New-York tribune., 1911-02-02
SUGAR COMPANY HEAD OUT
Washington B. Thomas Resigns
To Be Chairman of Directors.
HORACE HAVEMEYER'S Fight
Suit Begun at Trenton, He says
Involves Control of Ma
tional Company.

can Sugar Refining Company, announced
yesterday that at recent meeting oi 'lle
board Of directors Washington D.
Thomas, then president Of the COMPANY
resigned that Office 10 fill the office OF
chairman OF the board Of directors re-
Gently created. No incumbent for the
Office OF president has yet been CHOSEN
| Edward +. Atkins, Of Boston, remains
as first vice president and Charles H.
Allen, the present treasurer OF the COM
pany, assumes also the Office OF secono
vice president. II is expected that new
president will be chosen at the forthcom-
ing meeting.
Mr.. Thomas. who had been ylce-pres-
ident Of the American Sugar Rehhing
Company. with headquarters in Boston,
was made acting president upon me
death Of H Q. Havemeyer, which oc-
CURED in December 1907, and seVerai
months later was elected president. Mr.
Thomas. who has been identified with
the company for many years, had often
been in charge in President Havemeyer's
obsence and from his thorough famil-
iarity with the affairs of the corporation
was generally expected TO succeed Mr..
HaYemeyer. although It was widely re-
ported that the latter's son, Horace
Havemeyer, would eventually be the
head of the Sugar Trust
Initiated Detailed Reports.
Prior TO 1905 the only information
given out by the American Sugar Refin-
ing Company concerning its affairs was
the brief balance sheet required by the
State Of Massachusetts. At the annual
meeting Of the stockholders in January,
1905, a resolution was adopted calling
upon the management 10 issue an annual
report. That report. published two
months later. was said by friends Of
acting President Thomas to have been
prepared on his initiative and 10 he as
detailed as the peculiar nature of the
sugar business would warrant the man.
agement in issuing.
During the admhriStra ton Of Mr.
Thomas the long series Of prosecutions
Of employees Of the sugar company for
frauds against the government have oc
Cured and various proceedings against
the company and its directors have been
brought by the government. one Of them
having been tho blanket Indictment
against the company and six Of the di-
rectors. including President Thomas. and
two other men in the matter Of the clos
irg Of the Pennsylvania Sugar Refining
Company's plant.
Since the death OF President Have
meyer there has been virtually.a COM
plete change Of directors and officers Of
the company. Mr.. Atkins, the vice.
president, who is also president of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacture
ing Company. became an officer of the
sugar company few months ago. and
Mr. Allen, the treasurer, who now be-
comes also second vice president, went
/ 70 the sugar company about a year ago.
! ma oing been previously vice president Of
The Morton Trust Company. Mr.. Free
! man. the secretary, is the successor of
| c. r. Heike. who retired last July. fol-
| lowing his conviction on 4 charge Of con-
spiracy against the government. Also
| James NJ. Beck has recently succeeded
John Z. Parsons as general Counsel Of
the company.
Says It's Fight for Control.
The suit brought on Tuesday in Tren-
ton, y. j., at the instance Of the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Company TO turn the
Havemeyer interests out Of their last
sugar holdings was described yesterday
by Horace Hayemeyer as an attempt to
prevent the stock held by the Have
meyer family from voting, so that the
American Sugar Refining Company,
through its ownership Of majority ~
the other stock, might continue It's ab
solute control Of the National Sugar Re-
lning Company.
AS long as it can directly or indi-
rectly prevent our stock being voted"
Nj. Havemeyer declared, 1t has con
troll OF the National. which otherwise
would be the biggest independent sugar
The object Of the suit brought against
the National Sugar Refining Company IS
70 set aside as Illegal the transfer TO tho
late II. . Havemeyer Of practically ali
the common stock of the National Sugar
Refining Company. Of a par value of
100000, on the ground that it had
been given Is a gratuity.
In a statement lssred yesterday Horace
Havemeyer said he would insist on hav-
ing the suit pushed vigorously. so that
he might vote his stock and establish
the independence OF the National sugar
Refining Company. He said he had doc
umentary proof that the transaction now
attacked was made with the knowledge
and consent OF the directors of the
American Sugar Refining Company and
was an individual matter on his fathers
part.
Horace Hsvemeyer's Statement.
Horace Havemeyers statement vas as
follows:
] wish first 20 correct the statement that
was retired from the American sugar
Refining Company The fact is that ! re-
signed my dictatorship voluntarily for rea-
sons OF my own and without request or
SUGGESTION from any one. 7 stated 70 the
directors OF that company that II was my
intention in the future 10 participate N
the management Of the National Sugar Re
hning Company because Of the Interest