New-York tribune., 1907-10-18
NO |. C. ELECTION YET.
COUNTING THE PROXIES.
Mr. Hartman Thinks Railroads Do
Not Get Far PLay.

Chicago. oct. 17.-Until three men who are
locked in a room assiduousy counting proxies
able 10 report to the stockholders of the
Illinois Central Railroad there will be no election
% directors The stockholders assembled twice
to-day only to be told that the inspectors were
not prepared to report. The final adjournment
vas taken shortly after p. m. and carried the
meeting over until p. IN Tomorrow.
The attorneys for Mr. Hartman who have all
along Been anxious to push matters to a speedy
conclusion, chafed sorely under the delays i'm
posed by the proxy inspectors When it was
evident at the morning meeting that the com
mitfec would not be able to report William Mel
son Cromwell Went to ex-Judge Farrar, who
represents Mr.. Fish, with the proposition that
all of the proxies should be thrown on a table in
The general meeting and that conflicting proxies
should be thrown out. This would have killed
all the revocations which have been made and
the offer was promptly declined by Judge Far
rar. Mr.. Cromwell expressed himself as anxious
for a Showdown" The Fish party. however
declined TO consider the plan for moment and
Mr.. Cromwell was forced to consent TO the delay
HARTMAN GIVES HIS VIEWS.
While the meeting was waiting for some
further word from the committee in order to
determine the time TO which the adjournment
should be taken. Mr. Hartman picked up his
table, sat down, with the remark. 'I think you
gentlemen can do more to settle this railroad
situation than anybody else"
When asked for explanation he said:
You do it by refusing to print one side of
proposition until you have seen the man on
the other side and let him have his say at the
same time. ] sick. and most other men are
also sick, OF the continued attacks made the
railroads When charges are made against
railroad me proper thing 10 do is to refrain
from publishing them until the party bringing
me charge ana the representatives of the rail-
road have had conference with representatives
or the press present. As such things
run me charges are printed in the papers and
the public receives wrong impression, because
the railroad side Of the question Is not given at
the same time It is the first impression that
counts. Very often railroad Is not a BILE 10
make reply for several weeks after the charge
has been brought, and the denial is not then
hotced, because the matter is no longer fresh
news. The way TO settle such things is TO get
together at the outset and let the charge and
denial go before the public at the same time
rms would do away with much of the I'll feel
ing that is now created against the railroad
An instance of where the Southern Pacific
vas guilty In technical sense of the violation
ot the law. ana was IN fact, entirely e1Iiltless
is found in the trouble we had when the Colo
rad0 River broke over its banks We spent
millions Of dollars IN forcing the river back into
us channel II was too big a Job for the gov
eminent 10 tackle. and had to do 1t our
selves The Colorado Development Company
which did the work although we paid the bill
asked for g rate on the material which was to
facihc quoted 10 me company the same rate
II charges against itself for the transportation
OF its own supplies. This was a different rate
from the one legally established for the hand
Ing OF such stuff We were. therefore, guilty of
violation Of law in fact. but we were entireIy
gulltless in spirit.
Many times charges have been brought
against the railroads which could be as easily
explained as in this case. It is only because the
explanation is not allowed TO be promptly given
that so much i'll feeling is created against the
railroads.
When asked If he had proposed this plan to
other railroad men Mr. Hartman said he had
rot, he desired tn ascertain their views before
doing He might take action. he said. with
in two or three months. but was not positive lust
what he would do.
TRANSFER BOOKS OPEN.
Before IL was definitely announced that the
proxy committee would not be able TO report the
attorneys on both sides were somewhat startled
by the suggestion that the transfer books of tho
company were open. When the stockholders
meeting was originally called It was not thought
that II would last more than one day, and ii was
announced that the books would be opened again
On October II. After a hasty conference # was
decided that there was no way in which the
books could he closed to-day, and It was there
fore decided that they should be allowed 10 re-
main open until O'Clock in the afternoon. when
u a m It was agreed between the ATTORNEYS
that no effort should be made either side to
purchase stock to-day.
AT the afternoon meeting which lasted only
few moments, it was at first proposed to take
an adjournment until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning. The proxy committee, however. de-
ciared that it not positive that it would
he ready 10 report at that time. On motion Of
Mr.. Cromwell the meeting then went over until
o'clock in the afternoon.
The attendance to-day was much smaller
tian on yesterday, and only a few persons
We're present when the final adjournment for
Inc day was taken. The general situation re-
mains unchanged. Both sides say they ex-
pect 10 control the meeting and both are hunt
ing earnestly for proxies or for the revoca-
non OF proxies previously given. Mr. Harri-
man is credited with sufficient confidence in the
outcome to have offered a dictatorship 10 a
prominent banker OF this city