The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-25
SENTIMENT OF ATLANTA.
How the Gate City Views Mr.. WiNder's
Displacement--H offman's High-hand-
ed Observation-Disclosures ST. John,
he Atlanta Constitution says:

Mr.. st. JOnn nau captain Johu NIluC1
virtually deposed, but the latter
brought sufficient influence to bear to
prevent the ce-president's move
going into effect. The Tucker and
Winder holdings of the Seaboard Sc
curities are very large, but the oppos-
ing interests are a little stronger.
Threats were frequently heard, and
rumors of impending moves by this
side or that flew thick and fast. In
deed, they are still flying. Some of
them would make interesting reading,
but they would not do the road any
good: but it is not best to give them
publicity unless they are carried into
execution.
Zone of Captain Winder's friends
saws that the fight win be carried on
from the outside with more intensity
than ever. How it will end, is not for
the chronicler of absolute and un-
adulterated truth to attempt to fore
tell.
captain v. Il. McBee stands good
chance of being made general super
intendent of the Sal If he does not
take it, Rock Island man probably
will.
Captain John II. Winder came to
Atlanta in the spring of 1892, when
the Georgia, Carolina and Northern
was building into the city lie built
the Seaboard's belt line around At
lanta, making connection with the
Western and Atlantic. That was in the
time of President Robinson. When
Mr.. Robinson died. Mr. Hoffman was
elected to succeed him. John c. Win
der was made vice-President, succeed
ing Mr.. Hoffman, and John II. Winder
was elevated to general manager, TAX
ing his fathers position. Major Win,
der resigned after a years service rs
vice-presIdent, and Mr.. St. John was
appointed. General Manager John II.
Winder was one of the youngest men
in the country holding such an impor
tant position. He is not much more
than thirty now, and he has a good
record as transportation and traffic
man. Tt has not been many months
since he was offered the vice-presi-
dency OF an important SYSTEM. but he
would not leave the Seaboard to ac-
cept it. This is not generally known,
but il had great significance to those
who were aware Of il. Here i'm Atlanta,
Captain Winder is very popular, as ne
is all along the line, and he gave his
here"
The Atlanta journal has this 10 say:
There seems little doubt that the
removal OF Mr. Winder IS the consum-
nation Of a predetermined plan to Dust
from official position all the Winder
interests in the Seaboard.
Mr. St John as the instrument Of
those who had this determination in
hand, seems TO have gone rapidly for
ward since ne was brought to the Sea
board from the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific. with the execution of the
wishes Of those who have been in the
majority on the board Of directors of
| the Seaboard, and the Seaboard. as
now constituted is throughout and
thoroughly HoffmanSt. John sys-
I tenn.
THAT there has been q clearly drawn
| opposition of interests in dhe Seaboard
| hardly admits of doubt, as the history
| of the Seaboard in late years will show
Since the roads in North Carolina,
! south Carolina and Georgia were com
/ pleted into one system. with one ter
/ minus in Atlanta and the other in
! Portsmouth, there has been gradual
| REORGANIZATION Of the interest repre-
| scented by President Hoffman and his
| associate capitalists, chiefly Of Balti
! more But after the death Of President
| Robinson, Mr.. Hoffman, at that time
/ yice-president, became president, and
/ Mr. John G. Winder became yice-presi-
/ dent: his son John H. WiDder being
promoted from division superin-
tendency to the general managership.
Such was the status OF the manage
ment until it was decided by the Hoff-
man element, which seemed to be
predominant, to take control.
/ 'The first step in this line was the
| selection Of Mr.. St. John, who was an
officer in the Chicago, Rock Island
/ and Pacific, and as chairman OF the
committee of railroads in the celebrat-
ed Chicago strike, had attracted at
tention TO himself throughout the
| railroad world.
THE information then shortly at
| forwards came that Mr.. T.. st. John
was vice president Of the Seaboard Air
Lime.
"From that time until this Mr.. St.
| John has been in almost complete
power, and change after change has
| taken place in the citizenship.
'One Of the first acts Of Mr.. st. John
| was the removal OF the Otflces OF tine
! general manager from Atlanta to
Portsmouth, aal<ing many clerks to
| Virginia, who were established under
| the same roof at Portsmouth with the
yice-president. There have been many
| removals since-most of which were
not from town TO town, but from job
10 joblessness.
''Mr st. John has substituted in
many eases men who had been with
him on the Chicago, Rock Island and
| Pacific.
''He removed Mr.. James Mayhem,
who had been with the Seaboard for
thirty-tive years, as superintendent OF
motive power and substituted Mr.. W.
r. Reed, of the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific.
"He removed Car Accountant w. +.
| Gehee and substituted Mr.. Johnson, OF
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific:
lie removed w. j, Edwards, general
store keeper. and substituted man
from the Chicago, Rock Island and