The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25

there until late at night. His Of
Goo = . place Of comfort, but not
a. luxury. Maj. Webb Is Demo-
eratic in his relations with men, and
none Of the red tape which prevails in
some q the great corporation Offices an
noys visitors who desire 70 see him. If .
delegation of engineers or switchmen or
from supof the other employees call, Maj.
Webb receives them in . manner which
serves their self respect. There is neither
ocndescension or haughtiness in his reia-
lions with them. The writer has seen
Maj. Webb receive hard-handed employees
and within an hour be in association with
. group of millionaires, fellow-directors
Of his in the great bank which Is located
mar his ofacs, and his manner 10 the
same in each case. He treats every body
in . business-liks way. He is quick
spoken prompt, decisive without being
ourt ~ 6rusque.
A railroad man he II what Il called .
dysr. LiKs William II. Vanderbilt, he il
fond q eoing fast, and when business
calls him 70 remote point he will order
locomotive attached to his special car, and
within half m hour after the decision is
taken viii b flying over the rails At the
rate Of mile minute. He II absolutely
fearless In his travels, ~ William III. Van
dsrbflt was. Business men may see him
IN tbs afternoon Of one day and hear Of
miles away. This does not indicate rest
lessness, bat energy. Maj. Webb Is one OF
the most quiet, self-contained and serene
mannered Of Ill railway managers.
When Just aftsr he became vice presi-
dent he was called upon 70 face most
dAnkerous strike, railway men said that
he had been put to the test too early, and
sons OF them feared that he would not be
equal to the responsibility. Depew was in
Europe, Cornelius Vanderbilt in Newport,
and members of the executive board scat
tered here and there. Maj. Webb imme-
diately made Of his Office . camping
place. He collected his staff about him.
The strikers had control Of the approaches
70 New York city and traffic was para
many of the men were ont and also to learn
Whist their precise grievance was. If it
was . question of time or wages or
any other thing over which there had
been misunderstanding or business disa-
greement. he believed that the trouble
could be speedily settled. He found in
stead that 1t was q matter of discipline,
that the men protested against certain
rules which the subordinate officers had
found necessary, as they believed. in order
70 maintain discipline. The strikers OBJ
jected TO the discharge of certain men who
were reported disooedient or incompetent,
and when MAJOR Webb heard this he said
in quiet way to his staff: This Is
point this company cannot yield. The
stockholders must retain the right TO
manage in their own way this property"
Then he called upon his resources. He
sent agents to procure men to take the
places Of the strikers. He called upon the
police force of New York for protection
and got it. Night and day for seventy-two
hours he left his office for only a few
moments ~ q time. He caught catnaps,
and two nights did not sleep wink. And
when the railway men connected with
other lines found out what he was doing.
they said: "There 10 young general in
command ct the Grand Central station"
In his conferences with leaders of labor
associations, Maj. Wsbb's legal knowl-
and Mr.. Powderiy himself, who met him
in conference several times, was greatly
impressed by his tact. GOODNESS, good tenn.
per and his firmness Is well.
When DR.. Depew returned from Europe
not sign OF the strike appeared. Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt, constantly informed over
the wire at his Newport home of what was
going on, deemed it unnecessary to come
TO the city.
At the first mutterings of the strike in
Buffalo, information Of which was sent to
Maj. Webb by telegraph, he touched his
electric bell, the messenger who answered
received an order which was taken to the
proper authority, and within half an hour
Maj. Webb was aboard his private car
speeding over the tracks at the rate OF
fifty miles IN hour, and before dawn next
morning he was In Buffalo. His part in
that convulsion il matter Of too recent
history to Be necessary to describe.
In physical appearance Maj. Webb does
not at Ill suggest the typical railway
manager. He IL of slight figure. medium
stature, erect in carriage. He cares moth
f. II IL - Ia "a lon H.
set His home and his Office are his life.
He IL not club man. He takes no con-
spicuous part In politics, although he has
strong political views: but IL Is safe to say
that not q dozen men employed by his
company know whether he is . Republi-
can or Q Democrat. He ID strong church.
man, being vestryman and one OF the
most active members Of one of the uptown
Episcopal churches and II the miliionaires
contributed sums proportionate to their
wealth as great as those he gives
for church work his church would have
an enormous income. Maj. Webb 10 .
great believer In the future possibilities of
fast railway travel. He has studied this
development with great care, and with
such results that he Ia now running daily
the fastest railway train in the world,
making nearly mile . minute consecu-
lively for 40 miles. His experiments
have shown that the old idea that very
fast travelling does not pay il an error, but
he says that in order to make il pay the
cars must be light but strong, the service
sufficient but not luxurious, and the carry
ing capacity limited, 90 that an engine
viii not be compelled to draw too heavy .
train.
Chauncey NJ. Depew has the reputation
of being the most accessible to newspaper
men of all the distinguished men in New
York. yet he Is no more so than Maj.
Webb Any respectable newspaper man
is welcome TO his Office at all times and he
treats such callers as though they were
men and like one who respects their call
ing. The reporter has yet TO be found
who ever got of Maj. Webb n suggestion
that puff or a bit of praise would be
pleasing. He will not talk abou, him self.
but will cheerfully give all the news which
he has, provided IL is consistent with the
policy OF the road TO make publication o!
It. II IT is not consistent. he says frankly,
"That is something can not talk TO you
about Just now. Perhaps l may be able
TO do so tomorrow"
Perhaps this disposition Is partly due 10
his recollection of the fact that his father
Was . newspaper man who always treated
the humblest OF reporters with great re-
spect. At the time Gen. Webb was ap-
preaching death and the various news
papers of New York sent reporters 20 his
home 80 that immediate Information of
his death might be obtained, Gen. Webb
used Co say 10 his sons. Are you taking
good care OF the newspaper meng LII any
OF them have 90 wait long show them some
hospitality. Give them a glass of Madeira
and sandwich or biscuit. and do not for
Get that the newspaper reporters as class
are hari-working. fsir-minded. intelligent
men, who should he treated exactly rs any
other business man is who comes to you
on business matters" Watcher this in-
junction accounts for the treatment Maj.