The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-22

dent of the Equitable Life Assurance
Society, died here to-day after an VI
ness OF two months at the summer nome
of his son. Henry M1rtyn Alexander
Since his retirement in LOB Mr.. Alex
ander had been living quietly In Prince
ton, ". j.. and spending his summers at
his sons home here.
James w. Alexander was born at
Princeton, n. j., on July 10. 1899. His
father was the Rev. Or. James w. Alex
ander and his grandfather the Rev. Dr.
Archibald Alexander.
Before James was In his teens his
father moved with his family to this
city to become pastor Of the Fifth Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church. then Mt Nine
teenth street.
The boy prepared for college in this
city and entered Princeton In 1856.
Mr.. Alexander was graduated from col
lege in 1860. studied law In this city and
was admitted TO practice.
A year before Alexander had finished
his college course Henry Il. Hyde, the
enthusiastic Y. VI. c. A. worker In DIR.
A~lexander's church. had conceived the
idea OF founding the Equitable Life and
taken steps toward its realization.
Young Alexander continued TO prac-
tise law until 1866, wnen he was asked
to become secretary OF the Equitable.
He accepted and was connected with the
institution as an officer continuously up
TO June. 1905. when he resigned az presi-
dent. He was elected president in 1899,
soon after the death OF Henry Is. HYDE.
Soon after the death OF his father
James Hazen Hyde became first vice
president of the society. For live years
things ran along In the Equitable
smoothly and with great success and
harmony, 80 far as the general public
was able to discern. Then the veil was
torn away and the controversy began
which resulted in the dethronemeut Of
James Hazen Hyde in the Equltah lc and
also in many far reaching and vital
changes. In the OF or Insurance COM
panies.
Mr.. Alexander began that controversy
deliberately. Mr. Hyde's friends charged
that he was actuated by selfish motives.
that he was Jealous of Mr.. Hyde's power,
but Mr.. A~leXander's lawyers, including
Charles T.. Hughes and William T..
Hornblower. said that there was no
question OF the sincerity Of Mr.. Alex
anders desire to rid the society OF the
one man power in the interest Of the
policyholders. Despite their warning
that II would ruin and humiliate him, he
told them 10 go ahead.
A1lfT lnlS UNDERSTANDING ne lhUltnfl
his petition IN February. 1905. calling
for Mr.. Hyde's withdrawal as candidate
for reelection as first vlce-president, and
call for the naturalization OF the com.
any a compromise was reached. how.
ever. and Mr.. Hyde and the other OFF,
GERS, including MIR. Alexander. were re-
elected. and Mr.. Hyde agreed to the
naturalization of the company. With
Mr.. Hyde In office for another year, the
naturalization plan met with delay.
A p~olicyholders' committee. with
John ID. Crimmins as chairman. APP
peared for the announced purpose Of
mutualizing the company through legis-
lation al Albany. but this purpose was
blocked by an injunction. Theu Prcsi-
dent Alexander began a publicity Cam
pa.gn against Mr.. HYDE and r.c latter
retortcd viii charges against Mr.. Alex
andcr. The state Superintendent OF In
Surance was at last forced to irNc..4-
gate the society aud the sOcietV's board
ton which resulted IN the Coud"mulug
OF b. tn Hyde and Alexander. Directors
res, gncd 10y wholesale n the business
OF the society was almost At a stand
SIN when Thomas +, Ryan bought M.
Hydc's majority stock for 81, j00. 900
and HYDE and Alexander resigned.
That Was on June 10, 1905. and a few
days later MIR. Alexander was taken 30
a sanitarium. III In body and mind, His
sons sent In his resignation and used up
almost all his property In settling claims
arising out Of the insurance affalr.
Mr.. Alexander was a member OF many
clubs, among them being the Century.
the Metropolitan. the LAWYERS and the
University. He was president OF the
University club AT one time and also of
the Princeton club In this city lie was
also president of the University ENteu-
son Association and ~ the University
settlement Society. lie was a trustee of
princeton University, which made him
a Ill. II.
lie is survived by his wife. a daughter,
Mrs. John Alexander, and two sons,
Henry NJ. a lawyer ~ this city, and
Frederick, a broker