New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-22
Nv. ALEXANDER
IS DEAD AT Is
His Clash with J. H. Hyde
Brought About Hughes
Investigation.
MAKER OF INSURANCE
HISTORY IN STATE
as
Ex.President of EQUITABLE Life
After Several lllnesSesoeShc-
cumbs at Sons Home@S

Tuxedo. Sept p. James W. AtXsn-
der. former president Of the EQutAAeeie
Life Assurance Society, died this even;
ing a. the summer home OF mis- son,
Henry VI. Alexander, in Tuxedo, y. l.
He was in his seventy-seventh year. b
Mr.. Alexander suffered an attack OF
gall stones. 20 which he had long been
subject. while IN New York last Febru-
srv After two months illness he
was relieved. but the malady returned
when he went 20 his sons Tuxedo nome
last June 20 spend the summer and
finally caused his death.
With Mn Alexander at his death
we're hS wife. his daughter, Mrs. John
W. Alexander. widow Of the artlS.'
AVID has TWO sons. Henry VI. Alexander
and Frederick 3. Alexander
Definite plans for the funeral have
not been made. but 70 viii probably be
held Friday IN Princeton, y. j., where
Mr. Alexander had made his nome
.incc his retirement from active lie.
Tho celebrated Hughes insurance IN
.cstigation Of 1905-'06 was provoked
by Nh Alexander, then president OF
the EQUITABLE Life Assurance Society
q nosition 20 which he was elevated on
Nav 10. 1899. eight days after the
death Of Henry 3. Hyde, 20 whom, as
president. Mr.. Alexander mad rendered
invaluable aid.
When Mr.. Alexander became presi-
dent Of the society James Hazen hyde
Henry 3 Hyde's son, then but recently
-~aduatcd from Harvard. was elected
ce-president Their relations, at no
lime cordial, swiftly developed TO
point where Mr.. Hyde became Mr..
1iexander's bitter opponent on cues
lions involving the comPanyS poHCY'
Tncv we're constantly at loggerheadS'
and though M Alexander had the SIN
rera support of the majority OF the
other directors Nh Hydes attituue so
iptcrfered with the smooth running OF
The socictv's affairs that on February
is 1905. Nr Alexander and forty other
officers Of the company sent a request
70 the board Of directors asking that
Mr. HYDE be not reelected ylce-presl-
dent. NJ,
In that request. which suggested that
he policvholders be given voice IN
The election Of directors, this charge
q made:
MIR. Hyde's prominence in various
avs and his acts as lce-presldent
no such as tend to provoke criticism
~ the society. 10 create miSgivngs as
10 the conservatism OF its management
and to injure It's business as an lnst-
tuition which has been uniformly heid
out 20 the public as conducted solely
on the mutual plan for the beneht ano
protection Of its policyholders:
Less than two months later MI. Alex
ander communicated with Francis Hen
bricks. then state Superintendent OF In
surance. asking that the affairs OF the
Fonitahle be Investigated. The formal
reouest for such an investigation bore
tho names of the other directors IN
Guiding Mr. Hyde, whose bizarre social
activities were then inspiring wlde pup
lie comment.
shortly after this a preliminary in
vestieation. which gave little promise
Of the results TO be obtained later by
Charles +. Hughes was begun by Mr..
Hendricks. On April 20 the general
agents Of the Equitable adopted reso-
luton asking Mr.. Hyde 10 retire. On
June 9. following the election OF Paul
Morton. as chairman Of the reorganlza-
ton committee. Messrs. Hyde and Alex
ander rendered their designations.
Mr.. Alexander's health had been I'M
haired by his contest with Mr.. hyde,
and he was forced TO rest. During that
pcriod he was attended by surgeons Tor
a long continued attack OF kidney and
bladder trouble.
Rorn i'm Princeton. y. j.. on July 10.
1929. James Waddeu Alexander was the
son OF the Rev. DR.. James W. AloXan-
der and Elizabeth c. CabeN. DR.. Alex
ander, al the time Of his death, was
pastor OF the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church. Of this city.
Mr.. Alexander entered Princeton Uni
yersitv. receiving his degree of bache-
Tor Of arts in 1860. and the degree OF
master Of arts in 1863. Soon after his
graduation. Mr. Alexander came 20 tins
city TO study law Soon after admls-
sion 10 the bar he became a member OF
the law frm Of Cummins. Alexander
& Green now Alexander & Green, re-
naming with them until 1866. when, at
the age Of twenty-seveu, he became
secretary Of the Equitable, whose preSi-
dent was William c. Alexander has
uncle.
In 1871 Nj Alexander rose 20 the po-
sition 81 second vice-prcsident and, IN
1874. became vice-president, from which
he later mounted 20 the presidency.
Won Fame by Work.
The early career of Mr. Alexander in
the insurance field was. at the time,
the subject Of men who seek 70 en-
courage ambition in young men. When
he entered the Equitable service Il
waa with a determination % learn the
business thoroughly, and he did learn
Il so thoroughly that by the time he