The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-09
From Rodnldn to President
OfAmelicd'. Great Railroad

| Another proof that this is demo-
cratic country and that the highest Of
fees are open to the humblest if they
have the ability to rise to their oppor-
tunities has just been furnished by the
Pennsylvania railroad. 1t is not so
long ago. within the memory of many
officials Of the Pennsylvania, that
James McCrea, who has just succeeded
to the mantle Of A. ]. Cassatt, was
onls plain Jim McCrea, and figured
on the salary list of the road as rod
man."
| He was a good rodman, a hard
worker He has been the same in every
other position he has held in the forty
one years he has served the road.
The character of result achieved by
the tall, muscular, silent, gruff spoken
"Jim" made him a marked man be-
fore he had been a rodman for two
years. Then came promotions. and
four presidents of the road took a
pleasure in aiding his ambitions. He
went up, up, up through the stages of
engineer, superintendent of various
divisions, general manager of various
roads, fourth vice president, third vice
president, second vice president and
/ first vice president.
| His election to the presidency of the
had been known for a long time that
he was President Cassatt's preference,
and for a couple of years prior to his
death Mr.. Cassatt had been grooming
McCrea for the place.
! This was not alone friendship on the
nized in Mr.. McCrea the one kind of
man who never failed in any task i'm
posed on him by the road. He could
carry along the huge projects Mr.. Cas-
satt had planned, there need be no pam
ic when Mr.. Cassatt passed, provided
the steady hand of Jim" McCrea took
the throttle.
That happened, and the wisdom OF
the choice is shown in the complete
absence of even a furry in the stock
market.
! A Relentless Worker.
There is no particular romance in
the story OF this man, big mentally
and physically. His success has not
proceeded from strokes of daring. OF
from sudden inspirations. Hard, re-
llentless work has been the only system
he knew.
Even those Pittsburg friends who
have known him as neighbor fol
many years, and who love to speak
iof him as man with heart as big
as his frame. who loves his follow man
and lacks the luxury of a single enc
|my, never have been quite able to fully
grasp his character. Though he is one
of the biggest Of many big men who
shave lately come out of the Smoky
City, he is little known to the city at
large.
\ His life divided itself between work
and his home. This is in itself not
such an unusual circumstance, there
are all too many who from reticence
shun society or who have not the arts
or inclination to enjoy it. even after
business has removed all need of hard
work.
This was the riddle about McCrea.
HE Stunned social functions, yet, when
drawn into them he shOne as a star.
His fine physique, quick wit. and
Astounding good fellowship. made him
Immensely popular, and had ne wished
Mr.. McCrea could have attained polit-
ical or social distinction. But McCrea
llnew only one love-the Pennsylvania
railroad--and found more pleasure in
serving it than in other forms of ac-
tivity or diversion.
That is the sole reason why few
days ago directors elected him to the
place made vacant by the death of Mr..
Cassatt.
McCrea's Recreations.
| Mr.. McCrea belonged to clubs in
Pittsburg-the Duquesne, Pittsburg
Club, Country Club and Pittsburg
Golf club In New York he is a MEM
Der of the Union League; in Chicago,
of the Chicago club, and in the Quaker
City, where now he takes his residence
he is a member of the conservative
and aristOcratic old organization, the
Philadelphia club.
AS a sportsman the new president
knows only two hobbies-horses and
golf. He owns half a dozen thorough
breds, and thinks nothing too good
for them.
| On the links of the Pittsburg Golf
club Mr.. McCrea, tall and powerfully
built, his bushy and somewhat forbid
ding whskers a target for the wind,
was long a figure that will now be
missed. In his pursuit of golf he gen
orally has had for company his daugh-
ter, Miss Ada McCrea, a beautiful
young woman of %.
! Mr.. McCrea also has two sons, both
of whom have made business successes
James A. McCrea, the elder, IS general
manager of the Long Island railroad
and Archibald NJ McCrea is president
of the Pittsburg Spring company.
| III. .or- hood of tho Pennsylvania