The state chronicle., 1889-08-23
MR.. WASHINGTON BRYAN AS A
BUSINESS MAN.

ing President Of the Atlantic & North
Carolina railroad will devolve upon the
Governor. No appointment in the gift Of
the Chief Magistrate Of the State during
his term Of Office is so important to so
many of the people of the State. 1t isthe
only railroad that belongs to the State The
appointment of President carries with 1t
much patronage, and affects the business
and farming people OF a large section of
the State. The present President Of the
road is Mr.. WASHINGTOS BRYAN. He was
appointed by Governor SCALES and his
policy of managing the road was defended
by the Governor throughout his term OF
Office. II was favorite saying with
Governor SCALES that Mr.. BRYAN had
taken worn out railroad and made It
one Of the best lines in the South, and he
believed with his whole heart that such
was the case. That he was mistaken the
CHRONICLE has contended for two years, and
more than once urged the removal OF the
President by GOVERNOR SCALES during his
term of Office
pire early next month. He asks Governor
FowLE to reappoint him. A few gentle
men, most of whom are under personal
obligations to him, or who are Influenced
by promises Of special fayors made
by Mr.. BRYAN, request the Governor
to continue him. Possibly half dozen
enemies of other aspirants who prefer a
man like Mr.. BRYAN to one they do not
like, join in this request, as do also one
or more parties in Raleigh who have per
sonal interests to subserye. All told these
are but a mere handful compared to the
thousands Of intelligent, sturdy business
men and farmers who do not desire his
retention in Office. Mr. BRYAN wants the
place. Those who hold positions under
him want him to have it and a few others,
moved by personal considerations, desire
his retention. This is natural. What
reason do they give for his retentioni
Are those reasons strong and convincing
Ought they TO have weight with the GOV
ernor. Let Us examine them. Mr.. BRYAN,
they say, is Napoleon on railroading He
took the a. & n c. RR out of disgrace and
poverty and made it a great and successful
road. According to their representS tlons nc
such prudent and successful business mar
has appeared in railroad circles IN the State
Beside this railroad Napoleon the achieve
ment of Col. a. 3. ANDREWS, MAJ. j. G.
WINDER Col Julius a. GRAY, and the
lamented Col. r. r. BRIDGERs shine like
lightning bugs compared to an electric
light His friends admit that he is IN
popular-that his administration of the
road has been irritating to many of the
largest business men along the line Of the
road that he used the road against thu
Democratic party as charged by Hon. c
G.. CLARK, and that the great majority o
the people desire his removal. But, ad
mitting all this, they claim that his supe
rior business ability as shown in the man
agement of the road is more than an offse
to those things charged against him. LIE
Us see if their claim is true.
FIRST. Mr.. BRYAN's friends claim tha
his administration is an Improvement IN
business way upon that of Col WHIT
FORDs, his predecessor. The New Bern
Journal has completely disproved thei
claim by Mr.. BRYAN,s OWN STATEMENTS
According to the Journal the followin
are the receipts Of the road for the las
four years: