A FINAL TEST 217 



When the annual meeting opened, on July 16th, there 

 was a record attendance of shareholders and during the 

 routine preliminaries it was evident that expectancy 

 was on tip-toe among the farmers. The split in the 

 directorate was a vital matter. 



In delivering his annual address the President detailed 

 the business of the organization for the past year, refer- 

 ring but briefly to the facts which had led up to the 

 resignation of the four directors. The Shareholders' 

 Auditor followed with the balance sheet, giving detailed 

 accounts of receipts, expenditures, assets and liabili- 

 ties ; he answered all questions asked. Then came a 

 resolution, expressing the thanks of the shareholders 

 to the President and this moment was chosen by the 

 leader of the revolt to spin his pin-wheels. 



The debate began at three o'clock in the afternoon. 

 It did not end until ten at night. The President retired 

 from the chair and the Auditor was called on for 

 detailed information, covering a period of several years 

 past. In the long speech which was then made by the 

 leader of the critics the President was declared respon- 

 sible for all the alleged mismanagement and his 

 retention in office undesirable. 



To the surprise of everyone a fifth director now took 

 the floor and joined the attack. Not having been one 

 of the four directors who resigned, this new criticism 

 was unexpected and the tension of the meeting grew. 

 After amusing himself and the audience for awhile 

 with a humorous speech, No. 5 ended by suggesting 

 that the President was not sufficiently wicked to be 

 driven from office. 



Arose the remaining three members of the resigning 

 quartette and, one after another, had their say. 



