The San Francisco call., 1899-04-12


terests involved in the Southern Pa
ciffc Company. There is no longer a
check upon his judgment or upon his
policy, and those who should know
say that Mrs. Stanford, to say the
least, is fearful for the future of her in
terests. No one believes seriously for
a moment that c. P. Huntington has
sacrificed or in any way injured his
nephew, H. E. Huntington, who has
been for years the trusted agent and
personal representative of his uncle on
this coast.
When Colonel Fred Crocker was bit
terly engaged in the war upon Hunt
ington and had the Stanford interests
in complete alliance with him, Hunt
fngton found it absolutely necessary
for the protection of his interests on this
side of the continent to send his nephew
to this city. The younger Huntington
watched these interests carefully, criti-
cally and with satisfaction to his uncle
The younger man enjoyed the utmost
confidence of the elder, and when
George Crocker, upon the death of his
brother, entered the directory of the
Southern Pacific Company, avowedly
to oppose the policy of the president,
young Huntington had occasion still
to retain the deepest friendship of his
uncle.
Nor has he lost it now, for c. P.
Huntington is too seasoned a manipu-
lator to leave his stronghold unguarded
even after the capitulation of the
enemy. Notwithstanding the fact that
George Crocker has surrendered the
Stanford interests as well as his own
c. P. Huntington has still the need of
the nephew. While the position of first
assistant to the president has been
abolished George Crocker has received
nothing in return. He has none of the
power which the first assistant welded.
Crocker has not been advanced in au-
thority. He has simply made c. p.
Huntington the dictator of the great
corporation. AS long as George Crocker
is obedient TO the will and subservient
to the policy of c. P. Huntington there
will be no need of first assistant TO
thea president But when George Crocker
again swings that firebrand of his the
nephew will once more appear. He will
not be far away, as he is still director
of the Southern Pacific Company and
the president of the Market-street
Company. c. P. Huntington has trap
ped too many old birds to be caught
nllnSen Dy a young one.
Ever since the death of Colonel Fred
Crocker this great denOuement in the
railroad has been expected and feared.
Colonel Fred Crocker had fought with
uncompromlSing effort against the per
Sistent encroachments of Huntington in
the company. In this struggle Fred
Crocker was the representative of the
Stanford interests as we'll as his own.
He could not be broWbeaten, and Hunt
n Otto oh bo &c
him.
When Colonel Fred Crocker died the
Stanford and Crocker interests were
without a logical representative or a
champion to continue the campaign
against Huntington. Will Crocker could
not be prevailed upon to take up the
burden for a double reason He knew
nothing about the intricate art of rail-
rOading of which Huntington is a mas
ter, and besides his preference was for
other pursuits. AS a matter of fact
George CrOcker knew no more than his
| brother about railroads. George Crocker
had given absolutely no attention either
to railroads or to finance, in both of
which Huntington rules without a
rival.
In desperation, however. George
Crocker was chosen as the representa-
tive of the two factions which had
| fought so lone to preserve the integrity
of their interests against the under
mining influence of the President
| Crocker had full knowledge of his in
experience Utterly without training
he was selected to give battle to one of
the shrewdest and craftiest manipula-
tors of the age and admittedly one of
the greatest financiers of the century,
Through long years of uncertainty,
with war within and war without
Huntington had handled with a superb
ms or ha int 1,
had acquired. When other railroads
had come upon evil times and receivers
were at their doors Huntington smil-
ingly continued to mind his own bust
ness, interfered discreetly in the busi-
ness of other people and paid his inter
est regularly. He had locked horns
with the GouldS and the Vanderbilts
and had not come second best from the
contest. He had been in many a great
battle of manipulation and intrigue of
finance and as some one said: mo one
was ever able to get his knife under
the pie crust of c. z. Huntington"
And then George Crocker went and
purchased a pie knife. 1t was his an
nounced purpose to oppose Huntington
in everything. The old man could not
force him out altogether and George
Crocker was determined not to be
fooled. If he was no match in diplo-
macy for Huntington he could at least
hight. The battle has ended The
Crocker and Stanford interests in the
Southern Pacific Company are now
what they never were before-subser-
Went to c. P. Huntington What
Charles F. Crocker. Leland Stanford.
Colonel Fred Crocker and Mrs. Stan
ford fought for has been lost and
George Crocker thinks he has won a
victory G. P. Huntington never says
what he thinks 20
In this factional fight for supremacy
in the Southern Pacific Company a
feature of minor interest has been dis
played. During the lifetime of Colonel
Fred Crocker the big yellow building
of the corporation was divided into two
bitterly antagonistic factions. The fight
between Colonel Crocker and Hunting
ton was taken up by their respective
followers. Heads of departments were
in one camp or the other. They chose
their standard as they believed success
would come. There were Huntington
men and Crocker men. and the feeling
was so bitter that even clerks were ar
rayed against each other.
This condition of affairs has con-
tinued to the present time. Railroad
men are wondering now if the follow
ers of Crocker and those in the Stan
ford faction will feel the weight of
Huntington's anger. Crocker's capitu-
lation has made the old man absolute