The San Francisco call., 1897-07-20
CROCKER'S SUCCESSOR.
Speculation Already Rife on the
SubIect-General Hubbard Is
Mentioned.

Mentioned.
By fer the most i'm portant position that
Charles F. Crocker held at the time OF his
death was that of vice. president of the
Southern Pacific Company. As such he
was the chief local executive officer of the
corporation, and upon him devolved many
and great responsibilities. No man was
better posted than he on all the details of
operation and construction of the various
lines embraced in the Central Pacific
Company.
Speculation among railroad men is al
ready rife as to who will be selected to I'LL
this high and onerous place. 1t is not be-
lieved that either of the two brothers of
the deceased will be chosen. Will II.
Crocker is said to have his time and en-
ergy fully occupied with his banking in
terests and it is known that George
Crocker is averse to living away from New
York. 1t would not be polite, so it is
said, to make II. E. Huntington the sue
cessor of the deceased. Such action would
SAVIOR too much of nepotism, for this
would be placing uncle and nephew in
the two most influential offices of the cor
poration.
II is generally acknowledged that Gem
eral Thomas II. Hubbard, who was the
choice of Mrs. Stanford for president at
the last two elections OF the corporation,
is the man for the place. He has the con-
tidence and good will of all the interests
concerned, and is a man of large affairs
and of much more than usual abilities.
Another Circumstance in his favor is that
he is in the line of advancement to the
position, being the second vice-president.
The selection of Mr.. Crocker's successor
will not be formal matter for the board
OF directors TO act upon. 1t Will be q sub
ject of deep and earnest deliberation on
the part OF the representatives OF the four
great interests which control the great
orporation-those of the Searles estate,
the Crocker estate, the Hunting gton inter-
es(s and the interests OF Mrs. Jane STAN
ford There are mum ber of "dummies"
in the directorate, and these will have no
actual voice in the decision of the great
question; for it is great question, as on
the selection of the man who is to act as
the chief executive OF the company on
this coast will depend much OF the future
popularity and prosperity OF the railroads
ope- lted bv it.
The Valley road is daily becoming a
more and more powerful com petitor of the
Southern Pacific Company, and the man
who will have to deal with the new situa-
t!on OF genuine competition will need to
be one of unusual parts.
AS Will II. Crocker is already on the
directorate, it is understood that George
Crocker will take the place of his deceased
brother as a mem Der of the board of di-
rectors OF the Southern Pacific Company
At the railroad offices yesterday every
one about the building showed by his de-
meanor that he felt he had sustained an
individual loss in the taking off of Colonel
Crocker. Traffic Manager ]. c. Stubbs
was particularly affected by the sad event.
despite the fact that conhning illness
preceded the death of Mr.. Crocker" he
said, sit came to most of US as it might
have done had he died from the result OF
an accident. 1t came as a sudden blow to
those who were daily brought into per-
sonal contact with him. With the exec p
ton of a few, no one about the building
knew that his health was seriously I'M
paired.
His demise would cause general SYM
pathy, under the circumstances, 10 matter
what position in life he might have held
lie had just that age when he was be-
ginning to enjoy the fruits of his earlier
years OF labor. His mind had become
matured and ne had great possl bilities be-
lore him. His children have reached that
| age when a fathers counsel is particularly
valuable, and to him they were a source
| OF intense pride and pleasurable soIici-
tude. Death came just when he had the
most to live for and when he was most
| necessary and valuable to those with
whom he was most IN timately associa ed.
above all things he was just man.
No one ever went to him with q inst
cause but was certain TO secure his dues.
He always endeavored 10 rise above small
prejudices, and that he succeeded admir-
ably in this respect is shown by the large
number of person al friends that he made
among all classes of people. While al
ways dignified he was ever approachable
| and courteous to all. No one ever had a
word of adverse criticism to say against
him."
1t is understood that the will of Mr..
Crocker is locked up in the vaults of the
| Crocker- w oolworth Bank. 1t will not be
| opened unLil after the funeral.