The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-21
NOT A TOOL OF BRITISHERS
Smith Weed Refuses to Assist English
Holders of Nicaragua Canal Stock.
George C. Knight Baked in His Efforts to Gust
Warner Miller from the Presidency
and Reorganize the Company.

NEW YORK, April 20.-There was an ex.
citing time at the meeting of the stock
holders of the Nicaragua Canal Company,
called to-day by George c. Knight. an ex-
employe of the company. who claims to
represent vast amount of English capital.
and who earnestly desires the removal of
Mr.. Warner Miller as president OF tie com.
pany and to have the project entirely reor-
ganized. About score of gentlemen were
in attendance. whom Mr. Knight intro
duced to the meeting as stockholders or
representatives of stockholders.
Mr. knight IRpeped the meeting by read
ing long ck upon President Miller
and the manfeement of tho company in
general. He declared that the money of
the canal company had been wasted in use-
less salaries and the getting up of canal
conventions In various parts of the coun-
try. which merely furnished junketing ex.
petitions for the officers. According to Mr..
knight, through the operations of the vot-
ing trust of the stock OF the company,
which trust had been prolonged for two
years after the time 1t should have ex-
pired. Mr.. Warner Miller has illegally
bad himself elected president OF the
company. Mr.. knight said he pro-
posed to have the stockholders OF the
company take action at once to have Mr.
Miller removed. He announced that be.
side the Englishmen he represented he also
had large American interests behind him.
Altogether. he said, he represented 80 per
cent. of the total outstanding capitallza-
tion of the company. He proposed bY name
Mr.. Weed as successor to Mr.. Miller. The
latter, he intimated, would be peculiarly
acceptable TO his parties, because OF the
peculiar happy connections Mr.. Weed had
with the present administration at Wash
ington. Mr.. knight read scheme for an
entirely new canal company. to he organ
lied. both under English and American
charters. which would complete the canal.
By the plan Of this company both the
British and American governments would
have the JOINT use for naval purposes of the
canal.
Mr.. Smith Weed rose OF the conclusion of
Mr.. knights speech and said he come to
the meeting TO protest against the use OF
his name In any way with the movement
which Dir. Knight said that he was en-
Gineering. Turning TO Mr.. knight. he
the company and it's management are.
every single one OF them. untrue" MIR.
Weed grew vigorous as he denied In detail
the statements made by Mr.. knight. He
said he protested, In the name of Mr.. Cleve-
land, against the base imputation that il
needed man Of the Presidents political
faith to present the canal matter to the
ad minist-ation. He took il upon hlmeelf
to say that there was no man in the coun-
try who would be better received at the
head OF great enterprise than Mr.. Miller.
Mr. Knight. Mr.. Weed thought. did not
understand the American parties. His
whole movement. he believed. had been
organized to injure the canal company. He
denied that Mr.. Miller had been illegally
elected president of the company. and said
that he had received o majority of votes
outside the stock held in the voting trust
He closed by saying that the American
people would never permit the English
government to have joint interest In the
canal. No action was taken.