The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-13
A LIVELY MEETING.
ANNUAL GATHERING OF CECIL
FAIR STOCKHOLDERS.
Certain Actions of the Management Meet
With Pronounced DiSapprOval An
crease of Directors Desired.


Elkton on Tuesday, and the proceedings
which were held in the Court House, brought
to mind the belIicOse features of an import
ant will case inv living many opposing inter
ests. For some time past there has been
much adverse criticism on the part of num-
erous stockholders over certain actions of the
management and accordingly the anti man
agement faction was well represented at the
meeting. citizens from all over the county
being present
Such an interest-it would seem-has
hardly ever been shown in meeting of Fair
stockholders before. both interests being
looked after by attorneys who directed the
tactics of their respective sides. The action
of the management that provoked the prnci-
pie opposition was the fact OF their changing
the number of directors from twelve to sevenv
which the anti-management people claimed
was contrary to the charter. The management
asserted. however, that it was in accordance
with tie charter. The taking away of the
entrance privileges of stockholders at the
last Fair and the efforts of certain persons
identified with the management in trying to
with the greatest opposition, and all these
matters were foremost in the minds of the
anti management stockholders when they
reached Ekton on Tuesday morning.
movement in ElNtou. headed by DR.. Howard
Bratton. also agtated the securing of a iinan-
caI statement from the management,
and altogether, when the meeting was
pIlp1 n Ar,lnr- IA, n RI t,lr
was goodly sin"d docket of cases marked
trial.
The meeting was called to order in the
Office of Manly bremen. on North street,
but while this place of business is ample to
carry on Mr.. Drnnen's large fire insurance
business. ii was wholly too small to accom-
modutn the gathered and the Sathcri stock
holders. 1t was like putting the proverbial
quart into ii pint cup, or trying to hide the
building set on n hill. Those who hal some
thing to say wanted plenty of room. and those
who could not ge, in wanted to hear all that
was TO he said. Accordingly after Henry II.
GIpin had been named rs chairman, an anti
management man, rs against Frank r. Scott
whom the management put up for chairman.
which had been placed ut the disposal of the
representative citizens by custodian A. Palmer
ShockIey. The battle royal began when the
fight for Mr.. GipiD opened. William T.
Warburton, E-q., was at the head Of the anti
management stockholders. and John S. Writ
and William $. Evans rcpr, scented the Fair
infringement, Mr.. Writ being named as
al ,y 81 ! bn ,Fr
c. CrOthers.
II was, of course, known by the anti-man-
agc,urnt people that the management held
powerful array OF proxies, SO with meaning
twinkle in his eye Mr. Warburton. when the
choice of chairman came up, railroaded
through the motion that in the casting of votes
for chairman only stockholders present be
enti led to vote. This, Of course aroused
the opposition OF the management forces,
but nevertheless several big blocks of shares,
including President Woolley's 329. and which
caused II "dck," when the management
agreed that the vote for chairman be vive
v)"r and accordingly Gilpn went through
on the swift wings of victory
Thomas b. Miller, anti management was
selected as secretary.
J.. NJ Hain"s, ESD, also joined Mr.. War
burton and as soon as the stockholders were
seltoI in the Court House and chairman
Gilpn assumed the accustomed chair of Clerk
of the Court John G. Williams, he, Mr..
Haiu"s, made the motion that the minutes of
the last meeting rf stockholders be read.
Secretary Thomas B. Miller opened the minute
report stated that changes had been
made in the bylaws respecting the reduc
ing Of the board Of directors from twelve to
seven. Mr.. Wdrhurton here raised the point
that the changing OF the bylaw, was not
sufficient. That - repeal and enactment of II
bylaw as to the question WAS not sufficient
but that an amendment of the charter was
necessary. He therefore moved that the
miantes of the last meettn; be rejected. Mr.
Writ then sprang to his feet, and put his skill
into play to break the force o, the motion
He moved as II substitute for the motion
that the Board Of Managers he empowered
to change the number of directors from twelve
t. seven. Here the excitement began to look
Ike tine scene on the floor of stock exchange
AZ 'h'lS PolhN 'N'i sbli' StNul'u W Wdut W
tall, at once. Nj. Warburton had ample
backing to keep his motion it, play. Mr..
Evans then seeing that the authority would
not he given the management asked by Mr.
Writ, made the suggestion that only part of
the minutes be rejected that put on record the
changing of the Board of Managers from
twelve members to seven. But no-the spirit
OF tue meeting was to reject the entire report.
Mr.. Writ then looked to the system of vot-
ing, ASKING that in accordance with the cor
poration law and State Code that each share
OF ,,Jck be entitled to representation either
by lis actual owner or his proxy. Mr.. War
burton then asked for II vive voce vote, aud
the clamor Of the anti-management forces,
backed up by the cry for vote by yeas and
nays The management was backed by
powerful corporation proxies, and which the
people knew and wanted to break the monop-
oily that the management maintained while
holding it. The chair was appealed to and
for some time the decision was held back by
the excitement on the floor. Mr.. Writ argued
his point, while Mr.. Evans backed 1t up with
the plea Of fairness. Mr.. Warburtcn, with
his forces, carried out the point of actual