New-York tribune., 1907-09-24
FISH TO HEAD FIGHT.
SENDS CALL FOR PROXIES.
Says Measurements an I. &. Report
Demand Investigation.

Sfuvvesant Fish has sent out the policy
holders of the Illinois Central a request for
proxies to be voted at the forthcoming annual
meeting on October 16 in Chicago AT this
meeting OF stockholders four directors are to be
chosen, three 10 succeed John Jacob Astor, Mr..
Fish and e II. Hartman. and one to fill a
vacancy for term Of one year.
in his letter TO the stockholders. made public
Yesterday Mr. Fish calls attention his thirty
wears Of service director of the company.
twenty Of which were spent as president, and
saws that he had hoped 20 retire at the coming
meeting He says, however that many stock
holders have already sent proxies to him un-
solicited. and that he feels under obligation to
carry out their wishes.
The theme of his letter is a plea to the policy
holders to stand firm for the independence of
Illinois Central against the encroachment of
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific interests.
Reviewing the fight by which he was ousted
from the presidency. he says in part:
For some time past there has been a persistent
effort 10 place the control OF your corporation IN IN
the hands or those dominating the Union facnc
and Southern Pacific companies. have felt il my
charge my Obligations OF trusteeshp 10 the ilnols
Central The policy Of your company. operating as
the general trend OF traffic (Which is on east
ana west Anes) has been to deal with each Of its
ing any exclusive traffic alliances.
uc{fIeness. and has more tonnage to deliver to its
connections than they can return 10 it This, as
explained at length to the stockholders al thelr @
meeting last year. would make its control OF eN-
onT a NaIge tG ao ~ di6eTn Paei Wich the
Illinois Central can be made TO feed at omaha as
on the other hand, il the Illinois Central is TO
serve its best purpose and secure the larsest rev.
maintained. 70 The end tnat Ii shall receive the
largest measure OF toInase in return Tor the great
OF your directors, Y II Hartman is president OF
the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific companies.
and Charles a. Peabody and Robert Walton Goeiet
ere members Of The Union Pacitc board; Al Ali me
Centre: Railroad Company there was deteEInineq
board one ot the directors of the Southern Pacinc
Company. and this was only defeated by my use OF
Was REPEATEDLY and psTsste5tly stated By M M
attorney, t6st the Un,on Facifc had no interest
Ia + ne tsf 1n8s ss SeTa T p % eoro 1 the Ino
Central In :he interest OF the Inion Pacific OF 10
testimony taken before the Interstate Commerce
f6e faSe y t9egs sfassnents. That the Tnon Pa
c;hc had bought before your stockholders. meeting
STOCK STOCK Of Your m oof3psny -
How Important the controi OF the Illinois Central
by TIE Union Pacific seemed TO those interested,
may be understood when say that at the next next
Pacific director and also director Of your com
pany, came expressly from Europe to New York
nseating me as president OF the Illinois Central.
which done. be returned 70 Europe the following
The Union Pacific. although owning but 30 per
were able TO accomplish their purpose by inhuenc-
ing certain Of your rectors which view of the
year' Vas not diffcuiI Ny protest as the Owner
Of lzz5 shares, and as one who had been charged
for twenty years with the responsibilities attach
ing to your presidency, is and has been through
solely against ts attempt 20 thus control your
The methods pursued by those Of your board Of
ciic have been SO high handed as 70 become the
ing Of the board / offered a resolution Of inquiry
in5o sub5ect matters which should properly be dis
closed 10 every shareholder;
T7eef.55y @ " reTTeseIst,1e T@nin5 Pac5c interests
movee TO adjourn, and J. T Harahan. who was
through the power given by the bylaws, the minor
fly. who truly represent The interests Of the III
nois Central shareholders, called special meet
ing. Rhereat offered resolution OF inquiry into
the evident padding OF the accounts. Such inquiry
The aIl-.mportant duties so ably discharged by
the late J c Nel4ins. who for fifteen years
v-cepresident and director had exercised close
supervision ever the accounting department. had
beer his death IL November last delegated
by J :. EErahaa 20 his own immediate assist
ant, be performed as incidental 10 his other
II appears FROM the annual report of the diia9ts
Central Company for the year ending June 80 1907.
rhst there ~es aa extraordinary increase IN tne
net receipts % ne corporation In the est -ouE
months which increase IS wholly ineKplicauls and
obviously inconsistent with The facts upon any
pose OF producing favorable. but fictitious, show
receipts Of s6s.oo; then carae the change IN
the presidency, znG IN tie mex. third OF the year
the net receipts decreased by sS!3lo9
Finally. IN The last toSE ILontas t3ey were suo
s45 is reported as MAGE IN the single n9nts & o.
June Ih:s Pa-iaNle III e.ie .
emphasized by the fact that althoLgh neitner ths
Mileage nor re Speg g 9acoee5,n sG onth Of
J.ly- showed falling of Of s35 oss in net revenue.
aI +S f 9 a,,,T s ti vas as referred for report to
the PRESIDENT the very officer who had brought the
course It's whole purpose was defeated.
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