The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-18
I. F. BYRNES MAKES
A HIT IN BOSTON
Is HAILED AS "oUR MINISTER
PLENIPoTENTIARY.s
Former Minneapolitan Who Went East
as President Mellen's Lieutenant on
the N. Y, N. II. g. H. Railroad, Gets
Warm Praise-He Works 16 and II
Hours Day..

Our new minister plenipotentiaryn
IS what the Boston papers call Timothy
y. Byrnes Of Minneapolis, assistant to-
the president Of the New Haven road,s
with offices at the South station.
Conditions were pretty bad when Mr..
Mellen took over the road. Boston
people, felt that they were not being
treated well by the company, and that
their direct complaints were not re-
ceiyed with consideration. So soon
as Mr.. Byrnes had done few weeks
work public appreciation Of his ability
was felt at once.
The Boston Herald has to say:
"A little over three months ago the
public of Massachusetts and New Eng
land generally were interested in brief
newspaper announcement which, signed
by President G. S. Mellen Of the New
York, New Haven & Hartford railroad,
read as follows: -
'Mr. T.. E. Byrnes is appointed as
sistant to the president, with office in
Boston. He will represent the president
In all matters requiring his attention,
and in all such matters will act with
the full authority Of the president
80 A few days after this announcement
MI. iByrnes appeared in Boston and
OF his duties, He took the offices set.
apart for him at the South station, and
has been 'at home to callers .practi-
cally every hour since.
The public were quick to realize
that Mr.. Byrnes was here on mission,
clate that it was a mission really in the
interest of the public. Comparatively
little. has appeared concerning the presi-.
dent s assistant in the daily paper since.
his arrival, but this must be charged
rather to his innate modesty than to
the negligence of the newspaper men.
"Altho he has been in Boston but a
few months, it can be said that Mira
Byrnes has impressed favorably those
with whom he has come in contact. He
has already won the confidence of the
business men of Boston and Of Massa-
| chusetts. He has spent no time in;
apology for conditions, but, with char
aeterlstle energy, has gone, about rem
uation eanestly. The spirit with which,
he entered into the work first attracted
thu attention of those most interested
IN it's success. Then his fairness and
ability won for the New Haven road
friendships that were new in Massachu-t
sets.
ga few weeks ago Mr.. Byrnes adj
dressed the Boston Merchants associa-
ton. He admitted that he was. works
ing sixteen and seventeen hours day
to master the problems here. He said
that Boston was now his home and
that he desired to know and meet peo-,
pie; that he was ready at all times to
| hear the complaints Of the merchants
OF the city and to do all in his power
| to correct wrongs.
''This was pleasing to the business
men OF Boston, and the enthusiasm
| with which the words of the speaker
were greeted must have impressed him
that at least he ha d fallen among kinds
ly enemies, who only wanted the chance
| to be friends. 49," ~ 49,.
"But perhaps that which most graft
fies the travelling public, as well as the
business men, is the fact that there, is
now in Boston man armed with full
authority to take up and adjust the
difficulties that SO frequently arise here
in connection with transportation on
the New Haven road. Mr.. Byrnes APP
parently not only has the power and
| the ability necessary in the premises,
but he has the disposition to see to it
that the public is treated fairly by the
| big corporation Of which he. is now SO
essentially part.
Our new minister plenipotentiary, ;
as he has been facetiously called, is an
excellent type of citizen. New England
gave him birth, as she has many other
Others. he went west, to return later in
life, when successes had been won.
} PERSONALLY the president IS assistant
is most pleasing. He is rugged physi-
cally as mentally. A well-shaped head
set on broad shoulders and firm, reso-
lutte chin are noticeable. There is
something, but not too, much, of the
'glitter of the steel in the eye Of this
railroad man. His nature is warm and
generous. His friendships are many
and strong. He enjoys the acquaintance
and personal friendship of many of the
most prominent men in public life. );
| "He has no fads. It cannot be said
that he has any hobbies, except, per-
haps, hard work He works longer and
harder than his assistants, and he
doesn It expect them to labor as he does.
His mind is clear at all times. He
knows how to discriminate and how to
say mo- as well as yes He has
promised to do much for the public of
Massachusetts. What he has already
accomplished he says is but earnest of
what he will do. He prefers to work on
without newspaper commentator, but
he says: 1 want the public to be salts,
| fed ..
"The general sentiment Of the COM
munity is that the New Haven road
took a long step in the right direction
when Mr.. Byrnes was sent to Boston. =
| 3, .. TN FIVE MINUTES