The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-01
HOW CASSATT BECAME
A RAILROAD POWER
His Wfe's Persistent Agreements Alon: Induced Him
to Accept the Presidency of the Pennsylvania.
BY GUY T. VlSKNISKKl.

Something after the manner of Gin
cinnatus being called away from his
pillow to take up matters of state. A.
]. Cassatt was found on the golf
course when he was asked to become
president of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road and one of the greatest railroad
powers in America.
week or so after the death in 1899
of Frank Thomson, who had succeed
ed George B. Roberts, when that gen.
tleman had died about year previ
ously, the directors of the railroad
held meeting in Philadelphia for the
purpose of selecting a new president.
Heretofore they had found the task
comparatively easy. for one of the
vice presidents had always stood out
prominently through his work as the
proper man to name. But this time
it was different-neither Vice Presi-
dent John H. Green nor any of his col
leagues felt themselves sufficiently
equipped to fill such a responsible po-
sition, and they did not hesitate to so
inform the board of directors.
At that these gentlemen were
aghast.
What shall we do?" they asked one
another helplessly. Such a thing has
never happened before in the history
of the road. The emergency has al
ways called forth the man, but now"
Two hours later when the meeting
adjourned those who had participated
in it looked the stupefaciton they felt
at not being able to discover among
their number or the roads employees
the right man for MIR. Thomson's sue
cessor.
Cassatt the Man.
In pursuance with the programme
arranged at this meeting, the directors
thought hard and seriously over the
problem for a week; then they fore
gathered.
Have you thought of the man."
was the question anxiously put to one
and all; and the universal answer was
no
1t has been a long established policy
of the Pennsylvania not to i'm
port" railroaders for important po-
sitions, but, as the directors wres-
tied with the problem, to many came
the thought that at last this principle
would have to be broken, If the road
was to have the right sort of head.
One man had actually started to state
this view to the meeting, when, as he
was half through, he was interrupted
by colleague.
Hold on excitedly pleaded the in
terlocutor, I'VE won't have to do that
not that. I've got tive got the
solution"
At that the first speaker sat down
and the second outlined his plan.
Let us find out who have been re-
sponsible for the improvements that
have made the road famous, and that
living man who is most responsible
is the man for the presidency"
Forthwith the dignified directors,
each a millionaire, lost their outward
calm in trying to put their questions
to the vice presidents; and these were
some of the queries:
Who is responsible for our fine
suburban stations and facilities?"
"a. ]. Cassatt, when he was direc-
tor and first vice president, was the
answer.
Who figured largely in making our
engineering corps so efficient?''
Mr.. Cassatt, when he was a direc-
tor" was the answer.
Whose idea was it to connect the
st. Charles Cape terminal with Nor
folk by boat and ferry freight for
thirty-six miles across Chesapeake
bay?"
"Cassatt's."
WHO SIOiS d IIldTCn on Lne bdlJl-
more and Ohio and snatched the Phil
adelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
away from them over night, after they
felt sure they had the property"
"Cassatt."
who advocated and who advanced
the rebuilding of the Broad street
terminal?"
"Cassatt"
who always fought for better and
AAk i
proved road bed?"
"Cassatt."
Whatever the question, the answer
was monotonously singular-Cassatt
until wrought up to pitch of ex-
element over the. discovery and seized
and swept by common impulse, the
meeting unanimously cried out:
"Cassatt-he's the man."
There and then A. ]. Cassatt, who
had resigned from the management in
the late sos, as the result of a quar-
rel with Mr.. Roberts over the roads
policy, was elected president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad.
After it was over cooler heads
brought doubts.
"Mr. Cassatt knows nothing of this;
he may not consent to take the posi-
ton
He must be forced into accepting"
was the reply. HE is the right man,
and the road cannot afford to let him
get away"
Cassatt Refuses the Honor.
1t was agreed to notify Mr.. Cas-
satt of the honor at once and a COM
mittee was appointed for the purpose.
The members learned that their man
was at his country home in Haver-
ford. a Philadelphia suburb, and thith-
er they journeyed.
1--WE would like to see Mr.. Cassatt,"
they said at the doorway of "Ches-
void"
He is out on the golf links just
now" was the reply. will you come
in and"
The three directors turned and