The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-11
FARMERS NEWSPAPER AT MOTT
REVERTS T00RIGINAL OWNERS
WITH BUSINESS MEN IN CONTROL
Frenzied Bookkeeping and Neg
lect on Part of Brinton Syndi-
cate Results in Loss of League
Organ-New Pioneer Press to
Be All-American and lnde-
pendent

pendenC
Mott. March 11.--AS Il result of pure
neglect and carelessness j. w. Brinton
and the Publishers, National Service
bureau have lost control of the Mott
Pioneer Press, and big list of Hettin
ger county farmers who were induced
to buy stock in the Hettinger County
Farmers Press corporation are wond
ering what they have to show for their
money. ~. -
About two years ago the Mott Spot
light was purchased of Jack Charm
ley and consolidated with the Mott
Pioneer Press. The merger was ef
fected through the medium of a cor
poration styled the Pioneer Press Co.
Business men of Mott subscribed for
thirty-five hundred dollars of prefer
red stock and E. E. Enge for eleven
thousand five hundred dollars of com
mon stock, making the total capital
ization fifteen thousand dollars. ..
BUSINESS MEN DIRECTORS
According to the agreement made
ut the time, three business men, R. E
TrOusdale G. J. Helming and +. &.
Orr, were made directors, and Mr.
Enge agreed to vote the common stock
for them for directors for a three
year period if no other newspaper was
published at Mott during that period
He died in November, 1918, and the
business was continued until the
spring of 1919 when J. w. Brinton ap
peared on the scene, secured an op.
tion on the common stock held by the
heirs for eight thousand five hundred
dollars. Later his organizers appear.
ed on the scene and sold a big block
Of stock in a new corporation. The Het
finger County Farmers Press, to a
long list OF farmers. The solicitors are
reported as having stated that the ag
gregate of the stock sold was between
fourteen and fifteen thousand dollars
The new corporal tiOn Is said to have
an authorized capital stock of twenty
five thousand dollars.
LEAGUE EDITOR INSTALLED
At the time Of securing the option
on the common stock Mr.. BrintOn took
charge of the Mott Pioneer Press, EN-
ploying Maurice Wicken, who had
been in charge, as managing editor
and fixing his salary at a considerable
increase and also employing a book
keeper and other, help. The former
directors, knowing Of the sale Of the
common stock and thinking that OF
course he could proceed in a legal man
ncr. dismissed the matter from theiI
minds. y
1t has lately been found that the
corporation records show. no actor
whatever since the last meeting held
by the directors before Mr.. Brinton as
sumed control; that the time prescrib
ed in the bylaws for the annual elec
tion of directors has passed and nc
meeting of stockholders was held. The
best legal advice is that the old direct
ors still hold and their successors can
not legally be elected until the an
nual meeting next January.
OLD BOARD RESUMES CHARGE
So, after consultation with the men
who hold preferred stock, the old
board OF directors have assumed con
troll again and outlined the policy Of
the paper as long as under their man
agcment In politics it is to be rcpub'
lican in principle but Independent as
to the different factions and fair tC
all, attempting to WELD its influence
for the good of the county, the state
and the nation.
At the time of the required semi
annual publication of the affidavit OF
ownership, management, circulation
etc. required by the government for
admission to the mails, last October
the Publishers National Service bu
reau sent the manager long list OF
farmers names who had subscribed
stock in the Hettinger County Farm
ers Press corporation and requested
that they be included in the list OF
owners of the stock of the Pioneer
Press Co. This was done, thus lead
ing the farmers to believe that they
were part owners of the Mott Pioneer
Press plant. The fact was that not
one of them had any stock or interest
in the corporation, as proved by the
Icorporation records and stock book
and this statement was therefore mis-
leading. The directors have instruct
ed the manager to prepare and print
in the next tissue corrected state
ment of the owners including only
those to whom stock has been issued
and to send the corrected statement
to the government by first mail with
a letter of explanation.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
The following resolutions have been
adopted by the board of directors and
spread on the minutes of the corpora
ton: .
Continued on page two)
|SOUTH DAKOTA COUNTY
MAY ISSUE $5OO,OOO
IN BONDS FOR ROADS