The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-03
A QUESTION OF SEX.
The CaIlustrO Company Now Gov
erned by a Board Of Men.
Acrimonious Proceedings at the Shareholders
Annual Meeting, Where a Financial
MIDDLE Is Disclosed.

"Callustro has seen dark days." said Mrs.
DR.. Newlands, President Of the soap
makers, at the annual meeting of the COM
pany in Parl0r A of the Palace yesterday.
81 hope now the sun will shine, for day
seems 10 be breaking l don't admit failure.
We have had great and glorious success"
This little speech was received in silence
by the stockholders present. There were
ninety of them in all, the fair sex prepOnd-
Grating in the proportion OF ten to one.
The meeting was called for O'Clock. but
although the shareholders were pun ctual.
there was an unexplained delay of an hour.
When the business of the day was finally
inaugurated the roll was called and C. T.
Merritt of the Investigating Committee
submitted a report based upon the re-
searches of w. G. B. Van BOughten, an ex-
pert accountant employed to examine the
books, and disclosing financial muddle.
The company has a bond for property
near CalstOga, nOmlnaIly worth S920C0
upon which are membranes aggregatng
S2S. coo carried by the company. L he Bank
of California also holds the cOmpany's note
for $4,000.
ASSETS ARE NOMINAL
The assets are nominal and comprise a
factory, which cost $1,000, and soap stored
in Chicago and at the warehouse. held at
1868 81. The report recommended the re-
tirpment OF the Directors and the election
OF Il board OF men.
Mrs. NeWlandS commented on the report.
IL repeat that we have had a great and
glorious success" she said, ''and l will say
this II | were To die for il. | hope you will
watch the men Directors as closely as you
did the women. You have right to elect
any one you wish"
"Why are the lady Directors to retire? ?"
asked a female shareholder.
IL know, but my lips are sealed" said the
President The reason IS partly financial"
{. Il. Merritt said If the men whose names
would be presented were elected, they would
endeavor to reduce expenses TO minimum,
ascertain precisely the property OF the COM
pany, effect a compromise with the credit
Ors and sell tie raw material instead Of at
tempting to manufacture soap. He added
that the great mistake had been in cOmpet-
ing with established oap-manufactuTeTs
VINO would gladly have purchased the raw
material if the CallustTO Company did not
make soap. lie promised that no assess
mems should be levied, unless absolute y
necessary. He added that the men on the
ticket had valuable plans in mind, but II
they were not elected they would not be
responsible for the future Of the company.
WHY NOT A MIXED BOARD?
"Why can't we have a mixed board of
men aud women?" asked a woman.
Mr. Merritt, Ito fritter away in a meeting
of the beard ID Gkihg explanations to lady
Directors
Mrs. Emma Eels obje cted to a statement
in the committees report that she had re-
cPlved any interest on money advanced by
her 10 the company. A sharp tilt between
her and Mr.. Merritt ensured, thu latter
eventually making the desired CORRECTION.
We would have done very Well" con-
tinued Mrs. Eels, but dislOyaity crept into
the membership. Influence was brought to
bear UPON weak ladies at an annual meet
ing, and they became alarmed and sus-
picI0us. As you grow more ana more dis
trustful the property has steadily increased
in value. TCries Of "Oh that's the same
old story" The simplest way is 10 sell
more stock and pay all debts. The prop
ertO has recently been bonded for $500, 900"
Mrs. Newands stated that the former at
tOrney OF the company had made himself
liable to dlsbarment for neglecting the in
terestS Of the COMPANY, which had been al
lowed TO 60 by default
1T will be impossible to pay all the
debts" said Mr.. Merritt, but we will do
the best we can"
IF We elect you, will you guarantee that
there will be no asseSsmentsY asked a
lady.
We will levy no assessments unless Ii is
absolutely necessary" replied Mr.. Merritt.
KILLER WAS AT HIS FUNERAL.
Tie ticket was then announced, contain
ing the names OF the following nominees
for Directors: Charles z. Eels, George r.
Hawley, DR., Albert d. Hitler James w.
Pennington, c. Il. Merritt, b. f. Holbrook,
George l.. UndeThil.
The name OF w. A. Keeper was suggested
in place of DR.. Albert d. Hitler by lady,
evidently inspired in the interest of Mrs
Ees, the latter having transferred IS, 900 of
her shares to Mr.. Keeper as trustee.
Il see that this Is cut-and-dTied scheme
to beat DR.. Hiller,' said the President
Mr.. Keeper asked whether his vote could
be cumulative, and being answered in the
affirmative, voted all his stock for himself
alone.
IL see this is a game to defeat me-" said
Dr.. Hitler, 'Dut l am a candidate as a mat
teC Of principle to protect the small share
holders"
The vote was by rollcaI, and as various
names were called considerable aerimony
was developed. a number yuted cumula-
lively for Mr.. Keeper Mrs. NeWands Vot-
ing 1900 shares IN his favor.
Il see | am attending my own tuneral"
said DR.. Hitler. Keeper had at first pro-
posed to wipe out his name, but everything
depended on the action Of one person, Mrs.
EelS. The doctor then retired from the
meeting before the vote was announced
Hitler received 24,639 votes. Keeper 108,-
010 and the other six on the slated ticket
80. 65l votes each. This concluded the pro-
ceedIngs and the meeting adjourned