The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-25
Sensational Charges Made
Against Stuyvesant Fish.
Harahan Says He Loaned Him.
self Illinois Central Money.
MERRY FIGHT is ON.
May Be Some More Fist Fights
at Stockholders Meeting.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

Chicago. Sept. 25.-"He (Stuyves-
ant Ffsh) loaned to himself, as an in
dividual, about s1,5OO.O0O from the
treasury of the company (Illinois
CentraD upon security of his own Sc
lection which proved to be inadequate
and unmarketable.''
This and other startling allega tons
are made in a letter given out last
night by ]. T. Harahan. president of
the Illinois Central Railroad company,
and addressed to the stockholders of
that company. The letter is q speedy
retort to the letter of Mr.. Fish, which
was published yesterday criticising the
administration of MI. Harahan, who
succeeded to the presidency of the IL
linois Central when Mr.. Fish was
ousted by the directors. Mr.. Hara-
hans letter says:
1.-THE statement in the circular let
ter issued by Mr.. Fish to the stock
holders and published today that the
Illinois Central accounts have been
padded or in any way manipulated is
absolutely untrue. He knows that
there has been no change whatever in
the relations of the Illinois Central
with the Union Pacific and Southern
Pacific. The resolutions presented by
him some weeks ago to the board of
directors making these charges were
referred to the accounting, traffic and
operating officers, and the reports
which were transmitted by me to the
board of directors show that the
charges were utterly groundless and
that the accounts have been kept pre-
cisely as they were under Mr.. Fish's
administration and that the relations
with all connecting lines are the same
as before his retirement. His refer
ence to alleged domination by the
Union Pacific is merely an effort to
play upon what he suppoSes to be cur
rent prejudice to further his interest,
and should not deceive any one.
1.-The attack made by Mr.. Fish upon
the character of his fellow directors
and upon the operating, accounting
and traffic officers of the company
warrants a full statement to the stock
holders of the reasons why Mr.. Fish
was not entrusted with the continued
close herewith a copy of letter ad-
dressed by eight directors of the COM
pany to Mr.. Fish under date OF NO
vember z, 1906. setting forth specif-
cally some of the reasons why they
would not vote for his reelection as
president There were other reasons
of a controlling character which were
referred to in general terms, but out
of consideration for Mr.. Fish were not
specially mentioned in that letter. The
most conspicuous of these is that
while Mr.. Fish was president or your
company, and as such the virtual Gus
todian of its treasury, ne loaned 10
himself as an individual about ST.
100000 from the treasury OF the COM
pany upon security of his own selec-
ton, which proved to be inadequate
and unmarketable. Mr.. Fish being
unable to repay the loan or to salts
factorily secure it, there were various
consultations among his friends on
the board of directors and negot1a-
lions designed for the payment of the
Indebtedness and the protection of the
credit of the company as we'll as MI
Fish's reputation After it was dem
onstrated that Mr.. Fish was unable to
reimburse the company a director in
diyidualIy loaned him the money nee
essary to repay the company In or
der to secure this loan Mr.. Fish pledg-
ed not only the unmarketable col
lateral above mentioned, but also con-
viewed his residence in the city of New
york and his undivided interest in the
estate of the late Hamilton Fish out
of consideration for Mr.. Fish such
conveyances We're not placed on rec