The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-31
COLONEL EVANS
SAYS NOTHING
Declines to Affirm or
Deny Story Of His
Promotion.
Wells, Fargo & Co. Directors
to Elect President
Thursday.

IL I'll ONACbJs
The exclusive publication by The Call
of the announcement that Colonel Dudley
Evans would be elected as the successor
of John j. Valentine to the presidency OF
i Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express was the
leading topic of conversation in business
circles yesterday. Inasmuch as 1t was
confidently expected that the honor would
fall to San Francisco man the news that
Valentines mantle of office would be
/ thrust upon the shoulders of a New York
official of the company was revelation
to many connected with the big corpora
1 ton.
The disclosure was the subject of more
than one conference among the directors
during the day. These gentlemen affected
to know nothing of the matter when ques-
toned, and all declared that the story
| was premature and therefore untrust-
worthy. They did not deny the truth Of
| the statement that Colonel Evans was
the coming man, but none could be found
! who was willing to confirm the report
that the Huntington influence in Evans
interest had asserted itself and that his
selection for the responsible post was a
1t is well known that the Southern Fa-
cific holds heavy interests in Wells, Fargo
& Co., and that H. E. Huntington was
made a director of the express company
in order, that those interests might not
suffer. Since Huntington's election as
| director the Southern Pacific has changed
hands, and E. H: Hartman is now us
guiding spirit 1t happens that Harrl,
man and Evans are quite friendly, ana
! when Valentines illness reached the fatal
stage the question of selecting ms Issue, sue
Evans was sent to this city at once to
look after affairs, and following him came
| letters signed by Huntington to several
directors requesting their Endorsement OF
Evans for the position. 1t was a bitter
pill for some of them to swallow, but as
ence of wealth and power is not to be
| overcome This means that the 1nflu-
! ence of the Southern Pacific in the inter-
! nal affairs of Wells, Fargo & Co. will not
! be ignored when the matter of selecting
Valentines successor finally comes up for
action at the forthcoming meeting OF the
! board
Directors Meet on Thursday.
Although efforts were made by the
| the fact, 1t was learned from authorlta-
tive sources that the directors would meet
next Thursday, at which time the va
cancy on the board as well as in the
presidency will be filled. 1t was at first
intended to meet to-day, but circum-
stances arose which rendered postpone
ment imperative.
While many employees of the express
company concede that Evans will be the
next president, they scout the allegation
that the main offices of the company will
be removed to New York. They claim
| this action would disOrganize the COM
pany in that it's heaviest interests are
conferred in the West. The argument is
advanced that the company recently went
to the expense of erecting a large office
| building and that the removal of the
| main offices would be bad business poll
| icy. Should this action be taken the
building must inevitably prove losing
| investment something the directors will
not permit. What effect these arguments
| will have upon the Eastern influences
now at work remains to be seen. 1t is
certain that the contemplated removal
will meet with opposition, even though 1t
/ be advocated by the incoming president.
| The election of Colonel Evans to the
! presidency may prove to be of advan-
! tage to the company's interests, but to
| those in the line of advancement had the
| honor fallen upon either Colonel Gray or
| Homer S. King, it will be as a wet blan-
! ket on a frosty morning. The possibility
| that one of the gentlemen named would
! capture the prize had given birth to hopes
in the breasts Of many departmental man
| ayers that they would be advanced a step
| with the coming of the new year. The
| latest developments, however, have sent
| these hopes aglimmering and the faces
| CT many employees are as somber as the
sable decorations which adorn the COM
panys building. That the election of Col
| onel Evans means changes in the official
! staff is regarded as certainty. What
! these changes may be is now a matter of
| grave concern to all the employees con-
cerned.
Officials Are Reticent.
Colonel Gray. first vice president of the
! company, made the following statement
! to Call representative yesterday:
! The announcement that Colonel Evans would
succeed the late John ]. Valentine to the presi-
| dency of Wells Fargo & Co. was quite prema-
! ture. 1 do not know how the report gained
! currency. L know that the directors have not
! authorized an announcement of the kind. No
! call for a meeting of the board has been issued
| by L will admit Colonel Evans is very
! influential the board of directors and
| influence in all human affairs counts for much.
! That is all l have to say concerning the mat
! ter.
! Homer S. King, who was prominently
| named as the probable successor to the
presidency of the company, declined 10
| discuss the matter of Evans selection on
| the ground that he knew nothing about
it. He said the directors would probably
| settle the matter at their next meeting,
but he was unable to say when the meet
| ported removal of the main office of the
| corporation to the East he refused to talk
/ of for publica ton.
Colonel Evans was seeen at the Palace
! Hotel last night and asked to give his
views concerning his impending elevation
! to the presidency. He replied that he
| could not discuss the matter in advance
! of any action the directors might take
He declined either to affirm or deny the
report published by The Call In reply
| to the question as to the date of the
| forthcoming meeting he said he did not
] know the precise time. 1t might be next
! Thursday and it might be some other
! Thursday. With this the interview came
/ to a close.
The numerous friends of Colonel Evans
extended him their congratulations yes
terday. AS he made no denial of the
question at issue to any of these, the in
understands the situation, and his re
fusal to discuss the same for publication,
therefore, is based on grounds of delicacy
| and expediency.