the state superintendent of insur-
ance, defining his position and acquiesc-
ing in the compromise plan for the mu-
tualjzation of the society. 1t is inter-
esting in that he declares that his con-
sent was given with reluctance because
he felt he could not take the RESPONSE
bility of rejecting even that measure Of
control by the policy holders.
On behalf of Mr.. Hyde statement
was given out with reference to this let
ter which charges that Mr.. Alexander s
action in this matter was a, breach Of
faith.
Second Vice President Gage e. Tar
bell is the target Of an open state
ment given out by Alexander s. Bacon,
counsel for certain policy holders. This
statement declares that Mr.. Tarbell is
the real leader of the Alexander forces
and brings up the charge that Mr.. Tar
bell. Just prior to the beginning of the
present controversy, sold back to the
Equitable for the sum Of $135,000 all his
interests in renewals or future business.
In Mr.. Hyde's letter to the directors
he says he was called into conference
with President Alexander on February
8, when but two business days interven-
ed before the directors We're to elect Of
ficers, and was told that f'a large num-
ber of officers of the Equitable society,
under his (Alexander's) leadership and
initiative, had signed a memorial ad-
dress to the directors demanding that
steps be taken which would result in
placing the policy holders in control of
the corporation to the exclusion of the
stock control
The letter says he was also given a
Continued on Fifth Page.