The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-02
Reorganization Committee is
Divided on President.
Majority Want D. B. Robinson,
a Minority for Jeffrey.
HOPELESSLY DIVIDED.
Receiver Aldace E. Walker May
be Compromised On.
Mr.. Robinson Would Then Re-
main Vice President.

CHICAGO, Nov. 2-For nearly three
weeks the Atchison reorganization COM
mittee has been in a deadlock. Its mem :
bers are hopelsssly divided on the make
up of the board of directors and the Off
GERS of the road when it passes out of the
receivership. The committee has had.
perhaps, the hardest task ever given
such body of men in a railroad reor-
ganization. 1t has done its work so we'll
that more than 80 per cent of the stock
has been deposited, subject to the pro-
Visions of the plan. But when it came to
a division of the loaves and fishes the
committee was totally unable to make
progress.
In the order of the disagreements, the
first trouble was on the man to be select
ed for president The committee had
worked on the basis that ali action
should be unanimous, and it developed
Immediately that President E. I. Jeffrey,
of the Denver and Rio Grande, had
strong backing for the presidency. A
clear N al ority of the committee favored
Vice President Robinson, of the Atchi-
son for the position, but majority was
no more effective than one vote.
Perhaps two men have never been
more thoroughly discussed than have
Messrs. Robinson and Jeffery- 1t was
shown that no man living knew the
Atchison road as did Mr.. Robinson.
Everyone admitted his pre- eminent abIli-
ty as an operating official and that no one
could have better performed his present
duties on the Atchison, and that he was
familiar with every detail of its building
and operation. Against this was urged
the record MIR. Jeffrey had made as presi-
dent of the Denver and Rio Grande.
While it was admitted that the tim les
might be responsible for some of his sue
cess, there was no denial of the fast that
he had taken the Denver & Rio Grande
at the lowest ebb in its fortunes, and that
it is now better off than at any time in
it's history. Mr.. JefTery's friends urged
that it was exactly corresponding work
to that done by Mr.. Jetfery onthe Denver
and RIO Grande which was now needed
on the Atchison. 1t can not be learned
just how the committee stands, except
that there is strong majority for Mr..
Robinson and an equally determined
minority for MIR. Jeffrey
In its dilemma the committee has sent
for the chairman of the English com
nittee of stockholders, MIR Fleming, and
for the chairman of the Dutch stock
holders, Mir. Luden. Both of these men
are now on their way to America. 1t is
known in advance that both are in favor
of Mr. Jeffrey. Neither Dir. Fleming
nor Mr. Linden will have a vote in the
committee meetings. but their opinions
will undoubtedly be of much weight in
the final selection of officers.
A second choice ticket of every mem
Der of the committee, and in some cases
a first choice if civil service principles
are violated in the failure to promote Mr..
Robinson, is the election of Receiver
| Walker to the presidency aud the reten-
ton of Vice President Robinson in his
present position. There is apparently no
| chance of breaking the deadlock and the
latter ticket consequently stands the best
| chance of any for election.
1t has been thought that B. P. Cheney,
| Jr., would be elected chairman of the
toar of directors, but since the split up
/ that is not so certain now.