Evening journal., 1907-05-31
BITTER fight
FOR DIRECTORS
American Pneumatic Ser
vice Company Holding
Annual Meeting Here
PERSONAL ENCOUNTER
NARROWLY AVOIDED

one Of the bitterest fights in the
history OF the American Pneumatic
uervice Company, Of Boston. which
was Incorporated under the laws of
Delaware in 1898. is being waged in the
clayton House to-day the occasion
being the annual election Of the direc-
tors. fifteen in all. Of the concern.
The fight hinges practically upon the
presidency OF the board of directors,
and is being waged chiefly against w.
L. l.. Dillaway, Of Boston. who has
been president Of the board almost con-
tinuously since the organization Of the
company. The stockholders are d.
We'd into two factions, the Dillaways
and the Dillaways, the latter fac
ton being headed, it is said, by a Mr..
Ames, of Boston, while Nathan Frank.
part owner Of the St. Louis Louis Star
Chronicle is engineering the Dillaway
end. Stockholders and their proxies
arrived in Wilmington yesterday after
noon and held a conference in the Clay
ton House. but the warning factions
were unable to come to an understand
ing. A meeting was held to-day in the
office of Josiah o. Wolcott, who is the
Delaware director OF the company, the
result Of which was that the utmost
confusion reigned and blows were mar
rowly averted between several mem-
bers Of the two factions.
Two Chairmen Chosen
Following the meeting in Mr.. VOL
cott's Office the stockholders and prox-
les adjourned to the parlors Of the
Clayton House, when an effort was
made to elect a temporary chairman.
More trouble followed here, and ended
by each faction naming chairman.
William A. Hilles was chosen by the
Ames people, and Mr. Frank was Sc
lected by the Dillawayites
Following this it was decided to go
into a contest for a chairman between
the two candidates in order to cause
a showdown on one hand or another,
and at O'Clock the balloting was still
going on. Upon the selection of tenn
porary chairman depends practically
the organization of the board, as the
faction which wins out will be able to
dictate the permanent craftsmanship OF
the meeting as we'll as select the di-
rectors, who in turn name a president,
secretary and treasurer.
Msmanagement Claimed
The company is capitalized at ST.
100000 and has important contracts
with the government for Installing
pneumatic tube mail service in several
large cities in the country. The con-
Germ interest most heavily in the COM
pany is the Lawson Consolidated
Store Service Company Of Boston,
which holds the controlling interest.
Among the prominent men who are
at the meeting are John Sheppard, Of
the Sheppard Worrill Co, John A. Sui
llvan, former congressman from Mas
sachusetts; Sherman L. Whipple, of
Boston, who represented w. l. Pepper
in the Bay State Gas Company's suits;
]. ]. Kennedy, of New York, who rep
resents Howard Goulds interests In
the company; A. s. Temple, treasurer
of the company; +. A. Spear, F. A.
Fordge. We. Barnard. NJ. ]. Ailand. s.
Alland, +. A. Webster, Gilmer Clapp
William II. Ames, Oakes Ames. e. c.
Gilman, all Of Boston; William R.
Kear. Of Chicago; John f. Mulholland
Ralph Marsh, OF New York; ]. ]. Ken
nedy of New York; L. R. Hagan and
Nathan Frank, Of Boston.
Former Senator William r. Chandler
of Massachusetts,. is also present at
the meeting. but is taking no active
part in its proceedings. Mr.. Chandler
stated to-day that he was on his way
n TO Washington. when he learned that
was TO be some difficulty ot to-
IS meeting and stopped over TO be
& Sent at the gathering. 1T is verey
Rrtunate." said Senator Chandler
that this difficulty has arisen
particularly Interested in the
- g mail service as I looked
sle was In the Senate"