New-York tribune., 1906-11-06
HARTMAN HAS BOARD.
J.. ]. ASTOR SIGNED CALL.
Harahan HM Probably Be Presi-
dent of Illinois Central.

stuvvesant Fish. president OF the Illinois Cen
tral Railroad Company. returned to this city
Yesterday from Chicago. where he had gone on
Friday night. He declined 10 make any state
rnent on the subject, which was the chief topic
Of Wall Street discussion. Of the probable action
10 be taken by the board OF directors tomorrow
a. their special meeting to elect officers for the
coming year Mr.. Hartman was equally un-
communicative. 4 banker closely identified with
Mr Hartman said. however:
There is no contest for control. It is purely a
question Of policy whether Mr.; f1sn WIN De de-
eide TO retain him for time, and nope that
they do so decide. I think you VIII hnd, when
the affair has blown over, that the majority
rartv in the board also has controlling inter
est i'm the stock You cannot state too positively
that there is no personal animosity toward Mr.
Fish on the -Srt Of Mr.. Hartman. do not
j,royr that MI F4sh's feelings toward Mr. Har-
r.n2an are. Mr.. Hartman is animated only by
one motive in this matter. and that is the pest
interests Of both railroads concerned
IN view Of this reference 10 both railroads
Il may be interesting to recall the woros OF
William Nelson Cromwell. who as Mr.. Har1l-
mans representative. took a prominent part IN
the annual meeting of the Illinois Central stocK-
holders last month. Mr.. Cromwell in a state
rnent made after the meeting, said:
The suggestion of Union Pacific being in con-
troll Is farce and 2 hugaboo. The board OF dl-
rectors are thirteen IN number, with the Gov
eruor % the State of Illinois at their nead. II II
IS a board composed Of gentlemen OF strong
Individuality. and il is ridiculous 70 suppose
that three or four of their nunoer Woulo cOI-
tT5I the destinles OF the Illinois Central
The assertion that the majority party in the
hoard has also a controlling interest in the
stock is news TO Wall Street, as il has been
generally understood that the stock favorable
tc the Hartman party. counting that borrowed
u, 1ff
per cent Of the total stock. but it is by no
means an unprecedented thing for the owner
ship Of large blocks Of a corporations stock TO
be successfully concealed. That the majority OF
The board Is with AIr. Hartman there seems TO
b- 10 doubt Il has all along been assumed that
The men who signed the paper presented to Mr..
FisA at the annual meeting. calling on him TO
elec, Henry ". De Forest n director to fill the
vacancy caused by the death OF W. Morton
GrinaelL would At the organization meeting
Of The new board vote for The nominee of Mr..
Hartman for the presidency, whoever that man
might be
They are. in addition TO Mr.. Hartman him
self John II. AUchincloss. Charles A. Peabody.
president Of the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pauy who has been Mr. Harriman's principal
assistant in the contest with Mr.. Fish; R. w.
Goelet. Walther Luttgen. OF August Belmont &
Co, Cornelius Vanderbilt. and J. T Harahan.
second vice-president Of the company. who
signed the De Forest paper few minutes before
the stockholders meeting was convened, and
vino, II is believed in Chicago and in this city,
is Mr. Harriman's choice for the Office ad-
ministered for nearly twenty years by Mr.. Fish
There has been since the stockholders meet
ing some question as TO the party with which
Mr. Harahan would align himself when It came
TO the election OF officers hut that uncertainty
would seem 10 be dispelled. The call for
the special meeting Of the board tomorrow
which was dated on October 81, but was not
issued until November g. after President Fish
had left New York for the West. required the
signatures OF only two directors but received
several others.
The first two signatures, however, II Is learned
were those Of Mr.. Harahan. who made a flying
trip 70 this city last week and John Jacob
Astor. who heretofore has been classed in all
forecasts Of the lineup Of the board as among
NJ. Fisl's supporters. Colonel Astor therefore.
as well as Mr. Haralan, may be expected TO
vote at the meeting tomorrow in favor OF Mr..
Harriman's policies.
John {. yelling, first vice-p president Of the
Illinois Central, whose loyalty 10 President Fish
IS beyond question. is so i'll that It is impossible
for him TO leave his home in Chicago. Charles
NJ. Beach. who also lives in another city, is ex-
pected 70 be present at to-morrow's meeting; and
II is probable that Governor Deneen OF Illinois
a director oficio. will make the Journey to
New York, embarrassing it will be for him
70 leave his state on Election Day. James Dew
Cutting, elected last month as successor TO the
late Mt Grinnell, completes the list Of directors
who. it IS expected, will support President Fish
in the meeting That is TO say. assuming that
al o. the directors except Mr. yelling be pres
ent Nj Hartman will probably have eight
votes and Mr.. Fish four when the ballots are
cast for the election OF president and other Off
GERS for the coming year
II ls not definitely known whether or not Mr
Fish, II he fails Of reelection as president viii
retlre from the board OF directors His friends
oelleVe' however, that he viii not. His term
expires next October when the terms Of Mr.
Hartman ard Colonel 49, -~ u ~