The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-11-15
HARaHAN REPLIES
TO CRITICISMS
Doesn't Like Fish's Structures
on illinois Central
Says Things Fish Complains OF, He
Advocated as President OF the
System.
MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS

NhlCdbo, nov. ia ciiNut"i ~
ter. containing several rather strong
and convincing statements has been
mailed to the stockholders OF the
Illinois Central railroad by President
J. +. Harahau. II is regarded as
reply to the many statements made
by Stuyyesant Fish In his efforts to
secure the e,cetion of his candidates
as directors. and Mr. Ilarahan uses
some very foroeful language. While
he has RETAINED from using 1.-The
shorter but uglicr word" the result
Is the same. lie says Mr. Fish has
made untruthful statements and
knew he was far from the facts when
he made them.
Mr.. Harahan Is quite vigorous IN
his denuncation of Mr.. Fish's efforts
TO cause The stockholders TO fear for
the welfare Of the Illinois Central,
and plainly says that the things Nj
Fish so yehcmently objects to vera
ali done during Mr.. Fish's incumben-
cy of the Presidents chair and with
his knowledge. consent and enthu'
slastic approval
The tone of the circular, while
quite dgnlied and earnest. Is not
calculated TO cause cessation OF
hustlltics Mr.. Harahan appears To
take the ground that the fight Is be-
tween the directors and Mr.. Fish, and
that as q business proposition the
stockholders will profit more by send
ing their proxies to him than TO Mr..
Fish. In fact. he touches the pocket
book and eliminates sentiment.
The circular states that the traffic
interchange With the Union Pacific
and Southern Pacific Is vastly more
beneficial 20 The Illinois Central than
II Is TO the other two lines The Hi
nols Central was built into Omaha
by Mr. Fish TO secure a portion OF
the interchange business or the Union
Pacific, and because OF the relations
now existing. and made by Mr.. Fish,
the Illinois Central Is given very
good share OF the trafiic. The Union
Pacific has several excellent outlets
east bound from Omaha and need not
give a pound Of freight to the Illinois
Central. while the Illinois Central has
no western connection but the Union
Pacific al Omaha. A severance of
close traffic relations would result ia
a reduced revenue for the Illinois
Central.
The Interchange at New Orleans Is
almost a parallel case. North bound
the Southern Pacific can give IL
through business 10 two other
through lines and leave the Illinois
Central with only its own business.
while the Illinois Central would be
compelled TO give the Southern Pa
cific the through western business 1t
takes into New Orleans, without
corresponding return. At that. Mr.
Harahan makes the direct statemtnt
that the business received from the
Union Pacific and the Southern Pa
clfc is much greater than that given
both lines by the Illinois Central.
In speaking of the various com
modities that the Illinois Central
transport and its diversified destina-
tlons. Mr.. Harahan makes the claim
that It would be impossible for the
officers of the Illinois Central to
make any tariff alliances with any
line which would divert this original
/ing traffic from its natural channels.
The records OF the interchange with
the Union Pacific and Southern Paci-
nc show that they gave The Illinois
Central 46 per cent more business
than they received during the past
six years. All of this business could
have been routed by other lines, If
the Pacific roads had so desired.
The circular dwells upon Mr..
Fish's accusations of the juggling Of
accounts and his questioning of the
June net earnings. Mr.. Harahan
shows by Mr.. Fishs instructions that
in June, 1906, a large sum was
charged to expenses in order to clear
mn outstanding matters, and that be-
cause of better handling during the
succeeding year, each month bore It's
proportionate share of expenses,
leaving big increase for June, 1907
as against June. 1906, but an in
crease that was earned and properly
accounted for.
Mr.. Harahan appears to take very
seriously the reflections OF Mr.. Fish
upon the accounting officers aud
their methods and makes 1t appear
that Mr.. Fish is criticising, without
warrant or reason, men in whom he
hitherto has had the greatest con-
dence and methods which were
stamped with his approval. Mr.. Hara
han insists that men and methods
are not changed and that Mr.. Fish's
charges are deliberate mis-ssate.
ments.
1t is understood that other state
ments and charges of Mr.. Fish Will
be discussed in circulars to be issued