Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-05
Stockholders Meet to Choose
Directors.
Much Interest and Enthusiasm
Manifested.
A Slight Element of DiscOrd Devel
Oped at the Start.
The Meeting, However, Gets Down to
Solid Enthusiastically Char
acter of the Vote.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

CHICAGO, April 4.-The stockholders
of the Chicago Worlds Fair Association,
representing half million shares of ten
dollars each, met at Battery DIS armory
this morning for organization. An i'm
mense crowd was present. AS fast as
the clerks approved papers showing that
the bearers or proxies had paid the re-
quired two per cent. upon their sub
scription, they received certificates.
Previous to the opening of the meeting
printed tickets bearing the names OF
forty prominent citizens, who, it was
suggested, were well fitted to become
directors of the association, were passed
around. 1t was explained that this was
merely in the way OF suggestion for
the benefit of stockholders who had not
the acquaintance or the time necessary
to make up a good ticket, and five blank
spaces were left to be filled in, the belief
being that the meeting would make the
board consist of forty-five members.
An element of dissatisfaction was soon
developed. Ex-Mayor Harrison moved
that the number of directors be increased
to seventy-fve, so 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 the South Side street
railway and the First National Bank.
Foreign nationalities had been over
looked. The Germans had 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 amend
ment that the number of directors he
forty-five. A uiu0 voce vote was unsatis-
factory, and a formal ballot was called
for. Then some time was consumed by
speeches. Thomas B. Bryan spoke elo-
quently on the subject of dissensions.
He said Chicago's rivals would gloat over
the quarrels of this meeting. The whole
world would know it, and their 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 found that the motion
to increase the board Of directors to
seventy-five was lost, 81 ,345 shares being
for and 246, ,454 against it.
Each of the voters present then pre-
pared list of forty-five names. When
the inspection of these was completed it
was found that all of the forty names of
the first printed list were nominated and
many more.
A ballot was then taken for the pur-
pose of choosing forty-five of the nomi-
nees to act as directors or the corpora
ton. When all the votes were cast, the
meeting adjourned. A great deal of time
will be required to count the votes, and
the result will not be known until next
week.
A resolution was ordered sent by tele
graph to the Illinois Senators in Wash
ington, stating that the meeting APP
proves and confirms all the pledges
heretofore made on behalf of Chicago.
favorable consideration of the House bill.
The Senate Committees Action.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-The Senate
committee today on the Worlds Fair
considered the Worlds Fair bill
as it came from the House. On the OBJ
lection by the chairman (Hiscock, of
New York, that the committee was not
informed as to the quality of the $5, 5,000,-
900 subscriptions to the Worlds Fair
stock at Chicago, subcommittee was
chosen to investigate and report within
week. The Worlds Fair managers at
Chicago were telegraphed to furnish the
required information.