Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-18
MR.. JONAH HARTMAN
Stuyvesant Fish Hopes to
Play the Whale.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL FIGHT
No Report Yet From the Proxy
Committee.
PROSPECTIVE NEW DIRECTOR
Talk of John j. Mitchell of Chicago,
Who Is Personal Friend
of Mr. Fish.
PROSPECTIVE NEW DIRECTOR

!
| CHICAGO, H., October 1S.-When the
proxy committee, the report of which will
reveal whether Stuyvesant Fish or f
H. Hartman shall have control of the
Illinois Central railroad, began its ses-
sion this morning. 1t promised to COM
plete the work today. Mr.. Conway
said: III we can make as rapid progress
today as in the closing hours of our
work last evening. we Will in all proba-
| bility be able to report today"
What will the result be-" he was
| asked.
"Oh, that's another story" - replied.
| Despite the lack Of comm - ltieness
on the part of Mr.. Conway. nsA A-nbers OF
| the Hartman party were more certain
| than ever this morning that they would
win hands down. They are giving out re-
vsed figures based ON the information
| they have received on the progress of
the canvass which purports to show that
| Hartman will control 100000 votes out
side the 2S6, 600 shares of disputed Union
Pacific and Mutual Life stock. They
| credit Fish with having not more than
100000 votes.
On the other hand, the Fish lieutenants
have 1t figured out that they have 3l0.Coe
votes and Hartman 2l5 $50 outside o: the
enjoined shares.
| Proxy Committee Mum.
| The latest estimates are that 90 per cent
of the stock is represented. These figures,
| however, are unofficial, but it is conceded
/ E
are keeping the principals in the fight,
advised of the progress of the count. The
proxy committee, however. is not making
| any statement for publication.
| If the Harrimanites make good on their
| forecast of the result they will be able
| to oust Fish and elect their directors
under the terms of the modified Ban IN
| Junction. If, however, Fish shows down
more votes than Hartman outside OF the
| enjoined stock the election Will have to go
| over until December IL, before which
| time the legal questions will have been
adjudicated. In any event. Fish expects
| to enliven the meeting when 1t does come
| to q sensational extent. He Is said TO
| have a resolution or two up his sleeve
| which. though ousted as director, ne IN
tends to spring as stockholder me
move il 1t materializes, will be in the
direction of investigating the alleged jug
Cling of Illinois Central finances and the
Hartman administration.
Talk About Mitchell.
The reported conference of Mr.. Harri-
man with John j. Mitchell, a Chicago
banker, and the decision that Mr.. Mitch
ell had been selected to succeed Fish or to
fill the vacancy left by the death of John
c. yelling was treated as something OF
a Joke around President Harahan's Office
| this morning. While 1t was admitted that
Nv hon admirable
director, his long friendship for Mr.. Fish,
it was thought, might initiate against
him. On the other hand, 1t was argued
| that It would be a shrewd move on the
part of Mr.. Hartman and would in no
sense be a compromise.
II Mr. Fish is compelled to get off the
board. it is probable that no man would
be more acceptable to him than Mr.
Mitchell. The advent of Mr.. Mitchell on
the board would. 1t is stated. go long
way toward restoring good feeling among
many of the stockholders who are ag-
grieved over the attempt to depose Mr..
| Fish. Mr.. Hartman declared yesterday
that he thought 1T was aboHt time the
| Illinois Central broke away from the east
and that IT was his purpose to get west
| ern men into the board. This declaration
| was made while Mr.. Hartman was TAX
ing newspaper men into his confidence as
! to what the interstate commerce COM
mission. the railroads and the public ought
| to do to bring about readjustment of
rallrOaQ cOndltlOnS.
What Hartman Wishes.
Mr.. Hartman was an early riser this
morning and he appeared at the head
quarters in the Park Row station in an
apparently clipper mood. 1t is apparent.
| however, that he is chafing at the delay
| and wishes that matters could be expe-
dited.
| Hartman was asked IL he still feels
| confident of victory He said he did, but
with qualification hitherto unemployed.
why, we have won already" he said,
Counting the 2S6, 900 shares involved in
the court proceedings. This INDUCTION
tying up those 2S6 .0C0 shares is the most
ridiculous thing l ever heard OF. The
supreme courts hold that the owner of a
| share of stock at the time the books
close has the right to vote it, and that's
my right in this case. / am sorry the
matter was not fought out in the court in
the first place instead Of compromising.
That's what I would have done if l had
| heen there l wish / were a LAWYER"