The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-17

learn. lie was just the man 10 champion
a cause righteous in itself but misunder-
stood. Depew went to work with will
and year by year gained in public esteem
and crept deeper and deeper into the con-
fidence of his employers. One day a
trivial circumstance intensified the condi-
ton of affairs which he was endeavoring
to overcome and pushed him still farther
to the front.
In an interview with Chicago reporter
William H. Vanderbilt was reported as
saying, "The public be damned" The
newspapers were full of it; the people
howled with rage. That Mr.. Vanderbilt
ever said such thing has been denied.
That he said it with the arrogant motive
imputed to him is absurd. About that time
several prominent railroad men had been
asking public concessions with the hypo-
critical pretension that they were asking
them solely for the public good. Mr..
Vanderbilt scorned such hypocrisy. He
was business man, supplying certain
needs of the people on scale more
gigantic than the world had ever before
dreamed of, but he never denied that what
he wanted was the legitimate profits of
the enterprise If ever he said 'The pub
lie be damned. 1t was merely his blunt
way of regulating current hypocrisy.
The popular Interpretation of the undiplo-
matte remark was an outrageous misre-
presentation. There is no doubt, however,
that these four words induced Mr.. Van
derbilt To make Depew president of the
New York Central railroad instead of him.
self or one of his sons.
A similar acknowledgment of the power
of public opinion COMES from the big Read
ing combination, which has given a vice.
presidency to John Russell Young, the
distinguished journalist and diplomat.
Unique among railway monarchs stands
the Hon. Samuel Sloan, president of the
Lackawanna. He writes his name simply
SAM" not that he wishes to be familiar
with himself, but it saves time. Vouchers
and minor documents requiring his sigma
ture ne merely Endorses IS. S." Mr..
Sloan's hair is abundant and white as
snow, his eyes are as bright as diamonds,
and his huge jaws bespeak the bulldog
that he is. He hates typewriters-male,
female and northumberland writes all his
own letters in autograph with big gold
pen. No wonder that some of his epistles
are short and curt.
His venerable secretary handles some of
the routine correspondence of the execu-
tive officer. but his chief duties are con-
fined TO opening and arranging the mail
and entertaining distinguished bores who
are turned over TO him. Unimportant let
basket. After the writer has waited in
vain a week or two for reply he is sup
posed to realize that his proposition has
been turned down.
For the Trnnk Line Association.
which assumes TO maintain rates and
regulate methods, Mr.. Sloan is a
heavy cross to bear. The old gentleman
is proverbially foxy and, while agreein g
TO all forms and fads, persistently fails OF
fulhllment. When he is taken TO task he
feigns as enlistment, and threatens dire
vengeance upon his subordinates, who, he
explains, have not carried out his instruc-
tons when We get Sloan on the grid
iron" said Trunk line president, land
apply the inquisltion in manner that
would make Depew, King or Roberts sweat
blood. v hat do you suppose the old man
doesY He leans back IN his chair, by
Jupiter. and goes to sleep"
Mr.. Sloan rules the Lackawanna with a
rod of iron. II is emphatically a one-man
institution, and Mr. Sloan is the one man.
The old gentleman has a warm spot in his
heart for the clergy, and the Lackawanna
issues annual half-fare permits by the
hundred, all OF which bear Mr.. Sloan :
personal signature, and, in accordance
with many Of his peculiar orders, are filled
out personally by General Passenger
Agent HOW'LL with gold pen
While an absolute ruler, Mr.. Sloan is
noted for his tatherly watchtuiness over
his oldest and most faithful employees. TO
whom he extends ali sorts OF delicate kind
neSses. usually disguised rs imperative
orders, given with eccentric bluulness, as
If the old patriarch were ashamed 10 show
that there Is any tenderness IN his
makeup.
At the risk OF running reputation for