The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-11
NORFOLK LAWYER
TO Be PRESIDENT
OF A., F. P. ROAD


~ persisted in their purpose to ignore
the minority and onnrm It's own selec-
hon Of a president.
To havo done this IN the face Of the
njunction would have put the men In
contempt OF court. Whether the State
actually disclosed this cudgel II was hold
ing or kept the fact OF ius possession ir
Reserve. Is not positively known. II was
openly stated az the time that the state
would adopt retal!1tOry tactics. II neces-
sdry. Just what the injunction restrained
ne representatives OF the holding COM
pany from doing or attempting could not
- ascertaincd. II was understood. how
Ner. that the courts mandate was sim
% iul force and effect yesterday. had IL
Deen deemed necessary % invoke II to
protect what tho minority conceived to
b Its interest ia the matter.
Another interesting phase Of tho con-
ference ana n4e canvass OF tho situation
i"f "a mutually acceptable man for the
halfway presidency. is tho fact that the
post was rendered 10 tho Hon. Alien
~@perton hraNton. at n salary Of $1,000.
out tho profer was conditioned upon his
aeyotlng his entire time 20 the business
ana ivnE up his law practice. This he
was unwilling 10 dO. and as the railway
representative made this uroplao "a con-
u4uon or ITS approval OF his selection. his
ntme could no longer DO considered.
Tho chief spokesman for tho railway
Interests was the Hon. Alexander Ham
uion' OF Petersburg. general counsel FOR
me Atlantic Coast Line ard also vice
president ~ that system My. Hamilton
hnd himself been pronered the position.
put could not anord 10 give up his double
connection with tho Coast Line.
Nr. Alfred j.. Thorn. general counsel
lor the Southern Railway. and eN-JudEe
LTsh r Watts. Of Portsmouth. general
tolnsel for the Scahoard Air Line. were
also said Co Doc active In tie conference.
in fact. tne other three roads-the Penn
ylvania, the Chcaapeakc and Ohio and
lhe Baltimore ard Ohio-apparently gave
place tD ths thrce Virginia roads whose
attorneys have been named. The Coast
Line. the scaboard and tho Southern.
9"n hale ~ tac lfty-two per cent. OF the
stock Of the holding company.
The suggestion ~ Mr.. Brexton for the
presidency les o. peculiar interest. by rea-
son ~ nls prominent and suli active con-
1+cuou with the movement by the state
Cor the regulation ~ public service cor
2orauons
Mr. braXtou was the author ~ the
article creating "a Corporation Commis-
Hon. which was done by the state Con-
Convention Of 1000 S ncs
ihat time be has been prominent On the
construction % tle provisions of this ar
1cie. and IN defending its constitution
Atty against the combined ASSAULT II
tAe eminent attorneys represeuruz the
-o-st Lane and Southern and the Sea-
Board. and other lines Only recently.
Ard. indeed. up 70 and including the pres
snt, Mt EraNton has been retained by
iae state in conjunction with its At
pnrue}-Gcne~a 81 AN cTort 20 enforce tho
orders of tle Corporation Commiss on IN
Zee matter ~ the Justification of rail-
gay fre.eht rates proposed by n.
In this capacity Afr. E-axton has been
a tow'c o. strength 20 ths state and a
stumbl.nE block 20 the railways IN their
trorts 70 prevent tie enforcement OF
le rates proposed IL may be a mere
fo~lncidence. and not a Consequence. that
ae railways most interested and most
actve IN tris matter should nave sgreed
2n Mr Hra1ton as a railroad president.
Interesting Situation.
Z u De a mere coincidence Il IS IN
Seed a peculiar and Interesting one.
Naen the fact e considered in this con
nection thnt che railways stipulated that
ln event % his acceptance q the railway
presidency Ar. BrLItou must devote hiH
Ertine time 20 10. and. therefore must
give Ut his law [acuce. the coincidence
becomes more than r~euarkabis. Wheth-
~ by accident OF design. 4, would have
been q brilliant coup FOR the railways
Interested had the eminent lawyer r.
ferred 70 given Up his practice and en-
tered the railway business as an eUecu-
officer.
Nobocy who knows him doubts that he
would make on excellent one, had hs ac-
cepoed. But he was unwilling 70 give up
tfe procession "a which hs has achieved
such distinction.
Il is also interesting % state that Mr..
BrnNton has been frequently suggested
as the los7cal candidate FOR the United
states Senate IN the event or the retire
ment % either Of the present Senators.
Indeed Il Is believed THAI such a recogni-
tion OF his services and abilities would le
highly appreciated by him. He has him
sell admitted that the senatorship IS an
honor which no man can aford 20 despise
when II comes 20 him without seh-seek-
ing. Just what eject the acceptance OF
a railroad presidency might have upon
tho future senatorial prospects Of Mr..
Braxton Is matter for conjecture. but
there are those who believe that Il would
be Tfhculr. II not impossible. Tor a rail-
road president 70 be chosen therefor.