New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-01-18
NEW PLACE FOR LOEB
HEAD OF TRACTION LINE.
Presidents Secretary to Haze Charge
of Washington System.
Irrcn The Tribune Bureau

washington Jan. 17-Secretary William
Loeb. ir will be elected tomorrow member
If the board of directors Of the Washington
Railway & Electric Company, and within two
or three DAYS at the latest will in all probability
he made president CT the local traction syndi-
cate II the slate goes through without great
opposition his friends are now assured it
will Mr. Loeb may leave his place at the White
House within a short time
Although the 'Hibbs-Loeb crowd as the sec
retary's following is called. has been proclaim
ing victory for its slate during the last two or
three weeks. it was not really assured Of the
necessary votes until late last night An active
campaign for proxies has been carried on pri-
xately and through the newspapers. and the
slogan Of local control has been used for all it
was worth.
Until the very last moment Mr.. Loeb's friends
were fearful that the stockholders in New York.
VINO own a formidable block Of shares. would
succeed in breaking the slate. They kept up a
bold front, nevertheless and talked loudly Of the
thousands of votes they had to spare. They
really did not need any more proxies at all, but
for the sake Of encouraging the local board, al
ready as good as elected, with splendid, over
whelrning vote of confidence they would like TO
roll up the majority large possible AT
midnight last night the managers Of the Hibbs-
Loeb campaign met in office on 18th street
and proceeded TO count up their votes. TO their
intense satisfaction, they found they had a safe
majority, and early this morning communicated
the good news TO Secretary Loeb
Although the secretary is not talking for
publication about what he will or will not DO
when he is elected president of the railway
syndicate. il is understood that he VIII hoIo
himself ready to leave the White House on
very short notice. His Office is so well or
zanized that the work can go on without
hitch were he 10 absent himself at any time
II the secretary were to select ms own lILlls
of leaving. he would probably remain with the
administration through the present session OF
Congress and would sever his official connec-
rion with the White House about the time the
President leaves for his summer vacation at
oyster Bay. next June. If the board Of d.
rectors which elects him TO the headship Of the
corporation is willing, Mr.. Loeb may remain
at the White House until spring before assum-
Ing his new Office
Speculation over MI. Loeb's successor has not
travelled far from the White House. If the
President names his new secretary in the order
OF succession at the executive Office the place
viii 90 TO Rudolph Forster. now assistant sec
Rotary MI Forster has been in the executive
Office for many years. He was appointed from
the District Of Columbia
Morris c Iatta Of Oklahoma, assistant sec
rotary is next in rank is great favorite with
the President, and is probably much better
known 70 the general public than Mr.. Forster
He has been for several years the constant
clerical attendant of the President upon his
iou-neyfngs about the country. and the picture
Of his tall angular figure and strong, smooth
face is almost as familiar that Of the Presi-
dent