New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
CRISIS In I. C. FIGHT
HARTMAN MEN READY.
Call Special Board Meeting-May
Oust Fish.

A special meeting OF the board Of directors Of
the Illinois Central Railroad Company has been
called for next Wednesday morning. at the COM
pany's offices in this city. II learned yes
terday. to elect officers for the coming year. In
previous years the election OF officers has fol-
lowed almost Immediately the annual meeting
of the stockholders but action has been delayed
this year. and It has been currently reported
that the election would not be held until the
next regular meeting Of the board on Noven-
Der 81. ...
President Fish left this city for the West on
Friday night. having been called away unex-
pectedIy on important business. Yesterday a
call dated October 81. for a special meeting
Of the directors on November 7 was issued by
members of the Hartman party in the board
At this meeting the question will be settled
whether or not Stuyvesant Fish will be re-
elected TO the presidency which he has filed for
twenty years.
At the annual meeting In Chicago last month,
II viii be remembered, a written request was
presented to President Fish. in whose hands
were proxies representing an overwhelming ma
jorty Of the stock. calling for the selection Of
Henry w. De Forest as a director to fill the
vacancy caused by the death OF w Morton
Grinnell This request signed by E. H.
Hartman John W. Auchineloss. Charles A.
ttdpo0yt NoTnelihS NdnIEEDNC. k w. CTOelet.
Walter Luttgen and. at the last moment. ]. T
Harahan, second vice-president and general
manager of the company majority OF the
board. Mr.. Fish refused to honor the request
for reasons which he explained in detail to the
stockholders assembled in annual meeting. and
elected James Dew. Cutting Of this city. who
had been director of the company for sew
eral years prior to 1902. to fill the vacancy. not
voting the Hartman proxies for him
Then Mr.. Fish cast the vote which reelected
the three directors whose terms had expired
Messrs Vanderbilt and Harahan. who had
signed the Hartman request and Charles M
Beach
1t was reported az the time that Mr. Harahan
who has for many years been associated with
Mr. Fish in the executive management of the
Illinois Central. would be the candidate of the
Hartman party in the board for the presidency
These reports have been revived in Chicago
within the last day or two. according to special
dispatches from that city published here yes
terday morning
How the board will be divided at the special
meeting cannot be accurately learned but It is
fair inference that the Hartman party would
not have called the special meeting unless II had
felt confident that IL would have a majority at
that meeting. 1t has been assumed in Wall
Street that the seven men who signed the De
Forest paper would vote to oust Mr. Fish from
the presidency. although there has been divi-
sion of opinion 70 Mr.. Harahan's attitude
The remaining directors, beyond Mr.. Fish and
the seven named are John Jacob Astor. Charles
NJ. Beach James Dew. Cutting and First Vice
President John I. yelling. These men. accord
ing to the general understanding favor Mr.
Ffshs reelection. and at the time OF the annual
meeting IL the impression in Chicago that
Governor Deneen. who is ex-officio member
Of the board. also inclined to Mr.. Fishs
cause. although he has expressed no partiality
for either side.
Whether or not Mr.. Fish will be able TO con-
clude his business in the West in time to reach
New York by Wednesday morning is not known.
Mr.. Beach. whose home is in Hartford. is
in advanced years and might not be able 10 re-
spond 10 call 70 attend special meeting on
short notice. Mr. yelling, according to yester-
days Chicago dispatches. is i'll in that city: and
Governor Deneen, the chief executive of his
state, might naturally be reluctant 10 depart
from that state the morning OF Election Day.
would be necessary If he purposed being pres
ent at Wednesday mornings special meeting In
this city.