The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-16

The old board of managers Of the Mutua
Fire Insurance Company is still in office
and the election Of new board for the
coming year did not take place yesterday
as advertised Every effort was made tc
carry out the election. 4 great number OF
votes were cast. The balloung went on
all day. from O'Clock in the morning until
late in the afternoon, amid great excite
ment, at the offices of the company, 30
Pennsylvania Avenue. At the last mo-
ment, however. temporary injunction
was granted by the District Supreme
Court, forbidding the judges from counting
the ballots.
The annual meetings OF The Mutual Com
pany are usually lively of recent years.
There has been a contest between the
people in Office and others. who believe
that a change should be made, on sew
eral occasions. Yesterdays meeting was
probably the most exciting of the entire
series. Two determined parties fought
each other. with votes. resolutions, and
other parliamentary tactics, all day, the
result being victory for neither side and
much uncertainty as TO which will finally
win.
The injunction obtained yesterday after
noon at O'Clock was issued by Judge
Barnard Suit was entered for the in
junction By George T. bearing, William
A. II. Church. Timothy W Murphy. George
c. Walker. K. Harrison johnson, and W.
Pierce Boteler The defendants in the
suit were Samuel II. Walker. Andrew
Archer Jesse d. Wilson. Peter Latterner.
L. NJ. Saunders, Frank Hume, and the
judges of the election.
The grounds alleged in the plea for the
injunction indicate the differences of opin-
ion very clearly. The compliments in the
suit are what is known popularity as the
managers party. They include the present
board of managers. with the exception OF
6. II. Walker. Mr.. Boteler, also one OF
the compliments. is the secretary or the
company. The defendants are the oppo-
sition ticket the party which believes that
the present managers should give way to
new people Mr.. Walker is at present the
president of the company, but he is gen.
orally considered TO be the leader OF the
opposition. The plea made by the COM
plaiDants recites that In the attempted
election yesterday voting by proxies dated
prior TO January l. 1900. was not allowed.
IL is also stated that when the question
was put to a vote as to whether proxies
should be allowed in the bslloting the
chairman of the meeting, President
Walker. decided against proxies summarily,
although an aye and no vote was called
for
The further allegation is made that
Chairman Walker would not allow the
casting Of proxy votes on this preliminary
resolution although always heretofore ii
has been the custom TO allow proxies For
these reasons. ii is said, the vote cast yes
terday was illegal and the election should
be declared void.
Judge Barnard granted temporary in
junction against the counting of the votes
and the decision Of the election judges.
The case is TO be heard on January q.
The two printed tickets in the field yes
terday morning were as follows:
Matthew G. Emery, George T. bearing.
William A. H. Church. Timothy W.
Murphy, Samuel II. Walker, George c.
Walker, r. Harrison johnson.
NJ G. Emery, Jesse B. Wilson, Samuel
II. Walker, Andrew Archer. Peter Latter
ner. l.. NJ. Saunders. Frank Hume.
The first ticket comprises the present
board OF managers. Mr.. Emery, who was
one OF the founders of the company, is
on both tickets, as Is also MIR. Walker, the
president of the company. Soon after the
balloting began President Walkers name
was scratched on a large number Of the
board ballots cast on the theory that
he was friendly to the opposition.
The events in the meeting early in the
day were of much more exciting nature
than the allegations of the injunction suit
disclose. Mr.. Walker was chosen chair
man OF the meeting. Immediately after
the reading Of the minutes of the pre-
vious meeting, L. NJ Saunders asked the
question if the board had sent out
vote for the present board and not 10
give proxies to anyone in opposition.
Members Of the board stated that they
had not sent out the circular, and were
not aware OF its existence. Secretary
Boteler made the statement that he was
the author of the document which he had
sent out in the interest OF harmony. and
for the good Of the company. This ques-
tion and its answer were supposed to
outline clearly the position Of the two
factions. The tactics TO be pursued by
each side soon became evident.
The following resolutions were offered:
That no manager, officer, employe of the
Mutual Fire Insurance Company Of the District
Of Columbia shall be permitted TO vote proxies
either directly indirectly a. by assignment or
otherwise for the election Of the board Of man
ayers Of the said company.
That no proxy dated prior TO January !, 1900 |
shall be voted for the election Of the board Of
Of the District 0, Columbia. |
These two resolutions were carried-the |
board party declare Illegally. Chairman |
Walker called for a vote on each, and On |
the raising OF hands declared that they |
were carried. An aye and DO vote was |
then called for. and the chairman refused |
TO entertain the motion. He refused also |
TO allow the voting OF proxies on the rgso- |
lutionE.
1t is asserted by the board party that a
number OF those voting on these resolutions
we're not policyholders, but simply friends
of the opposition ticket brought in for the
occasion. Mr.. Walker and his friends deny
the accusation Indignantly. II is also
charged that Mr.. Walkers party, knowing
OF the resolutions, were on hand at the
opening of the meeting in full force. filling |
the rooms Of the company so that others |
could not get IN TO make their wishes |
known. The count OF hands on the first |
resolution, as announced by the chairman, |
was rs 10 IS. II is pointed out that those |
entitled 20 vote are thousands in number.
The effect OF the resolutions was seen |
when the ballotlng began. The present |
board hold proxies for an immense number |
of policyholders given them in former
years. These were all thrown out by the
resolutions. Mr.. johnson and Mr. Deering
both offered big patches of proxies. but
th's wiz NV a4iNHti- VIEW DiOAites CD-
tanned by Mr. Wilson, a former president
OF the company and now on the opposition
ticket. and by others, were cast and allowed
by the judges.
The excitement grew so intense and so
vociferous at times that the presence of
two policemen became necessary, in the
opinion OF the chairman. When they APP
peared Mr. Walker said that he intended
TO control the meeting in the interests OF