The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-10
Hartman Won by WOmen's
Jealousy Of Social Position.
Played Mrs. Fish Against Mrs.
AstOr and Mrs. Vanderbilt.
H is S-OCIALLEADER
Control of Railway Wrested By
StrategIst on Small Investment.
Gossip and Matters Of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

h battle for social supremacy
which has caused a feud between Mrs.
-Stuyvesant Fish and Mrs John Jacob
Astor. and between Mrs. Fish and
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, made pos
sfble the execution yesterday of the
long cherished plan of 2. H. Harri-
man to Wrest control OF the Illinois
Central railroad from S-tuyvesant Fish,
the long time president of the corpora
ton, and to Dust him from his office.
Nj. Vanderbilt and Mr.. Astor. par
tisans of their wives, and bringing
their social strifes into the world OF
high finance, voted against the re-elec-
ton of MI. Fish at the lively meeting
of the board of directors, and these
two votes accomplished his defeat.
The two directors had been account
ed friends OF Mr.. Fish in preventing
Hartman from gaining control of one
of the most valuable railroad proper
ties in the United States, but Harri-
man skilfully and successfully played
upon the tender chords OF the social
i~nharmony existing between the wives
Of the two directors and the wife of
the president hon he wished to de-
pose.
Punished for Wife's Ambition.
Unde these remarkable circum-
stances, Mr.. Fish was placed in the
position of being punished for his
wife's attempt to gain some high social
distinction, with Mr.. Vanderbilt and
Colonel Aston, representing as it were,
their wives, younger and aspiring.
helping to administer the punishment
and incidentally giving Hartman a
rich prize.
The true meaning of the opposition
of Colonel Aston and Mr.. Vanderbilt
to Mr.. Fish was known to the three
men and to Hartman. who had con-
ceived the plot. and no quarter was
asked nor given. 1t is the way of Wo-
men when their social aspirations are
the issue.
Mrs Fish, next to hrs. Astor. is the
recognized leader of society. Mrs.
Ohm Jacob Astor wishes to succeed
head Of society. Mrs. Fish looks to
that position for herself. Therefore
Mrs. Fish has done everything posi-
BILE to block the promotion of the
young Mrs. Aston, and the latter has
let no opportunity pass to return the
compliment.
During the visit Of Prince Henry to
this country it was the ambition of
Mrs. Fish to entertain him at Newport.
She was anxious for the triumph to
advertise the stability. OF. her position
as a leader of society. and she old her
closest friends of herI plan. TO entertain
the brother of t~he4fen7Peror of Ger
many s- ~
\ Prince Involved in the Feud.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt had met
Prince Henry abroad and a enter
tanned him at dinner on her husbands
yacht, at which the kaiser himself was
a guest of the Vanderbilts. 1t was but
natural she should desire to entertain
him again and she discounted and ut
terly spoiled Mrs. Fish's plans by for
warding an invitation to Prince Henry,
and receiving an acceptance before
Mrs. Fish had a chance to use the
diplomatic measures necessary to OBJ
tain the royal visitor as a guest.
Mrs. Fish deeply resented Mrs. Van
derbilt's actions and triumphs. n a
GOODNESS sprang up between the two
women which has existed ever since.
Il a tactful name Mr.. Hartman
inspired the suggestion to Mrs. Astor
and Mrs. Vanderbilt that the oppor-
tunity was present in the election of a
president of the Illinois Central rail-
road, to strike a stunning blow at Mrs.
Fish through her husband and pay off
socia! ores
1t was then easy for the two wives
to influence the action of their hus-
bands and make matters of finance
s-ubservient to those of a social nature.
It was also, however, necessary to pre-
serve secrecy, and it was not until Har-
riman was ready to spring his surprise
that Mr.. Fish learned that he had beer
undermined. He counted upon botn
Colonel Astor and Mr.. Vanderbilt as
voters for him when the board of direc-
tors met to elect q president, n it was
not until the meeting yesterday thai
their real attitude toward him became
known to the outside world.
Another Cause of Enmity.
Hartman had a score of another kind
to nav. and at the saTne time an oppor-
tunity to realize his ambition to gaiH