The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-17
Fish and His Cohorts Stand Firm Btfsre the Coming
 Struggle
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT
 OF ULTIMATE VICTORY
William Nelson Cromwell, Attorney for Hartman, Loses Ground In Tilt With James A. Patten of
 Chicago Board of Trade.

Chicago, October 16.-The meeting of the Illinois Central stockholders, which was called at noon today, was finally adjourned late in the afternon until g. o'clock tomorrow morning.. No vote on the directors was taken and it is possible that none will be reached be- fore a late hour tomorrow. It is gen orally expected, however, that the early session will see the new directorate established
 The delay was caused by the inabil- ity of three election inspectors who were appointed to act as a committee on credentials in considering the 4 proxies, to finish their work The ad- journment was taken after earnest ! tilt between William Nelson Cromwell, MT. Harrimans leading counsel, and James A Patten, a prominent member of the Chicago board of trade.
 Mr. Cromwell desired that the meet ing be adjourned until S:50 tonight, while MT. Patten was set on having it taken until o'clock tomorrow morning. The proceedings of the day were opened by meeting of the direc tors. No business was transacted save that on motion of MT. Fish it was de- cided to admit representatives of the press and committee of three election Inspectors was finally completed.
 It was stipulated yesterday by Judge Ball that committee of three should be appointed to pass upon the eligibil- Sity of the proxies. For this committee Mr. Fish, who was to select one mem- ber. chose his private secretary, Charles H. Wenman.
 Committee Selected.
 Mn Hartman selected Louis Fritch, assistanb ,o the president of the Illi sncis Central These two were to select "a third but the choice of the addi Ational one was leftsto Judge Farrar, 4acting for MT. Fish, and MT. Crom- swell for MT. Hartman. The two men argued for the greater part of the night and discussed many names but were unable to agree upon tho third man. When the meeting of directors was called it was still undecided and finally 6 motion made, originally by Judge Farrar. that Judge Ball be asked to select the third man, was adopted.
 The judge named r. S. Conway, a prominent manufacturer of this city. The meeting of stockh olders was called to order at 12 o'clock by President Harahan of the Illinois Central, about 400 people being in attendance. MT. Fish was greeted by applause as he entered, but the smaller stature of MT. Hartman allowed him to enter unob- served. Soon after he arrived MT. Fish walked over to wh ere President Hara han was seated and placing his hand sa upon Harahan's shoulder, bent over and said few words to him which were evidently of a pleasant nature. Presi- dent Harahan, however, was not in a F.H,. fal inc nH a " off Mr. Fish's hand with a manner of much impatience MT. Fish merely smiled and returned to his seat.
 Cromwell In Charge.
 Mr. Fish occupied seat at the left of President Harahan, being surround ed by his attorneys and advisors. MT. Hartman who left the conduct of his Affairs entirely to MT. Cromwell oc- cupied chair in the front row of Stockholders seats, sitting next to Governor Dineen of Illinois, with whom he conversed cheerfully through out the greater part of the meeting. Next to Governor Dneen was a son of Stuy- yesant Fish. with whom MT. Hartman cordially shook hands soon as he ob- served him.
 The actual proceedings of the meet ing were opposed by the stockholders per sunully present an,i then Mir. Cromwell who to all ihtcnts and purposes was ..j be the prcs:C ;rg officer, declared that the three inspectors would receive .he rroxies iE an adjoining :"om He also moved that the meeting take an adjourn ment until 3:30 in the afternoon. The motion was adopted. Immediately after MT. Harahan had called the meeting to order with three laps of his gavel at S:f5 0 clock MT Cromwell arose and said: T !, am informed by the members of the committee on proxies that they have been unable to finish their work and are not prepared to report for several hours. !, u erfeorc, mcVe that ar aiiournment pe taken until S3O o'clock tonight"
 Patten to the Fore.
 Instantly James A. Patten was on his feet Mr.. Patten is large man, whose appearance and manner suggest that he is entirely capable of caring for himself in any kind of fight He objected strongly to the adjournment, saying:
 T move to amend the motion by mak- ing the hour g o'clock tomorrow morn ing There are stockholders here who live outside the city and for whom it is inconvenent to attend night meeting. I want to transact the business of this meeting. and I intend to uo so, but l want to sleep tonight.
 Mr. Cromwell arose. courteous in the extreme "I would call the attention of the stockholders he said, to tine fact that this IS business meeting For tLe conduct of important affairs I re- prot if any stockholder should be put to inconvenience, but this is case where we should attend to business with out considering our comfortatoo closely. | therefore, insist upon the adoption of my motion"
 s'I desire,' said Mir. Patten, with im- nressive manner and in warlike tones, ..to call the attention of the meeting to inc fact that when the night session Is over the lawyers can take cab and reach their hotels in five minutes, while tbe stockholders who live out of town cannot do so without taking nuch longer time. This meeting Is meeting If Illinois Central stockholders and is heinz run by the stockholders an not Tor the convenience of few attorneys from New York City. I insist upon my amendment and ask that vote be taken.