The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-05
LIKELY TO co TO PIECES.
The TuTpentine Producers Association
on lis Last Legs.

Mr.. ]. p. Williams and Col. Miller Ex-
onersted OF Having Violated the
Resolution Of the August Meeting.
rs Per Cent. of the Members in the
Same Fix-Plans for Next Years
Operations Discussed, But no Action
Taken-Another Meeting To-day.
The Turpentine Producers General
Association is in shoal water Of the worst
kind, with the prospect Of going to pieces
every moment, even if it cannot be said
to have already done so.
a meeting will be held this morning, if
a quorum can be obtained, which will
probably resolve to disband the general
association and allow the sub-associations
to reorganize upon a different basis. The
general verdict last night was that the
association was thing Of the past.
The rock upon which the association
split was the resolution passed at the
August meeting that the operators should
cease working all old boxes after Aug. 26,
and that the factors should not make ad-
vances 10 any operators who failed to OBJ
serve the resolution in order to curtail
production.
Mr.. WILLIAMS EXONERATED.
Mr.. j. P Williams, one of the most
prominent naval stores factors in the
business, openly violated the resolution
about Sept. /, on the ground that
the storm had effected all that was in
tended by the resolution and advised his
customers to continue working all boxes
that could be worked at a profit. Mr.
Williams action was severely criticised,
but IL appears now that the majority of
the operators thought as Mr.. Williams
did, and it was admitted yesterday that
at least75 per cent. of the operators had
violated the resolution.
The meeting yesterday was a genuine
surprise to those members of the associa-
ton who have been contending for a
rigid adherence to the resolution. In
stead of condemning the action of Mr.
Williams and others who failed to OBJ
serve the resolution and expelling them,
as was proposed by some, the meeting
did exactly the opposite The viOlators
were eXonerate 1t developed in the
discussion that the majority of the dele
gates present had failed to observe the
resolution and, viewed in this light, their
subsequent action is not surprising.
SMALL MEETING,
The association met at the Masonic
hall yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
There were thirty odd delegates present,
associations. The quarantine kept away
many delegates, who would have been
present from some of the southeast
Georgia association. There was also a
general impression that this was only
special meeting, whereas, 1t was the an
nual meeting of the general association.
AS soon as the meeting had organized
President Miller read an article in the
MORNING NEWS, in which it was stated
that charges would be made against him
for violation of the resolution. He seemed
very much hurt. He made a statement in
which he said that he had ceased all
work himself upon Aug 20, as required by
the resolution, but that he had
negro tenant working by contract
whom he had allowed to continue work
ing, as he did not think be had the right
to break his contract. President Miller
said in conclusion, that If he had done
anything wrong he was sorry for it. He
then vacated the chair and left the room,
while his case was under consideration.
COL. MILLER's CASE.
This precipitated lively discussion at
once. President Miller is very highly
thought of by the members of the asso-
citation, and while several thought he had
not observed the spirit of the resolution
strictly, they were willing to accept his
statement and excuse him.. A
resolution to this effect was
presented. The majority, however,
saw what was likely to await them when
charges of open violation of the resolu-
ton were made and they did not propose
to be caught by any half way measures.
The resolution to excuse the president
was supplied by one TO exonerate HIM,
which was carried. The majority then
followed this up by resolution to exon
crate all who had violated the terms of
the resolution. The minority protested
slightly against this. They declared that
no charges had been yet made against the
persons whom it was proposed to exoner-
ate. That ii charges were made moth
ing more could be done
than to pass condemnatory resolution
for bad faith as the resolution of the
August meeting was in violation of the
constitution. They argued that while it
might be proper to forgive and excuse
those who confessed to have violated the
resolution, it would certainly be improper
TO eXonerate parties whose guilt was I'M
doubted and that too, before charges mad
| been preferred against them. All this
was to no purpose and the resolution TO
eXonerate them was carried.
THE NEW OFFICERS
The election of officers was next gone
into. Three candidates were proposed
for the presidency Col. f. p Miller Mai.
| William Letford and Mr.. ID. j. Daughtr try.
1t required four ballots to reach a de
cisiOn, and on the fourth ballot President
Miller was reelected by small majority
Mr., John Il. Young was elected vice
president, Mr. A Pridgen secretary and
Mr.. a. Seasons treasurer.
The association then adjourned for din
ner
Editor Cassels of the Turpentine
Operators News arrived at noon. He
had left Atlanta the night before by the
East Tennessee train, but was carried
down to WaYcross on account of the
Jesup quarantine and had to wait for the
noon train to get into the city. Editor
Cassels had been very severe in his criti-
! cisms Of Mr.. Williams and others who
had violated the agreement. Whether
this was the reason why Mr. Cassels was
not reelected secretary is not known.
MR.. CAssELs on DECK.
When the afternoon session met Mr.
Cassels sailed in without gloves. He
made a strong fight to have the resolution
of the morning session reconsidered but
was unsuccessful. The discussion was
very lively, however.
The only work done by the association
in the afternoon was to consider plans for
next years work, and a set of resolutions
looking TO the curtailmeut of production
was presented.
No final action was taken. however, and
the consideration OF the resolution was