Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-11-17
WHEN GOULD MAKES A FIGHT
Vivid Picture of How He Battled to Cor
troll Wabash.

Vivid Picture of How He Battled to Cor
! troll Wabash.
1t ls not often that the opportunity
is afforded of studying a millionaire
aud multi millionaire at that, at
close range in the discharge of those
duties which devolve upon him as the
head of great railroad system and the
dominant factor in chain of railroads
which practically extend from the
Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, says the
New York World. George J. Gould's
fight with Joseph Ramsey, Jr., for the
control of the Wabash railway, which
has just terminated in an Overwhelm-
ing victory for Mr.. Gould, afforded
just this opportunity. The alert, clear
eyed head of the Gould family, reali-
zng that his prestige rs the leading
railroad manager of the United States
was at stake, to say nothing of the
sentimental interest he attaches to the
fact that control of the Wabash rail
road is an Inheritance from bis father,
was outspoken in favor of the 'Open.
door" policy as regards railroad meet
ings when he and Joseph Ramsey, Jr.,
sat face to face in little II by 20 of
flee on the top floor of fivestory build
ing in Toledo, Ohio, for the purpose OF
determining whether he or Mr.. Ram.
sey had the backing of the majority of
the bond and stock holders of the Wa
bash Railroad.
Of the $92, 900, 900 worth of bonds and
stocks MI Gould controlled not less
than SIS, ,000, 900 worth, and be admins
tered crushing defeat to those of his
enemies who had dared to question his
predominance.
1t was,a novelty in the shape of a
railroad meeting for both the East and
| West. Such gatherings are usually
held behind closed doors, and only such
hlterings of news as the directors NAV
see fit are doled out to the public. But
j. Gould to be far-sighted Threats
had been made that Joseph Ramsey,
Jr., would raise the lid" on methods
of railway management and would dis
close state of affairs which would out
Lawson Lawson. Confident of victory
and having nothing to fear. Mr. Gould
| insisted that the me sting be absolute
| ly open SO that through the newspapers
the stockholders and pop ulace might |
know what was going on.
The meeting had been called for 9 |
A. M, but 80 minutes earlier than
that and prior to the arrival of any
other interested person Mr.. Gould |
dashed up to the Produce Exchange |
Building in an automobile. He was |
going into action and wanted to be the |
first on the field. The elevator man |
looked at the New Y York millionaire in
ing they lead a strenuous life, are not i
IN the habit of attending directors |
meetings at $50 in the morning. When |
asked why be got to the meeting place
so early Mr.. Gould remarked that a |
| railroad meeting could hardly be cIas- |
sitied as pink tea and that to the early /
bird belonged the worm.
Mr.. Gould looked at the clOck-he |
carries no watch, or if he does NO one |
I ever sees it in business hours-and in |
quiet. modulated tones said. ''We1l |
call this meeting to order" and then be |
turned and patted affectionately a
great bundle of proxies that his law
yers had placed before him. And the
fight was on.
AS soon as the preliminariesh had been
completed Mr.. Gould became chang
ed man. He forgot to twiddle his pen
| ell, but alternately stuck it in his vest
pocket or chewed il broadsde on, in his
mouth, while with both hands be sort
ed the papers before him. He was now
the man of business, every energy bent
on the work before him. And as the
hours went by and the day waned into
night and the night into the early hours
of the morning the vigilance OF the man
of millions never relaxed one moment
An instance of Mr.. Gould's untiring
energy was displayed on the evening
of the first day of the W bash meeting.
The bondholders had been in session
from A. NJ. until $50 P NJ The
Ramsey contingent, with Judge Doyle
as the mouthpiece, wanted to go home
to tea and to roost. Mr. Gould's eyes
twinkled as be said: Let's go out for
a bite and come back at $50 and re.
main until o'clock in the morning"
There was howl of anguish from
the Teledoans as Mr.. Gould added:
That's my way of doing business.
Judge Doyle, Mr.. Ramsey's chief ad
wiser, who looks like a miniature edi-
tion of Uncle Sam, begged to be allow
ed to go home. You are out in the
country now," he said to Mr.. Gould:
''Go to bed as We farmers do and get uI
\ for business tomorrow at $50
Mr.. Gould laughed and remarked
Never mind that now. Stay until
aud l will be down here at 8 in the
morning if you like. That is the way
Il work in New York;
The matter was put to a vote, anC
Mr.. Gould was defeated. The adjourn
ment was ordered. Mr.. Gould held 6
few whispered words with one of hi
> lieutenants and a moment afterwar(
Winsow 5. Pierce, Mr.. Goud's princi