The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-02-26

The News aud Observer has plnc-
cd at my disposal it's columns Tor
reply 10 the criticism Of mo With
regard to certain matters while !
was connected with the office Of the
Alien Property Custodian as gene
raj counsel. l believe that, should
my critics learn that the facts do
not justify the unfavorable criticisuli
made heretofore. they will con.
slider it their duty to deSist fr0fA
further efforts to discredit me and
find pleasure in correcting what
has been unfair comment, predicat-
cd upon misconceptions, aud, there
fore, misunderstanding Of the
facts. W. =.
!. L .haSg yefrained from laakiSg 3
Ftfifs Statement until now BecauSe'
1 had hoped the acts would be de-
veloped without any participation
on my part.
The following is 4 plain state
ment Of the matter:
/. / qualified as general counsel
to the Alien Property Custodian on
the 14fh day Of April, 1921, and,
q ftcr taking the usual oath OF Office.
assumed my duties.
q On October 3rd, 1921, there was
concluded long controversy bc-
tween the Alien Property Custodian
and the American stockholders OF
/ the RJesSler and lfusSlacher Chemi-
cal Company (for brevity herein
after referred TO as the L. and II.
Coz over the right TO control that
company. The controversy arose
during the administration of Hon.
4. Mitchell Palmer, Alien Property
Custodian; and continued through
the administration Of Hon. Francis
p. Garvan, Alien Property Custo-
dian. and for a short time during
the administration Of Col. Thomas
W. Miller, Alien Property CustO'
dian. 4 settlement of the contro-
versy was reached OH October 3rd,
1921. by placing the stock Of the
company in n Voting Trust under
Voting Trust Agreement; and.
among the items stipulated, there
was provided that there should be
five Voting Trustees and their
duties were specifically defined, as
appears in the Voting Trust Agree
ment.
1t was further provided, among
other items, that the Alien Property
Custodian should name two OF the
Voting Trustees; that the American
stockholders Of the r. and Il. Co.
should name two Of the Voting
Trustees and that the fifth Trustee
should be James Francis Burke.
Mr.. Burke was mutually agreeable
TO the Alien Property Custodian
and the American stockholders OF
! thc company because he was well
known by all the parties Interested
the Alien Property Custodian and
the American stockholders OF the
company. Accordingly, tho Alien
Property Custodian appointed Dan
iel 0. Hastings and Isaac NJ. Meek
ins (myself) Voting Trustees, as his
representatives, and the American
stockholders appointed Franz Roes-
slcr president of the company and
William A. Ilamann (vice-presi6ent
OF the company Voting Trustees as
their representatives.
The Alien Property Custodian
never gained control Of the r. anc
II. Company (prior to tie Voting
Trust Agreement October 3. 1a2l;
nor afterwards unless q majority
Of the Voting Trustees supported
his views Oh any subject that might
be at issuc) though repeated efforts
had been made to do so by Hon. AZ
Mitchell Palmer, Hon. Francis L.
Garvan and Col. Thomas ". Miller.
each respectively in turn having
ben Alien Property Custodian.
ALI f the Trusctees above FAMED
sere appointed OH October 192L,
Continued -" oo"e IT,"