Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20
TX.
The Race to the Slow.


Adair's prophecy that President Col
BIRTH would prove himself an obstructor
OF he stubbornest was amply fulfilled
during the short interval which remained
for decisive action. Truly in the battle
FOR business celebrity the odds were three
TO one against Mr.. Colbrith: yet the three
were as those who buffet the wind. The
president must see and feel know and
fully understand; and at the very last
moment. when the shortest of the op-
tons had no more than an hour to live.
he was proposing to summon General
Manager North from Denver to make a
fifth in The council of discord.
1t was Adair who took the bull by the
horns when the presidents caution was
about 20 turn victory into defeat. What
was said or done after the young man
drew Mr.. Colbrith into the private COM
mttee room at the bank and shut the
door. Ford and Kenneth. who were ex-
cluded, could only surmise. But what
ever was done was well done. When the
two. uncle and nephew. came out of the
room of privacy, the old man was shak-
ing his head and the young man was
smiling serenely. So it came about that
between II and Il o'clock, when Ford
grimly battling to the last. fought as one
a
opened the doors upon the new creation
five million dollars more or less. changed
hands. and the Pacific Southwestern took
the long leap eastward from the Mis-
souri, river to It's new base in Chicago.
It's you for the hustle now, Ford,
said Adair. linking arms with the en-
gineer when the quartet left the bank
How soon do you think you can get that
first trainload Of grain In transit"
Il wish ] could tell YOU, said Ford.
why can't you!"
Because it will depend very largely
upon the authority Mr.. Colbrith or the
board sees fit to give me. At present
you will remember. I am still only divi-
sion superintendent-Mr North's subordi-
nate. in fact, and
Say 1t out loud" encouraged Adair
Il don't like to, but / suppose 1t can
be helped. Up to now / have been acting
under special orders, as you may say. IN
a purely financial transaction. But my
commission expired five minutes ago wher
the stock deal went through. When II
comes to issuing orders In the operating
ard transportation department l have nc
authority whatever. Mr.. North Is genera
manager. and l suppose his jurisdiction
will now be extended 10 cover the new
line. won't it?"
Not much" retorted the amateur pro
moter. you are going 10 be given free
hand in this from the word go. From
what l can learn. North has been an OBJ
struCtor all along. hasn't hep
Il can't say that" said Ford. just ever
to an enemy. TO be right honest about
IT. shall have 20 confess that slurrec
him entirely-went over his head"
For good reasons. no doubt. only you
are too charitable to give them. Neve,
mind; | say. you are going to have q
free hand. This is your pie and nobody
else is going to cut it for you" AND
when the party reached the hotel there
was another conference of two behinc
closed doors. in which Ford and the gen
eral counsel did not participate.
An hour later. when Adair came dowr
from the presidents room. he thrust q
sheaf OF penciled printers copy into
FOrd's hands.
There you are he said. I've done
the best l could for you on such short
notice--with Uncle Sidney trying his leve
best to get a cross reference to the boart
before taking action. Get these circular.