The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-20
The Lehigh Valley Presidency.

The continued prosperity Of prop
erty like the Lehigh Valley railroad
which traverses the heart of the rich
est coal and agricultural country in the
eastern states, is matter of immediate
Importance to very many people. 1t Is
important not only to the officers and
directors to whom has been entrusted
the propertys management, and to the
5000 stockholders whose savings are
partly or wholly invested in that prop
erty; but it is also important to every
business and industrial interest adjoin-
ing or tributary to this large railway
system. The interests of these various
classes of persons are not antagonistic;
they are mutual, and each should be
carefully considered by stockholders
when solicited for their proxies TO be
voted at the railroad company's forth
coming annual election of officers.
We have no hesitancy in saying that
the opposition to the present officers
and directors of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad company has materially
weakened its chances of success by
failing to induce single railway ex.
ecutive of experience and demonstrated
fitness to stand as its candidate for the
position now held by E. p. Wilbur. The
choice that it presents to stockholders
is one between recognized ability, hon
esty and familiarity with the property's
needs and conditions-in short, be-
tween vindicated experience, on the one
hand, and blind uncertainty on the 9TH
er. OF the gentlemen thus far men
toned as possible opposition candi-
dates for the Lehigh Valley presidency,
not one has ever occupied a similar
position or in fact, any position calcu-
lated to make him familiar with the
duties of the chief executive of valu-
able railway property. The most
prominent name suggested is that of
famous merchant who has probably
never, all told, passed three hours in
side the office of "a railway president on
business connected with railway man.
agement. Another gentleman conspicu-
Gus in the fight upon Mr.. Wilbur is a
shrewd politician and no doubt an able
f1nancier, but in no sense a railway
man, either practically or theoretically.
Under neither gentleman's manage
ment could the Lehigh Valley railroad
be expected to derive one iota of new
prosperity as a result of the change.
Turning to the either side, we find a
management which once-while times
were good-was honored with fulsome
praises, but which, so soon as the panic
came and dividends inevitably fell off,
began ITO be loaded down with COM
plants and grumblng The manage
ment is just as able today as it was four
years ago. If anything, it is stronger;
especially since the recent strengthen
ing of its board of directors. The con-
dition and natural resources of the
property which it administers are not
surpassed by THE condition and natural
resources of any other railway property
IN the eastern states. Given return
ITO the normal business conditions of
three or four years ago, this property
would soon earn as big dividends as it
earned then. All that can be Justly
said of its management today is that it
Us unfortunate in having to contend
against abnormal and temporary busi-
ness depression.
To be candid, is not this a small
basis for the present organized revolt