Clipping:A contested Boston Club meeting
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| Date | Sunday, December 10, 1876 |
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| Text | The president and secretary were away, and Mr. Long, the treasurer, called the stockholders to order, saying that as there was not a quorum present the only motion he could entertain was one to adjourn. Such a motion was made a negatived, but Mr. Long, acting under the advice of counsel, declared the meeting adjourned sine die and retired from the room. The other gentlemen present, believing that a quorum of stock was represented, organized a meeting, elected officers, &c., as heretofore published. The bone of contention was, what constituted a quorum? The by-laws say three stockholders representing a majority of the stock. The whole number of shares issued is 150, but 72 of the number were never paid for in full, that is, rather than pay the last assessment the holders turned their certificates over to the association. After the great fire of 1872 the association found itself in deep water, and the Boston Base Ball Club was formed to help the association out of its difficulty. The 72 shares were transferred to the treasurer of the club with a provision that the club’s income should be paid to the association. The club divided the shares among its officers, who acted as trustees and voted upon them in the meetings of the association. Wednesday afternoon the club held a meeting and voted to dissolve and donate its property–the 72 shares–to the association. In the evening Mr. Long held that the 72 shares, which had not been transferred by the club to the association, could not be voted upon by the officers of the club at that time, and that 76 of the 78 shares aforenamed must be represented in order to constitute a quorum. The meeting, which transacted business voted on 77 shares, 42 of the 78 and 35 of the 72, and threw out two votes, representing some half dozen shares, for a technical informality in voting. It was represented that the by-laws provided that in all cases of forfeited stock the same should be sold at auction, which was never done in the case of the 72 shares, forfeited by the original owners. A question is raised whether the assessment which caused the forfeiture of the 72 shares was legally made; and again, it is asked, whether the treasury of the club could legally divide the 72 shares among the officers? The important question is, who owns and who is the legal custodian of the 72 shares. Let this be settled, and the legality of the two meetings held Wednesday night, and the way would seem open for a clear understanding of the matter. A conference is to be held upon the subject, and it is to be hoped that the affair may be set to rights without recourse to the courts. Boston Herald December 10, 1876 An adjourned meeting of this [Boston Base Ball] Association was held last evening, the President, Mr. C. H. Porter, in the chair. Mr. Porter stated that the difficulties which had arisen in the Club had been unanimously submitted to Mr. Walbridge A. Field, who had decided that the legal meeting of the Association was held December 6, that 78 shares of stock are held by the Association, and that 41 shares being present and voted upon was sufficient for the transaction of business. Although legal gentlemen of eminence and renown differed with Mr. Field, yet both Mr. Apollonio and Mr. Long acquiesced in Mr. Field’s opinion, and had surrendered their books and papers, which he (Mr. Porter) now held in trust. The report of the Board of Directors was then presented by Mr. Apollonio... The meeting then proceeded to elect three directors and to fill existing vacancies, and Messrs. F. E. Long, A. J. Chase and Henry Hunt were chosen. Mr. Porter resigned the office of President and A. J. Chase as Treasurer, and to conform in balloting for directors designated A. H. Sowdon [sic] as their choice for President and F. E. Lunt for Treasurer. On motion of Mr. Sowden the by laws were amended so as to provide that the annual meeting shall be held on the third Wednesday instead of the first Wednesday of December. Mr. Sowdon in assuming the position of President made a brief speech, in which he wished it understood that he accepted the Presidency only temporarily and in order that the affairs of the Club might not be impeded. On motion of Mr. Porter it was voted to appoint an Auditing Committee of three, two of whom shall be stockholders and one from the Board of Directors. The Chair appointed C. H. Porter, A. B. Billings and A. J. Chase as said Committee. Mr. Henry Lunt resigned as one of the Board of Directors and nominated in his stead Harry Wright, who was chosen by ballot. The meeting then adjourned. Boston Journal December 28, 1876 |
| Source | Boston Herald |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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