The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-30
RAILROAD News.
Gossip About Probable Success
or to q. r. Henderson.
John Player Would BE Popular
With Employees.
RISTEEN IS IN LINE.
Present Mechanical Superin-
tendent May Be Named.
Alfred Lowell Is Also COnsid-
cred in the Race.

The question which is now up for dis
cussion in local railroad circles is who
is to succeed George r. Henderson who.
as it was announced yesterday. has re-
signed the position Of superintendent of
motive power for the Santa Fe? This
seems to be a hard question for railroad
men to answer. Everyone seems to be
in the dark. Even those men TO whom
one would naturally turn for informa-
tlon Of this kind say that they know
very little about the matter and refuse
to make even guess as TO who is to
succeed MIR. Henderson. Mr.. Nudge, the
general manager, who could probably
throw some light upon the matter if
he were willing to, is in New Mexico
and viii probably not be back for sew
eral days. There is no doubt however.
but the officials have decided upon
some man to succeed Mr.. Henderson
and are only waiting for his reslgna-
tion 10 become effective before it is an
nOunced. Mr.. Henderson said yesterday
that his resignation had been under
consideration for the last few months
and ii is therefore safe to believe that
the officials had decided upon a successor
long before they received Mr. Hender-
sons formal resignation.
There is still some gossip about John
Player. Mr.. HendersOn's predecessor,
who left the Santa Fe about two years
ago ON account of i'll health and who
now lives in Pennsy ylVania, being re-
called TO take his old place. There is
not one particle of doubt in the minds
Of those who know Mr. Player but he
is just the man for the place 1t is un-
deISroOd that since MI. Player LETT the
Santa Fe he has regained his former
good health and would now be able to
carry on the business of the mechanical
department of the Santa Fe with aK his
old VigOr Mr.. Player was no doubt the
best man Tor that position that the
Santa Fe ever had or will have. He
was a practical machinist, was honest
and fair in his dealings with the men
ard consequently had the good Will ana
ce- opera tion of almost every man under
lIrl. What he did not know about an
4ngiue was not worth knowing, as the
1ld saving goes, and he never commit
tea himself by making indIscreet re-
done in the interest of the Santa Fe.
There is not a doubt if Mr.. Players re-
turn 10 the Santa Fe was announced
every one would approve.
Mr.. Henderson, the outgoing super
intendeut of motive power was in
many ways a good man for that posi-
rion. He was thoroughly acquainted
with that de-artment of the railroad
and was considered one of the best loco
motive designers in the United States.
This had a great deal to do with his
appointment 1t was generally under
stood that at the time of his appoint
position of superintendent of motive
power was made vacant after Mr.. Barr
had left the Santa Fe and Mr.. Ken
drick had succeeded him as third vice
president. it would have been the
easiest thing in the world for Mr. Ken
dIick TO ignore Mr.. Henderson alto
gether and put some other man in the
position Considering his remarkable
ability as a mechanic. however, it was
probably thought unwise to turn Nr
Henderson down. and consequently he
was given the position
I'm many ways Mr.. Henderson was
the same kind of man and cOnductei4
the business of the mechanical depart
ment in manner similar to that Of
Mr. Player. but he did not have the
faculty of getting on the good side oi
the men as Mr.. Player had done, ana
during the first year of his service rs
superintendent of motive power he
made several bad mistakes which
caused him to lose the friendship of the
men in hls charge Among these was
Hu attack on organized labor, and all
though this was in accordance with
the general policy of the Santa Fe still
it went far towards establishing an en-
nifty between him and the men. for the
reason InaL their opinions regarding or
ranized labor differ greatly from those
uf their employers. This enmity did
not exist SO much among the men i'm the
local shops, who on account of theh
being on the ground We're able to sac
more clearly into the facts of the case
as % did among the men on the western
lines Of the road. The majority OF he
many rumors to the effect that Mr.
Henderson was to resign originated in
l1e wast
Another probable successor to MIR.
Henderson is Alfred Lowell AIr LoVeh
succeeded him as assistant superintend-
ent OF motive power and may succeed
him as supelllte ndlnt OF motive power.
u is thought. however that Mr. F. y.
ilsteen. mechanical superintendent for
tine Santa Fe. VIII be more likely 20
st the appointment. Alr. Risteen.
whose home is in Topeka. is thoroughly
qualified to fill tre position with credit
~ himself and he is well liked by sh
OF the officials
Law IS NO GOOD.
nJim Crow Cars Daolarad Tnua1id hu