The Topeka state journal., 1905-06-07
CALL IT A TRUST.
Members of Cooperative Ship
pers After Hoffman.
Claim That He Is Violating
Anti Trust Law.
SEEK TO DEPOSE HIM.
James Butler, Former Secretary,
Leading the Fight.
Charge That Enterprise Man
Emulated Smiley.
SEEK TO DEPOSE HIM,

Sensational charges of pooling and
forming combinations among grain
dealers, just such a thing for which E.
J. Smiley is now doing penance in the
Rush county Jail. are being talked up
among the members of the Farmers
Cooperative Shippers association,
which began its sessions at the Com
merciaI club rooms at O'Clock this
afternoon, against c. B. Hoffman of
Enterprise, the general manager of the
organization.
The slate of the opposition against
Hoffman, is to call for an entire new
deal on the board of directors. wipe
out the present general manager en-
tirely from the map, and elect a new
man In his place who will follow out
the cooperative policy, which is the
keynote of the association.
1t is an old fight. Last year was the
first time that it came to real head.
Desperate efforts were made to oust
Hoffman, but backed by $31, 900. rep
resentative of the earnings of the
company for the year, the mem bers of
the association thought him all right,
and elected a board of directors who
put him again into office.
But this year, it is said among the
members, that there is a deficit in
stead of an earning in the treasury.
Substantiation of this could not be OBJ
tanned. James Butler of Kansas City,
where the main Office is, and one of the
founders of the association, said this
morning that he had heard from en-
plOyes of the main Office that the or
ganizatiOn lost instead of made money
this year.
Asked about the charges against Mr..
Hoffman, relative to pooling and COM
bining among grain dealers, he answer
charges. But I guess they are true all
right. I understand that the checks can
be shown and that evidence can be pro-
duced. I myself, cannot say anything
definitely, and what is more do not
want to at this time. But it is a
cinch that he won't be general mana
ger again if the present temper of the
members is considered. Last year he
was fought for dealing on the Board
of Trade in futures. which is contrary
to the constitution of our organization.
But he won out because there was a big
earning something like S31, 600 in the
treasury. This year the Office employees
tell me that nothing was made, but in
reality money lost"
An attorney connected with the or
ganization was asked whether any
prosecutions would be made. He replied
in the negative, saying that he thought
not but could not say definitely.
Mr.. Hoffman has not yet come to othe
meeting. He is expected here late this
afternoon or Thursday morning from
Enterprise. None of his friends could
DG 4O44lQ anu d SAdlCi4lG4lE AOti4 Ills -EAtAo
of the controversy could consequently
not be given today.
The specific charge against Hoffman
| is that he formed q, combination among
| grain dealers, price was agreed on
daily, and then division of profits
took place 1t is the same offense
which E. J. Smiley, secretary of the
Kansas Grain Dealers association is
accused of.
The meeting of the Farmers Coop
] CnfT1T1pl.S5 qGSnpia fiQn did. not
begin until this afternoon at 4 o'clock.
No night meeting will probably be held.
The heavy work will commence on
Thursday morning.
At that time it is the intention of
the obiectors to Hoffman's further
regime to elect an entire new board
of directors from the one now serving,
one that is hostile to Hoffman and will
present directorate consists of the fol-
/ lowing: F. Engelhardt, Rising City,
Neb.; Frank Right, Billings, Ok; H.
r. Signor, Winfield. H. H. Shul. Ar
gonia, Robert Milton, Stafford, Kan; A.
J. Masterson, Winfield, Kan; Samuel
Hill, Lahoma, Ok; J. F. Willis, Nc
Louth. kan; J. G. Goings, Mindon,
Neb.
Informal gatherings of the mem
bers of the association who came in
yesterday and this morning met last
night at the Oxford hotel and this
morning at the Commercial club
rooms for the purpose of talking over
matters pertaining to the organization
and making recommendation with
reference to changes in bylaws and
constitution. Two matters coming un-
der the latter head are the reduction
of the stock which one man can hold
from So 900 to $1,000, and the abolish
ing of the executive committee.
It was at last nights meeting that
the charges against Hoffman were
whispered about and got to the ears
of the one hundred or more members
who had already come in. It nat
urally started up a fight. at once,
which will find a decision in the cleo
ton of the board of directors for the
ensuing year.