The Helena Independent

JUST A FAMILY QUARREL
Chicago Holders of World's Fair Stock Take an Active Interest in Electing Directors.
A Slate Prepared by the Heavy Holders Not Satisfactory to All.
The Little Fish Wanted Seventy Directors, But the Strength of the Others Was Too Great.

Chicago, April 4.—The stockholders of the Chicago World's Fair association, representing half a million shares of ten dollars each, met in Battery D armory to-day for organization. An immense crowd was present. As fast as the clerks approved the papers showing the bearer or a proxy had paid the required two per cent. upon the subscription he received certificates. Previous to the opening of the meeting printed tickets bearing forty names of prominent citizens, who, it was suggested, were well fitted to become directors of the association, were passed around. It was explained that this was merely in the way of suggestion for the benefit of the stockholders who had not the acquaintance or time necessary to make up a good ticket, and five blank spaces were left to be filled in, in the belief that the meeting would make a board to consist of forty-five members. An element of dissatisfaction was soon developed, and ex-Mayor Harrison moved that the number of directors be increased to seventy-five, so that the poor man would secure representation on the board. He was followed by Washington Hesing, who made a great sensation when he openly charged star chamber proceedings, and that the ticket had been prepared by a south side street railway and the First National Bank. Foreign nationalities had been overlooked. The Germans have been honored with two names and the Irish with one. He deplored the attempt to force forty star chamber names on the city, and seconded Harrison's motion. Victor F. Lawson moved an amendment that the number of directors be forty-five. A viva voce vote was unsatisfactory and a formal ballot was called for. Then some time was consumed in speeches. Thomas B. Bryan spoke eloquently on the subject of dissension. He said Chicago's rivals would gloat over the quarrels at this meeting; the whole world would know it, and the oft-boasted unanimity would be widely ridiculed. Finally the noise became deafening. A hundred stockholders, big and little, jumped on their chairs and all were talking at once. Finally, when the vote was taken, it was on the motion to increase the board of directors to 75: lost by 145,345 shares being for and 246,444 against it. Each of the voters present then prepared a list of forty-five names and sent it up. When the inspection was completed it was found all forty names on the first printed list were nominated and many more. A ballot was then taken for the purpose of choosing forty-five of the nominees to act as directors of the corporation.

The count of ballots was finished late to-night and with three notable exceptions the ready-made list of forty names was successful. Those three were Colonel George R. Davis, J. W. Doane and L. F. Leiter. Great surprise was expressed at the defeat of ex-Congressman Davis, who has been credited with a leading part in the Washington manoeuvres. His friends attribute his defeat to the machinations of political enemies. The forty-five directors chosen are as follows: Owen F. Aldis, Samuel W. Allerton, W. T. Baker, Thomas S. Bryan, Mark L. Crawford, W. H. Calvin, D. C. Cregier, J. W. Ellsworth, Stuyvesant Fish, Lyman J. Gage, H. N. Higinbotham, C. L. Hutchinson, E. T. Jeffery, K. A. Keyes, M. M. Kirkman, W. H. Kohlsaat, E. F. Lawrence, T. J. Lefens, Cyrus H. McCormick, Andrew McNally, Joseph Medill, Robert Nelson, Potter Palmer, J. C. Peasley, Ferd W. Peck, E. M. Phelps, E. S. Pike, M. A. Ryerson, Charles H. Schwab, A. F. Tebbetts, W. E. Strong, R. A. Waller, Edwin Walker, John R. Walsh, C. C. Wheeler, Otto Young, C. H. Wacker, E. G. Keith, E. B. Butler, F. S. Finston, A. Nathan, C. T. Yerkes, W. D. Kerfoot, J. J. P. O'Dell and J. W. Farwell, Jr.

Washington, April 4.—The senate committee on the World's Fair bill to-day considered the World's Fair bill as it came from the house, on the objection by Chairman Hiscock, of New York, that the committee was not informed as to the quality of the five million subscriptions to the World's Fair stock at Chicago. A sub-committee was chosen to investigate and report within a week. The World's Fair managers at Chicago were telegraphed to furnish the required information.