The San Francisco call., 1899-09-22
THE RAILROAD PLUM.
Wide Speculation as to Who
May Succeed George
CPOckep

In spite of the reticence maintained by
Speyer, Crocker and all those most in
timately concerned, the big deal in rail-
road securities is taken as fact and is
the one absorbing topic Of conversation
along Montgomery street and everywhere
else THAI brokers and railroad men con-
gregate.
Notwithstanding the fact that not one
of the pricipals or their agents has as yet
said, anything which could possibly be
construed into either an admission or a
denial of the truth of the report. the gen
eral opinion seems to be that the big
transfer is now under way and that c. P.
Huntington is the power behind the pur-
chasing throne.
This belief does not seem to be produc
tive of any great amount of jubilation
1t means that the Huntington wishes will
be the undisputed policy of the Southern
Pacific Company, and those wishes have
been so often demonstrated in the past
that the people of California know now
little they have, to expect from any con-
Germ in which the aged financier is the
dominant power.
The reasons which have led up to this
deal constitute a matter of considerable
speculation. Some say that George
Crocker has no taste for railroadlng, and
as his opinions Of the business are shared
by the balance OF the family they decided
to get out as soon as an opportunity pre-
scented itself. Others say that G. P. Hunt
ington has carried his animosity toward
the founder of the Crocker family past
the grave and mas visited upon the chill
dren the hate he had for their father to
such an extent that the position of George
Crocker as second vice president has been
made as unpleasant as 1t well could be,
anG he, finding that he was little more
than a cipher when it came to the eXer-
else of any of the prerogatiVes of his posi-
ton, decided TO get out of place which
was only a continual source of humilia-
tion to- him.
AS il is generally conceded that Hunt
ington is the man behind Speyer, curiosity
is rife to know who will succeed to the
seem to think that the robe Will fall on
H. L. Huntington, who they say stands
we'll with the head of the company and
has been taking particular pains to tit
toned about this matter yesterday Mr..
Crocker refused to discuss it in any way
whatever and J. G. Stubs was hardly
more comm municatiye. Said Mr.. ,stubbs:
"If Mr.. Crocker has sold out his stock,
and l don't know that he has, 1t does not
follow that he will resign his office in the
company. l suppose he has many other
interests In the company besides those
represented by his shares, and 1t would
not be surprising if he continued to be
associated with its management. In any
case it would not be probable that a
change would occur before the next an
nual meeting Of the directors. and that is
sharps plenty of time In which to con-
struct theories.
This is all that the suave third vice
president would say.
There are some wise ones, however. who
generally know thing OF two, and they
say that Huntington will spring sur
prise on every one by having the place
flied by the "Discriminator.' who now
does so nobly as q general manager. These
knowing people say that II. L. Hunting
ton is nearer and Of more service to his
uncle as assistant to the president than
he could possibly be IN the other position
Stubbs they say, is too good a man where
/ he is to be taken from the supervision of
the traffic department, and as Krutt-
schnitt lies pretty close to the magnate it
is logical to suppose that he will be Sc
lected to fill up the space left vacant by
/ Crocker, particularly as there are any
number of men in the employ of the
Southern Pacific who could fill the post
tion of general manager and not average
over an accident a week.
II KruttschEitt does win out It will
mean a change all along the line of the
Huntington faction not only because of
his promotion but because of the number
/ Of Crocker men, led by Fillmore who win
have. TO find some other place to go to
| lay their heads.
Considerable talk was occasoned yes
terday when 1t became known that num-
Der OF Offices were being prepared for oc-
cupancy in the Crocker building and the
rumor was at once started that George
Crocker was preparing to move out Of
the Southern Pacific building at once
Mr. Crocker denied this. saying that the
Green, manager Of the Crocker estate.
as those he now occupies in the big Mont
gomery street political bureau are en-
tirely too small for the purpose Mr..
Crocker further said that he had no in
tention OF moving at present.