The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-22

G. G. Clark said he had another reso-
luton to offer. to amend a by law. and
he took the logical course. OF reading
the old by law first and explaining
what he wanted changed. In It were
four objechonal features. he said; am
bigality Of date for the annual stock
holders meeting; that the annual meet
ing OK stockholders must be held at
| the company office at 10 a. N. with no
notice required" and everybody
found out today that the office
out at the factory is very poor
place to hold It; arrangements for
special meetings are not broad enough
and are called only by the president,
secretary or two directors; there is
no provision for voting proxies, and 1t
allows only stockholders to vote in per-
son while few corporations of today
exclude proxy votes.
The new by law offered by Mr..
Clark as substitute corrected all
these things at once.
No More Trouble About Proxies.
| It was a new Article 8, of the by
laws 1t makes the annual meeting
on the third Tuesday of January be-
yond peradventure. 1t allows any
TWENTY-FIVE stockholders to call Q
special meeting Of the stockholders.
as well as the president. secretary
or directors. 1t makes the meetings
at the Office unless the directors
designate some other more accessible
place which must be in Keokuk, and
the time is changed to 2 p. m. 1t
requires notice Of all stockholders
meetings.
Most important OF all, 1t specifi-
cally provides for the voting OF
proxies, and when this clause was
read the audience broke out into loud
applause.
A Bundle Of Dynamite.
There were proxy holders in the
hall at this session. for at the hotel
during the recess, the directors had
met and validated all the proxies
!! presented. Hence, the guard had
/. been withdrawn from the door and
I everybody who had obtained proxy
to see the meeting, or had been given
one to vote by an absent stakeholder
was there.
This action of the board had re-
moved very large part of the dyna-
mite from the situation. Proxy hold
ers were exceedingly indignant at
being excluded at 2 o'clock. Some
believed that the right to give an
other a power Of attorney Is an In
herent right that can not be taken
away by ANYBODY in this republic.
Right here was the finest chance for
a legal proceedings in court, and
some expected writ Of mandamus
or injunction to be obtained from
Judge Hamilton before the recess
ended and the meeting reconvened.
The Power Returns Again.
With that sort of tension in the
atmos phere, the old board Of directors
made the first peace move by vail
dating the proxies at special meet
ing during the recess.
The biggest thing about this action
was, that it placed the stockholders
committee completely in control
again, for the other side admitted
that this committee had stock votes
a-plenty to do as it pleased, counting
its thousand, more or less. proxies
with 500 worth Of revenue stamps
on them.
The committee had been knocked
out by the rule against proxies back
ed by the doorkeeper, who withal
as he was firm. Now it was back in
the saddle again without having to
ask for court writ.
The amendment to the bylaw
covering the four points including
proxy votes was carried with a whoop
as soon as the question was put.
The Humans Approach.
That cleared the pockets of resoiu
lions and set the stage for the more
human element in the drama being
enacted in real life there in that
third story hall.
The nominating committee was
still out with no signs of coming In,
and diplomatic language became as
common there as it ever was in con-
versations between prime ministers.
C. C. Clark opened this act with
talk that would have done credit
to Senator Allison at his best when
he desired to debate a bill without
offending anybody on the floor or in
the galleries. AS a smoother, Law
yer Clark has an electric iron beat
to finish. The only music he ever
learned was harmony, it seemed
after he had the counterpart of
those amendments all arranged to
suit him.
Two Different Understandings.
I'VE are all aware what we are
here for as stockholders Of the best
tire company in the country" he be-
gan, and said the officers and work
men OF the company are entitled to
recognition of the good work they did.
mo tire company in the country
did any better than this one last
year." he continued, land that in the