Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-05-16
Former Ladysmith News Editor
Victorious in Suit Against
Wisconsin Advancement
Association
CLAIMED DEFENDANTS
RUINED ASSOCIATION
Organization Did Much To Benefit
State and Its Efficiency Should
Have Been Maintained

| a. H. tdluDDtll, lOIulcI cullOI VI tic
Ladysmith News, was given a verdict
of $3, 100 in his suit against the Wis
in circuit court for Milwaukee county
last week.
The Waukesha Herald daily of
which Mr.. Campbell is editor and
manager, has the following 10 say re-
garding the case in its issue of May 10:
This action was important in that it
| involved the destruction of the greatest
publicity organization of it's kind in
America. This association was organ
lied by the plaintiff in the above action
in 1910 and continued in active work
until recently.
Mr. Campbell was elected manager
1t the first meeting of the board of di-
rectors and offered a salary double that
which he was then drawing as commits
Si0ner of immigration of Wisconsin,
but declined the offer for reasons
deemed by him sufficient. Others were
placed in control and made such a fail
lIt VI tlC Nolh titut lIC oS'VN iNtic'A
was practically out of existence within
a year.
Again Campbell's services were
sought and again the offer was declined
for reasons that do not affect the pres
ent situation.
Another manager was appointed,
whose career ended in year with a dis
ii; hnzvIo-
ment by his assistant of more than
s., 600
Once more the plaintiff in this pres
ent action was urged to take charge
and again rebuild this big publicity ma
chine This time the request was ac-
,eded to and the organization was put
in a high state of efficiency where it
remained until 1917. During this time
absolute harmony prevailed and the
managers salary was materially in
creased.
Cause of Conflict and Destruction Of
Organization
In 1916 w. G. Bissell was elected
president Up to that time the presi-
dents had deemed themselves unquali-
fed by training to direct the special
work involved and gave little attention
TO il. BisSell on the other hand, knew
not that he knew not" and began the
policy that not only loaded the organi-
Zation with lawsuits, but put it entirely
out of business.
Rank irregularities prevailed against
which the manager protested. num-
ber of the directors refused to correct
these irregularities. The largest num-
Der of the directors became dissatisfied
and remained away. This small coterle
thus came into control and their con
duct brought about the legal actions.
Millionaires Give Bond
In an iniunctional case which was
held up for months and in which this
cOterie of directors were defendants,
they were given the choice Of having
the Injunction issued or giving bond
to protect the association against any
Judgment that might be obtained
against it in actions then pending,
They elected to give the bond.
The association is defunct, but this
DDllu IS SlllI III ClltCl, Will dppAiCAAb
result that these individuals will have
TO pay out of their own pockets. An
action for libel is pending against prac-
tically the same coterie of millionaireS
and involving the same issues as those
decided upon by the jury yesterday.
Destruction of Association Unfortunate
That any combination of directors
should have taken such action as to de
str0y the organization they were elect
ed to direct and make successful is al
most unthinkable. The records show
that they adopted resolution immedi-
ately closing the offices of the Organiza-
ton at the most prosperous moment OF
it's career-which resolution they them
selves failed to observe. They adopted
a resolution appointing q committee to
forthwith take the books of the concern
from the officer who was commanded
by the articles of association to safely
keep them. Other equally objection
able actions combined to cause members
to withdraw to the ruin Of the Organi
ZatiOn.
The Wisconsin Advancement AssO-
citation rendered the state great ser
vice. 1t should now be continuing that
service instead of slumbering in the
grave made for it by those who should
have been preserving it's existence. 1t
is in the loss of this great institution
that the greatest injustice has been
DONE"