The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-25
LEADERS OF THE STRIKE.
SOME OF THE MEN CONCERNED IN
THE GREAT BATTLE.


Railroaders.
From the PhiIddelphid Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 2l.-In the wait be-
tween the acts, so to speak, it may be of
interest elsewhere to draw a picture of the
scenes and the men that are occupying at
tention in the New York Central strike.
The president of the New York Central
road, Mr.. Depew, has always been demo
cratic in the ease with which he permits
any one to approach him when in his office
This characteristic has not heretofore ex-
tended to the other officers. More of for
mallty has been required and difficulty ex-
perlenced in getting at these men. 1t was
hard work, for instance, to be able to face
the first vice president, Mr.. Clark, at his
desk, and harder work to get anything
more than a courtesy, which was cold, but
not offensive from him. All this is changed
now. Everybody enters the Office as easily
as they could go to the ticket office In the
waiting room below. Capitalists and
stockholders elbow with worKingmen, curl
osity seekers and the newspaper reporters
a tall, spendidiy built, handsome man,
with the dark eys and swarthy skin of
Spaniard, and a weary though deter mined
manner, is to be seen fitting from one office
to the other. beset at every step he takes by
those who are inqusitive.
This is Mr.. Voorhees,, who is the general
superintendent, and who bears npon his
shoulders the burden of executing the
| orders which Vice President Webb gives
| His patience is a marvel. He speaks TO no
one brusquely, though he must be weary
beyond compare at the countless trivial
| questions which are put to him. He seems
| to be frankness itself with the reporters.
If he cannot give the information, he says
so without clubbing or pretense at deceit,
and If he can he seems to be glad to spare a
minuts to do so.
When he sleeps is a mystery. The early
corners find him awake and engaged In
| duty, dressed with elaborate care, and hav-
ing received the consolng touches of the
barber. At midnight, when the last train
is run out and the lights in the great Guam
| deliers beneath the glas ed-domed roof are
extinguished, Mr. VOORHEES, is still on hand.
He comes of family trained as public
carriers, and he is conducting his part in
this affair in manner which will bring him
credit with railway men after the conten-
ton has passed away.
The man who has suddenly leaped into
fame by this strike is Walter Webb, the
third vice president. He shows his strength
of character by appearing not only wholly
Indifferent to the notoriety which he has
suddenly obtained, which is made evident
| by the cartoons and pictures representing
him which are appearing in the prints.
TEE most striking thing to be noticed
about him just now, to the casual eye, is his
| absolute democracy of manner. He double
| discounts everything Chauncey NJ. Depew
/ ever did in this way. Sometimes a hint of
| condescension and patronage is suggested
| by Mr.. Depew's manner which is pardoned
| because he has had SO much political dealing
but there is nothing of this mannerism in
Mr.. Webb. You see him passing from one
| office to the other in humble though i'm
maculate shirt sleeves, his straw hat tilted
on the back of his head, and if you did not
know him you would think he was some
subordinate conveying message here and
there.
But such impression would soon be dis
PEELED, for he can hardly step outside his
private Office without instantly finding him
self the center of groop anxious to pass
some word with him. Like Mr.. VOORHEES,.
he has a work for every one but unlike his
subordinate, his word is short, quick-spoken
and conveys that which he wishes to say in
about as concise and lucid English as it is
| possible for man to use. The suggestion
of earnestness, Of being controlled by pur-
pose which does not bend, and of the
! capacity instantly to formulate and then
| execute a plan is received by every one who
meets this young officer.
1t was supposed that during this great
strain upon him he might become too reti-
cent. too severe, and too greatly dominated
| by his plans to grasp as soon as need be a
new situation when it arose. Before the
trouble began Mr.. Webb was occupied for a
part of his time in several private business
| enterprises. He is director in the Lincoln
| Bank, partner in firm of brokers' and
has besides other interests. There when
with his associates, he was so reticent, so
prompt and at times SO unbending, that it
| was thought that these qualities would con-
| troll hi m in this S1Iddau ameroancv
But the fact is, he seems to have been
| mellowed by his new experience, and the
| test to which his natural qualities have been
put seems to have strengthened rather than
to have weakened them. For it would
have been a mistake for him who stood be-
tween the public and the company to have
assumed a mannerlsm which might have
been entirely proper in a directors meeting
But how this man has had to work, potn
mentally and physically, for the past three
weeks. 1t seems as though his brain must
whirl at night, and as though he must
throw his body in complete collapse upon
the little cot which is his resting place in
the office at night. He has a summer home
| on the banks of the Hudson which might
tempt any man to throw up his hands and
retire from contention like this that he
might enjoy It's quiet delights.
Yet Mr.. Webb has scarcely seen this
! home since the trouble began and his de-
| votlon is SO great that he even declined to
attend his brothers wedding yesterday, for
he dared not be beyond call for moment
| TIE range Of his duties is enormous. At
one moment he may be seen in a remote
corner discussing a legal point with the
general counsel of the road. Mr.. LOOMS,
and within five minutes, having settled
that problem, listening to a report from
some employe, thence rushing to the private
secretary and debating, perhaps in ten
minutes, score Of kilograms, each one of
the utmost Importance. This keeps up all
| day long. 1t is whirl which must be very
exhsusting, and the only apprehension
which MIR. Webb's friends have concerning
him now is that body may not be strong
enough for it.
His capacity to handle the strike in the
! interest of the corporation is no longer TO-
| gerded as experimental. In fact, be has
! beaten the strike which first caused the
trouble. But it is only a few weeks ago
that he was compelled to give up all work
! and go to Europe, because he was threat
ened with complete prostration, if not some
| thing more serious The coolness of this
! young and slender man is so netting which
| is certainly to be admired 1t does not seem
to be forced, but is natural, and. combined
with the grim determination which is sug-
| gested both by his speech and ma 1ner,
causes one to be reminded OF Gen. Grant
when placed in great crisis.
| Mr. P0wdarlv ia Ona of the ConsnictIoua