The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-21
TELLS THE OTHER SIDE
Director Howell on the Trouble
in the Ruby Mine.
HE CRlTlCISES SANDERS
Quotes Figures to Show the Excellent
Management OF the Mine -Accounts,
in Way, for Colonel
Sanders Position.

In an interview yesterday f. b. How
ell. the director in the Ruby mine who
represented the interests Of President
M f. Graves at the directors meeting
which was in progress the latter part OF
last week, and which will convene day
after tomorrow, comes back at Colonel
Sanders for the structures passed upon
him by the ex-senator at saturday
meeting. which was reported in fuil In
Yesterdays Standard. Mr.. Howell was
accused by Colonel Sanders Of being
director by virtue Of having been given
q share Of stock by President Graves
End made a trustee. to look after his In
4erests as his paid representative. MI.
Howell admits the charge and gets back
by asserting that Colonel Sanders occn-
pies identically the same position, eN-
cept that Colonel Sanders has turned on
President Graves because of misun-
Outstanding regarding his fee.
Mr. Howell did not say so i'll so many
words but went about it in a diplomatic
way in the course of an explanation OF
the controversy among the Ruby difec-
tors, from President Graves point Oh
view Mr.. Howell said:
mir. Graves invested the money
which has developed the Ruby mine ana
in the process has come to own three
quarters of the stock. At the time the
present board of directors was elected
he requested Colonel Sanders ana ms
son. James H. Sanders, l.. $. Wild and
myself to represent him on the board of
directors and assigned to each of Us
nominal amount of stock. IL was evil
dent from his picking cut these men
that it was not his purpose 70 ROD the
company Subsequently Mr.. Graves haa
serious differences with M. L. Hewitt,
another of the directors and the super
fntendent of the mine. concerning the
management of the property and othet
business matters, eliminating IN MT.
Hewitt resignlng. II Is largely out OF
these differences that the present con-
troversy in the board Of trustees has
arisen.
Colonel Sanders and his son stood by
Mr.. Graves until quite recently. About
two weeks ago Colonel Sanders had
some controversy with Mr.. Graves over
the matter of his fee and began SUIT
against him for $4,000 in the district
court at Helena. Within two or three
DAYS after the suit was begun the pres
rnt meeting of the board OF directors
was called. In this meeting Colonei
Sanders and his son have taken posi-
ton in opposition and have criticised
Mr. Wild and myself quite severely ior
standing by him. 1t is my intention tc
stand by him only while he is right.
believe a man who is competent 10 man
age such an enterprise and is willing Il
do SO ought To be encouraged ana sup
ported
tIt is true that no meeting of tbs
board of directors has been held recent
~. and some of Mr.. Graves opponents
have regarded 1t as very suspicious
circumstance. During January MI
Graves was called East by the unex
pected death of his mother, and his re
turn was delayed by the illness of hi:
wife The affairs of the mine, however
have during the whole time been hon
estly and economically conducted.
The full amount of the purchase
price of the property of the compan,
has been paid and the company Is al
most out of debt Some of the director
at the beginning of the recent meeting
seemed To believe that they were abon
10 nnearth some extensive mismanage
meni. but all the books and papers o
she company have been willingly sub
snitted to them and so far as they hay
investigated them. everything Is per
fectly straight.
Governor Smith has acted in YER
fair and impartial manner in ntesidin
over the meeting and has seemed
want TO deal fairly with both parties I
the controversy
Mr.. Graves has been absent in Der
yer during the meeting of the board.
believe when the board fully under
stands what has been done and NJ
Graves intention concerning the con
many, the controversy that has been $
widely advertised will be at an EN-
The talk about the removal of Nj
Graves as president is quite absur'
since he, as well as the other officer
was elected for Il year, and he vi
serve until the next meeting Of II
stockholders in july.
u opposed the resolutions introduce
by Colonel Sanders at the meeting c
Saturday and which he took pains
copy and give To The press. because
considered them absurd. There WEI
several of these resolutions and the
were to the effect that every stockhol'
er should have access TO all parts
the mine at all reasonable times, TIL
IL was the duty Of each director
know all about all of the affairs of 4
company and To impart all of his !