Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-19
BOUND TO HAVE IJONAH.

The great decline in Northern Pacific
stock during the past few months has evil
IDENTIFY made the stockholders determined
upon making some radical change in man
agement. The frat step was very sensi-
BILE and practical one, whereby the road
was relieved of the incubus of General
Haupt, and Vice President Cakes placed
in charge. Mr.. Cakes applied the pruning
knife vigorously and the largely increased
earnings of the road in November show
the practical effect of the retrenohment.
In an interview with GLOBE representa-
tive yesterday Mr.. Cakes stated that 'the
road was built for business and not for
amusement and entertainments
Ever since the Willard pageantry of last
September, there has been an evident feel
ing that he regarded the road as built for
amusement and entertainment" The Sc
lection of the guests on that occasion was
merely personal matter and not with an
eye single to business" If any friend
Of Mr.. Wizards sought an opportunity
for free trip across the
continent, he was dined and wined and
transported regardless of cost. The re-
suit was that while the guests were num-
erous, they we're not practically beneficial,
and the excursion which celebrated the
completion of the road, is proving
the most serious complication
which has arisen for Mr.. Willard.
His resignation of the Presidency of tho
Oregon Transcontinental is regarded as
merely the commencement of his general
retirement from the entire Northern Pa
cifio system. The intimate relations be-
tween the two companies renders it highly
appropriate that there should be one
guiding mind for both. The labor
which is required for one, practi-
cally applies to both, and hence if the
labors of Mr.. Willard in the Oregon Trans
continental were too onerous, they must
also be too burdensome in the Northern
Pacific.
Whether this judgment does or does not
work IN justly toward Mr.. Willard, the de-
pleted stockholders are determined to
have Jonah. The remarkable boom in
Northern Pacific properties when it was
announced that Mr.. Willard had resigned
the presidency of one branch of the sys-
tenn, was decidedly oninous. If SO great
relief is experienced when he drops 8
single link, what might be expected if he
drops the entire chain?
1t is not very important to consider
whether Mr.. Willard is the man for the
place or not. The shrinkage to the extent
of millions of dollars in the stock of the
road causes an imperative demand for
Jonah. Gaud this particular Jonah bears
the name of Willard. A GLOBE Telegram
from New York this morning out
lines the impending change. II can, in
fact, be set down as certain, that Mr. vii
lard is no longer the head of the Northern
Pacific and his position will hereafter be
merely nominal, until such time as his
connection may absolutely cease.
When the methods by which Mr.. Vii
lard obtained his position are recalled, his
enforced retirement will not be a matter
of surprise. HIS ''blind poor captured
the road by means of the strategy
which so abounds in Wall street.
With that capture came q merci-
less decapitation of officials all
along the line, and a general change of
policy throughout. These changes having
eliminated SO disastrously, the "pool'
stand ready to concede their former "blind-
nes," but now desire to act with their eyes
wide open. 1t is one of the vicissitudes of
war that general, whose army cannot win
victories, must go. The same is
true relative to the financial battles which
are fought in Wall street. Mr.. Willard has
lost the battle and must meet the fate of
war. "Blind pools" cannot save him, and
however he may bs personally regarded,
he has been overthrow in the financial
battle and the suffering stockholders de- !
mand victim.