Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-02-07
COMMITTEE REPORT.
On Independent Harvester Co.
Now Selling Stock Here.

0Iuc0 tue puUllCaLAOu III 10S 4E4Uuuc
of last week of our article relating
to the Independent Harvester Co. we
have come into possession of the COM
plete committee report in the follow
ing article which appears in the Farm
Implement News:-
Dissatisfied with results from their
investment in the stock of the lnde-
pendent Harvester Company. Plano.
ILL.,. stockholders from several states
met recently to consider what could
be done. A committee was appointed
and empowered to investigate the con-
duct of the company in the interests
of the stock holders. The result of
the effort of that committee to learn
something definite about business
in which it was financially interested
appsars in report issued by the COM
mittee, which is as follows -
Committees Report to Stockholders
of Independent Harvester Company.
Gentlemen:
The representatives of various
groups of stockholders met in the
Dolder Hotel. Plano, ILL.,, in answer
to call from the associations cent
cred at Kankakee. Ill. There were
twenty representatives present. sixteen
from Illinois and four from Iowa,
acting for widely scattered stockhold-
ers of their states.
The meeting was informally called
to order. when it was learned that
w. C. Thompson. president of the In-
dependent Harvester Company, was
not in Plano to meet the appointment
which be had previously made for the
10th with representatives of the IL
linoi delegations. To say that there
were murmurs at the failure of this
high official to keep his appointment
is putting it mildly.
Various phases of the harvester
company were discussed. The mil
lions contributed by the investors; and
the few machines to distribute after
seven years of promise, were data
for serious consideration.
| Other ventures in manufacturing
7 lines have built themselves uo large
I tIy out OF earnings and it seemed to be
the feeling that the several millions
of dollars subscribed to the Indepen-
dent Harvester Company are not suffi-
ciently productive to justify our as.
sent to the continuance of present
conditions without protest.
A committee to act for all present
and those represented, consisting Of
E. NJ Thebiay, of Eagle Grove. Ia.
Grant Grinnell. of Kankakee. III.
and Philip Neibergall of Paw Paw
/ ILL.,, was elected.
Efforts to meet Mr.. w. c. Thomp
son that day were of no avail, ant
the committee determined to stay owe
one more day to secure an interview
with him, if possible: assuming tina
some unavoidable circumstances pre-
vented his appearance. Judge Cove
| of Kankakee, of the law firm of Cow
er, Cooper, Hobbie & Parish, re
mained with the committee.
After patiently waiting until tn
arrival of the train the following
morning. Mr.. Grinnell called up tn
Office of the harvester company t
make an appointment for the com
mittee. He was answered by Mr
Thompson, who insisted upon KNOWN
the names of the committee:. TIL
, information brought back the repl
that all would be admitted but MI
], Thebiay and Judge Cover. The me
(. not tabooed by the president went q
once to the presidents Office and agai
asked for an audience for the flu
committee. Mr.. Thompson again re
fused, whereupon Mr.. Grinnell sal
to him: "There will be an intervie1
with our entire committee or none .
ALL" Our men started to withdral
from the Office, were asked to waii
. and upon further consideration tt
president granted an interview for
u o'clock in the afternoon at the offiC
e of Mr.. r. o. Litch, attorney for tt
: company.
At o'clock the committee and i
attorney, together with Mr.. Middle
N ton, were ready at the appointed placl
% Soon after their arrival Mr.. Baustol
% auditor. Mr.. Crimmins, state manag,
!, for Illinois, and Mr.. Larson sta
manager for Iowa. appeared on beha
# of the company, Mr.. Leitch, the a
,e torney. being present before our a
!. rival. Mr.. Thompson, the presiden
ID did not arrive, at that time. v
. were informed that he was not cor
. ing.
After some preliminary remarl
and questions by Judge Cover M
le Bayston remarked tartly that the j
% formation could be found in the nev
4 = 1.