Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-21
WARNING IN DENVER
Opposing Factions of Colorado
Fuel and Iron Go. in Fight.
FORMER OTlUMWAN IN EVIDENCE
J. c. ossood, the head of the Company,
was for Number of Years President
of the Whitebreast Fuel Co. in This
City-Well Known Here.

Ottumwa people are interested in the |
struggle that is now going on between
the forces of John w. Gates and those
led by j. G. Osgood for the control of
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co. The |
fight has been most bitter and so far,
according to the reports, has resulted
in victory for the latter. The Osgood
followers say that the Gates intentions
are to merge the company with the
steel trust in case he secures control.
Gates represented the eastern stock
holders OF the concern and it is alleg
ed was trying to gain control of the
corporation. He held proxies of a
number of the eastern men, and num-
Der issued by trust companies in New
York. He was restrained from using
the proxies issued by the trust compan-
les by an injunction secured by the Os-
good faction
Mr.. Osgood will be remembered by
many Ottumwa people, as he resided
in this city for number of years
when he was president of the White
breast Fuel company, which at that
time had headquarters in this city. A.
D. Moss, who farmerly resided in OF.
tumwa, is an old friend of Mr.. Osgood,
and is at present assistant treasurer
of the company in question.
Court Rules Against Gates.
The court. in it's ruling, refused to
take cognizance of the minutes of the
meeting held July 80, at which it was
alleged the bylaws of the company
had been amended in such a way as to
make Osgood the returning board and
guiding spirit of the election. Neither
would the court order the admission
of proxies issued by the trust compan-
les of New York, on the ground that he
was not in position to verify these
certificates. That, he said, was part of
the business of the board of directors,
who were in charge OF the books that
would show If these stockholders were
legally entitled to recognition. Refus-
al to admit legitimate proxies would
furnish basis for suits of different
character, where the merits of the con-
tentions could be properly adjudged.
Charges of osgood Faction.
The gict of the claim of the Osgood
faction was as follows: Six thousand
bona fide votes held by Chairman Os
| good and his friends represent the ma
| jority of the real holders Of stock q
majority of the proxies held by Gates
represent gambling class not perma,
nently interested in the company and
secured by Mr.. Gates, by payment OF
money; Mr.. Osgood repeatedly refused
to conspire with Gates in turning the
fuel and iron company over to the
steel trust.
Osgood Uses Strategy.
The annual meeting was held yes,
! terday but the proceedings We're stop
ped by an injunction restraining the
/ directors from holding the annual
meeting scheduled. The complaint
was signed by George F. Bartlett, sec
retar.-- of the Victor Fuel company, an
auxiliary OF the Colorado Fuel and
Iron, and was in the interest of the
| Osgood people.
The complaint was based on an allie
cation Of the Gates faction that the
meeting had not been properly adver
tised and that any action would be il
legal and void 1t alleged that the
present controversy was doing vast
I that the property be protected by stop
/ pug lliG lSlll ullil SuSh tlihC
hearing could be had in court
Judge John l. Mullins, of the district
court gran ted the application, and the
papers We're served on the director
as expected, at the opening of the
/ meeting, where Chairman Osgood pre-
sided, apparently oblivious Of thu
pending Interruption.
I AS soon as the meeting was called
to order a protest was filed by Presi
dent Keller against transacting bust
ness. When formalities had not beef
complied with, a deputy sheriff de
marded a hearing and read the wri
of injunction. The meeting adjourned
as quickly as the sheriff had finished
Motion Too Late.
A. the same moment Attorney Vail
:. for Gates faction, offered a motion
hut Charm an Osgood had already lef
: his seat and business was out c
l order.
!. The effect of this injunction is t
stop the fight until the injunction i
+ dissolved, either by an answer mad
to it or by a higher authority tina,
the district court Meanwhile Osgoo,
Keller and the rest of the present off
i ctrs Will serve until their successor
: are chosen.
Resided Here Ten Years.
Mr.. Oseood first became connecte
with, the Goa, business in this vlcinit
in the early eighties. He had forme
ly been clerk in bank at Burlingto
and came to this city and engage
with the Wkitebreast Fuel Co. H
S rose to the position of president {
J, this company with headquarters i
d this city. and resided here about tie
. years. He later moved to Chicag
b when the company's general office
were moved to that city. The Color;
Go Fuel & Iron Co., of which he
d row the bead is one of the largest co
g porations in the west.