Evening journal., 1907-12-18
ADDTCKS PLANS
TO FIGHT LAWSON
Will Contest Election Because
Ii Was Not Held in
Delaware

J. Edward Addicks, the originator
OF and the principal figure Ia the en-
harrassed Bay State Gas Company. win
attempt TO wrest from odice Thomas
w. Lawson, who on Monday had him
self elected president of that corpora
tion az a meeting in Philadelphia.
The election will be contested on
the ground that It was illegal The
Addlcks forces hold that the cleo
tiOn OF a successor ON the board to the
late James c. Shaw, OF New Castle.
Del, mad to be held IN Delaware. where
the company was Incorporated Ad-
dicks friends conferred yesterday
When the next step will be taken was
not decided upon, but Il was learned
that Addicks would make every pos
sible effort TO keep Lawson. his arch
opponent IN the financial arena. from
directing the affairs of the famous
Delaware concern
Lawson Blocked AddolSs' Plans.
II was a realization of the efforts
that Addcks was making to put his
own men on the board and regaia con-
/ troll of the company that led certain
OF the directors 20 summon TO leader
shin the man who in his articles on
'trenzied Finance" claims to have cx-
posed Addicks and his manipulations
OF the Bay State Gas Company
Lawson to-day holds one quarter Of
/ the 3,5O0,00o shares of this company.
whose affairs are now in the hands of
George Wharton Pepper as recei YER
When shown tho opportunity and as
sured Of tho support of majority Of
the directors, he was not slow in ac-
cepting IT,
] rho election az AL.
company at Tweifth and Chestnut
streets, Philadelphia. on Monday. was
attended by N-Senator j. Frank Alice.
of Delaware; w Harry Miller. S. j.
Abbott, of Milford. Newell Ball. of
Bridgevilie. and Daniel Layton, OF
Georgetown. The only absentee was
c. Fred Keller, who is said 30 be
friendly 20 the Addicks interests Mr..
Lawson was not present. but was rep-
resented by John r. Donohue. of
Boston.
Courts May Intervene.
According 10 some officers OF the
company Il depends upon the courts
as to whether or not there will be
any need of direction of the companv's
affairs other than the collection OF as
sets and the suing out OF claims.
Receiver Pepper is now engaged In
that work and from less than 500
when he took hold FIVE years ago. the
balance in the trcaaufy. allowing for
the 100000 income bonds and the
proposed settlement OF the claims
against Addicks for 100000 each, has
grown 70 practically S1.O00000 The
lreceivership may end about June / OF
earlier. The courts then can either ~
vide these assets among the share
holders or continue the corporation.
The present directors declare that
with a charter. allowing II 60 engage
In any enterprise with a selling and
trading right worth more than q mill
lion and with a million In the trens-
Jury. the courts would not be justified
In ordering the disruption Of the con-
Germ. They predict great future
for the company with Lawson at the
head.
How Lawson Vas Chosen.
inst how Lawson leared into the
presidency Is now made clear. Lawson
was first elected a director TO suc-
coed James G.. shaw. who died while
going to his home in New Castle. a few
months ago. Then the Boston man
was chosen as president to succeed J.
Frank Alice. who resigned the presi-
NenIA TO rake iilf VICE. IiItHlNtnNN
under the Lawson regime. In Dover
last night Mr. Alice said Of the change:
Statement Of Alice.
The Bay State Gas Company OF
Delaware. after years OF litigation, az
last has all It's affairs cleaned up, and
after all bonds are paid on by order
OF the court and tho Addicks judg-
ment settled by the payment Of $780,
900. there will remain exceeding one
million dollars In the treasury Of the
company and there viii be outstand-
ing about S.6U0.0JO shares OF stock
From the fact that this stock Is
actively traded in on the New York
Philadelphia and Boston stock mar
l5ets and because the company charter
gives unlimited power aa the com
pany is now situated il becomes q
most valuable enterprise A large
majority of the stockholders have de-
cided. with this knowledge that the
company shall go into some new
business and TO that end have IN
duced Thomas w Lawson of Boston
and some strong associates 10 under
take the management Of the company's
affairs"