Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-23
B. \ 0. PRESIDENCY NOT
BIG ENOUGH FOR McREA
A DENIAL OF THE RUMOR THAT HE
Is TO SUPPLANT JOHN X.
COWEN.
REFUSED c. & O. PRESIDENCY,
AND WOULD ACCEPT NO OFFICE
BUT PRESIDENT OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 3d.
James McCrea will not be the next
president of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. This was learned to-day from
a high official of the Pennsylvania
Railroad in this city who ridiculed the
statement in an Associated Press dis
patch from Pittsburg to-day. The Of
fetal outlined Mr.. McCrea's position in
the railroad world as follows:
Anyone who knows Mr.. McCrea in
timately will recognize the absence Of
foundation for the Baltimore & Ohio
story. The presidency of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad might present a daZ-
Zling attraction to some railroad men,
but not to James McCrea. There is
only one office that he would accept,
and that is the presidency of the Penn
sylvania Railroad. Only a short time
G he was offered the presidency of
the Chesapeake & Ohio, but his firm
refusal left his friends no doubt as to
his intentions. He wants no second
rate position. His splendid ability as
a railroad executive is so generally
recognized that there is no position
in the railroad world superior to the
man.
There is no doubt but that he is
the logical successor of Mr.. Cassatt,
should he outlive him, as president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, but while
Mr.. Cassatt lives and desires the Of
flee no railroad man in the country
can supplant him.
1T has been rumored that Mr.. Cas-
satt intended to resign and devote
his remaining years t leisure, after
enjoying an honor second only to that
of President of the United States. l
am not authorized to speak for Mr..
Cassatt, but | think | can safely say
that the thought of giving up the
presidency has never once entered his
head. Even should it do so, such great
influences would be brought upon him
to remain that he could not refuse,
ana he is therefore at the head Of the
great corporation for life.
All this talk about his duties at
fecting his health is nonsense. He is
robust and active. In fact, Mr.. Nc
Crea will have to wait a long time
for the honor which is his beacon star.
Mr. .Cassatt has reduced his Office work
to a system and his methods of handi-
ing the most astounding projects are
of the simplest character. He has
grown with the corporation and is ia
miliar with every detail of it's organ
i~zation, from the roadbed to the presi-
dency. He has done more to broaden
and expand the corporation of the road
than any president who has ever pre-
coded him. He does not hesitate when
the opportunity arrives, and everything
that he has carried out has proved his
wisdom and foresight as a financier
of the first magnitude.
Il have no desire to pass the claims
of Third Vice President S. M. Provost
in lauding Mr.. McCrea. Both are men
of the widest experience and worthy
the confidence of the stockholders OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.. for the
highest Office in their gift, but Mr.. Cas-
satt is the ideal railroad president OF
this country, and so long as he lives.
and desires to retain Office. the folly
OF any other man aspiring to it must
come painfully home to the aspirant as
a forlorn hope"