New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-05
NEGRO EDUCATOR,
OUSTED, WILL FIGHT
w. E. Benson DepOsed as
Head of Kowaliga Acad-
emy-AlIeges Fraud.

Alleging legal irregularities in his
removal as president Of the Kowaliga
Academy and Industrial Institute, of
Benson. Ala. and the Dixie Industrial
Company, stock corporation which
directs the enterprise. William f. Ben
son, q negro. declared after meeting
Of the directors at the Title Guarantee
and Trust Company yesterday that he
would fight the matter 10 finish in
the Alabama courts.
The session was stormy from the
beginning At a meeting a week ago
Benson was asked 10 resign BY a close
vote Of the stockholders The leader
Of the majority party was Clarence II.
Kelsey, president of the Title Guaran-
tee and Trust Company. John Brooks
Leavitt. an attorney. of 80 Broad
Street. representing the negro. who
built up the school. asked for an ad-
iournment. that he might determine
whether his client had received fair
and full hearing"
When the gathering Of the stock
holders was called Yesterday 10 devel-
oped that Leavitt without the knowl-
edge Of Benson, had submitted his res
ignatiou several days ago. When Ben
son arose Yesterday to protest and de-
clared that he would withdraw his res
ignatIon he was not given an opportu-
nifty to do so. according to his state
ment.
Benson threw over his counsel at
the last minute and sought to with
draw his resignation Kelsey declared
after the meeting. we went ahead.
however and elected {. Ames Brooks.
a lawyer. at 1875 Broadway, president
OF the corporation. and Samuel II.
Chauvent. of Hudson. y. Y. vice-presi-
Gent, by a vote of l.0l5 shares. Hold
ers OF 900 shares refused to vote for
tactical reasons"
supporters Of Benson. who refused
70 vote because they held the meeting
illegal. were indignant
THE steam roller has been at work"
declared former Judge Algernon T.
sweeney, OF Newark, a trustee of thf
ko"aliga Academy and friend Of
Benson. Richard Lamb, a consulting
ana structural engineer, Of 1876 Lib
erty street, who personally invest.
gated Benson's work for the uplift Of
the negro az kowahga, declared the
removal OF the coiored man was an
outrage. Benson said that he lad re-
fused 20 allow his resignation t. be
acted upon because OF legal advice
from Judge J. VI. Chiffon, OF Mont
gomery, Ala, Butler K. Wilson, of Bos-
ton. and others.
Such an amount Of feeling has been
aroused by this attempt of certain
stockholders to wrest the control Of
the school and the mills on he prop
erty from Benson that many persons
in the South will provide money 10
tight the matter out" Mr.. Lamb de-
clared.
Booker 7. Washington, who has
maintained that the Kowaliga institu-
tlon De- trcspassing upon his field Of
education Tor the negro, Is said 10 be
one of the figures behind the ousting
Of Benson. Almost as soon as Kelsey
and others now opposed 20 Benson
we're made trustees Of Hampton In
stitute he sought his removal, IL was
declared.
According 10 Benson's friends. he
financed the enterprises undertaken By
the negroes on the Dixie Industrial
Companys property without giving
anything but stock in the company as
collateral. When the building of an
eighteen-mile railroad, which was
necessity to the development of the
self-sustaining negro colony. was un-
dcrtaken, Kelsey advanced $4,000 aud
took As collateral the standing timber
on the property, inducing Benson TO
sign demand notes for the money OBJ
tanned. Payment was demanded last
summer. and the company has been on
the verge of bankruptcy since, it Is
said
Kelsey and other stockholders in the
majority declare that Benson IL inefl-
cient and that the management should
be placed IN the hands OF white men.
Philanthropy at per cent" 10 term
frequently used IN referring 10 the
kowaliga and Dixie enterprises.