The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-09
No Statement Can Be Gotten From
Vice-President St. John.
HE REFUSES TO SAY ANYTHING.
lntinatiuns That Ryan Will Make
Peace Under Certain Con-
diticn>-Grr:it Surprise
Over the General
managers iics-
iSnatiOn.

Messages were sent out yesterday to
ascertain why Mr. L. ST. john had re-
signed as vice-president and general man
ager OF the Sea5oard ->.r Line, but with
little success.
Several newspaper reporters started
out on a still hunt with instructions to
find out everything they could about tle
rumogs Of a general Seaboard sAake-up
the alleged ourying Of the hatonet between
Mr.. Thomas L. Ryan, of New York, WHO
has long been disturbing element in
the consolidation plans OF the Ssaboard
and the Williams end of the controversy,
and reports Cf Il consolidation with the
Southern. Half a dozen people or more
who are supposed to be on the inside @f
these Mates were seen and questioned
c4osely but each OF tlc>t gentlemen Shook
has head and closed up Ught as a York
River oyster. Keep qu:et. il there was
anything to keep quiet, seemed to be
the sen5ral motto.
Meanwhile rumors were thick and fast.
One rumor seemed to hatch out another
One report published was to the effect
that Mr. St John didn't like it because
President John Skeiton Williams, of the
Seaboard Air Line, disregarded some OF
his recommendations in the matter of ap-
pointing minor officials in the traffic AID
other departments of the road. IN
could not be verified. and was not denied
by anyone in authority to do 50, as NJ,
Williams himself sent word that he de-
clined to say anything for publication
and was. indeed. so busy that he couldn t
admit the reporter who called at his Of
flee.
REPORTS OF PEACE.
Another rumoT was to the effect that
peace negotiations were on between the
Ryan interests and those represented by
the Williams syndicate, and that prob
ably terms would be agreed upon under
which everything would run along
smoothly hereafter This report, or init
nation to that effect, was published IN
q Baltimore paper. but after faNlng all
available sources with a fine tooth comb.
no tat-footed statement could be made
as to its truth of error
MI William NJ. HablistOn, of the Ma
tional Bank of Virginia, who is closely
associated with some of the Williams in
terestS when seen at his place OF busl-
ness Yesterday, said he knew nothing
about the resignation of Mr.. ST. John the
alleged movement on foot for a general
shake-up the naming of Mr.. St. Johns
successor, or anything about peace neGo-
tiations with the Ryan end of the enter
prise.
News was anxiously awaited from Nor
folk Yesterday with the nope r'at MI
ST. Ictln would make a statement as TO
the cause OF his resignation and his fu-
ture plans. No statement came up to
late hour. All that could be gotten over
the wires up to the time the afternoon
papsTS so to press was ttl3t Mir. 81. Johil
said he Rad concluded that he may not
properly make an explanatory statement
up to that time, that he has bsen con-
slering the step for a month or more: that
ne will for some months. possibly always,
remain mere: that he is arbitrator 0t sub
Asiatc and European freight rates Tor
sixteen great railway systems. OF which
two are Canadian lines, and has much
work to DO in this connection: that he has
several offers Of positions from railways,
all Of which he may decline.
Mr. Cecil Gabbett, formerly General
Manager OF the Georgia and AlaDan'a, is
said TO be picked out TO succeed Mr. ST.
John. and the resigna ton OF several
minor officials is imminent \ general
shake-up is believed to be on.
All this inform ltion came to The Even
ing Leader from Norfolk and while the
matter OF NJ. St. Johns successor WAS
not stated as fast. the publication was
based upon what appeared TO be the gem
eral impression among railroad men in
that city.
IMPORTANT D!2yEH- -CFoIENTs-
Soon after this Information was received
there came a roundabout interview from
Mr.. J. William Middendorf, one OF the di-
racrors OF the Seahoard Air Line and
member OF the banking firm ot Mdden-
dors, Oliver and Company. Of Baltimore,
which had hand in the reorganization
and conSolid; ton OF the system ii its
present shape.
NIr. Middendorf is quoted as saying that
there would be important Developments
in connection with the Ryan negotiations
within the next month. Just what these
developments are to be, he did not say
Indeed Mr. Aliddendorf's remarks were
carefully guarded. When asked if The ne
ootiations were pending with view of the
acuuirement Of Kyan's holdings in the en-
terprise. he replied that it was difficult to
keep anything out OF the newspapers.
Whether this meant that tie reports about
peace between Ryan and Williams factions
We're We'll founded is not known. The
truth is, it seems TO be difficult to get at
the bottom OF any OF the various reports
being published about Nh Ryan. Mr. Will
li2ms, Mr. MiddendCrf, Mr.. st. John and
numerous other gentlemen.
Rumors in railroad circles OF Baltimore
yesterday We're going the rounds to the
effect that Mr.. st. johns, resignation
had intimate connection with the
prospective settlement of the Ryan mat
ter. 1t is well known that Mr. ST john !
has shown himself to be vigorous fighter
in railroad scrap, and, as has been
stated, the Seaboard under his control
incurred the hostility of its most for
midable rivals and competitors in the
South.
AS VIEWED IN BALTIMORE.
A Baltimore paper says along this line:
Taking the resignation into considera- !
tion with recent reports of establishing
cir n n
down South, transportation men inclined
to think that, owing to Mr.. Ryan's all
legged relations with the Southern, he !
probably prescribed the retirement of Mr..
st. John as a prerequisite to a cessation
of his Chr Ryan's) fight in the courts
Niddandnrf said that. he