The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-10-24

With the sole object OF aiding In Sc
curing to the stockholders of the~Bur-
ley Tobacco Co. the same rights, priv
ileges and benefits that belong to and
are enjoyed by the stockholders of all
other corporations existing under our
laws; and, with the desire, hope and
view that something might be done by
the stockholders of said corporation
that would restore confidence among
it's members and bring about a more
satisfactory condition of affairs among
the growers of Burley tobacco, and
with view of doing only that which
will best protect said growers from
the greed, oppression and wrongs OF
the tobacco trust and secure to the
growers convenient markets and fair
prices for their tobacco, number OF
representatives from various Burnley
tobacco growing counties have had
several meetings at Lexington, KY,
within the past few weeks.
While all present seemed willing to
do what they consistently could for
the best interests of the organization,
and it's members, and were willing to
make any reasonable sacrifices of time
and means for the general good; yet,
the holdings of each stakeholder being
small, and none of those present de-
string any employment or position of
profit in the corporation, 1t was con-
cluded that all that could be reason
ably expected from any particular
stakeholder was a statement to all
the stockholders, covering the situa-
ton as 1T appears to the average stock
holder, and letting the meeting to be
held under the supervision of the
court, at Lexington, KY, November 6,
1913, quietly assemble and dispassion-
ately act as the best judgment of those
present shall determine.
Whatever is to the best interest OF
q majority of the stockholders is best
for each, and those who have beg
interested in trying to bring about
better feeling in the organization and
who favor the conducting Of its bust
ness more fairly, economically and
with greater justice and satisfaction
could have no greater object, they
think, than restoring the tobacco
growers organization to it's original
purpose ard regaining for it the full
confidence of it's members. They en-
terrain no personal hostility towards
any person connected with the man
agement of the corporation, and want
the whole matter treated as bust
ness proposition and without prejudice
or favor to individuals. But they are
unable to escape the conclusion that
the present disturbed and unSatiSfac-
tory condition of it's affairs are due
entirely to the misdeeds and mistakes
of the men who usurped the unwar.
ranted powers and committed the un-
wise and unlawful acts of which the
present management has been guilty.
No success has come to the tobacco
growers organization since the usurp-
ers at present in charge of it's affairs
diverted it from it's original purpose,
and nothing but failure and disaster
ever follows such conduct.
Flushed by the victory which had
been won By the combined efforts OF
the poolers of 1906 and 1907 and by
the cutting out of the 1908 crop
against the cutting out of which crop
Mr. Clarence Lebus vigorously Op-
posed and voted), Mr. Clarence Lebus
and his close associates conceived the
idea of the Capitalization Of all power
in the hands of himself and few self
selected associates, by vesting in them
selves the power to vote all the stock
of the Burley Tobacco Co. This usur
patton and Capitalization of power
was a wrong similar in nature to that
heretofore perpetrated by the Amer
lean Tobacco Co. against the growers
of Burley tobacco and against which
all fairminded people SO bitterly com
planned and actively opposed and of
which the United States government
finally took notice and aided in stop
ping. =
The court of last resort of the State
of Kentucky has justly stamped its
disapproval upon said unlawful acts of
Mr. Clarence Lebus and his associates.
The following is an extract from the
opinion of said court, to-wit:
1.-The action of the Board of Directors
(AIr. Lebus and his aSsociateS) of the
Burley Tobacco Society thereafter in try
ing to take from them (the stockholders
of the Burley Tobacco Company that
right Ito -vote) was without semblance of
authority and upon its fact the most in
, defensible usurpation."
When they have been guilty of what
the highest court in our state brands
as "indefensible usurpation," is it to
be wondered at that they have lost
the confidence of the stockholders
and public in general and that the
present unfortunate condition of af-
fairs is laid at their door? Where
else could the responsibility be justly
placed?
The court further decided as fol.
lows:
Appellants (Mr. Lebus and his-as.
eociates) were not and never had been
legal directors of tie Burley Tobacco