The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-03
James Campbell Elected Head Of the
North American Of ST. Louis
Which is Interested in the
keokuk Water Pawer.
CAMPBELL is THE MAN
Laclede Gaslisht Company viii Also
Elect New President This
Month to Take the Place
Of John I. Begss.

ST. LOUIS Dec 3.-The election
of James Campbell of ST. Louis to be
president of the North American Com
pany, which occurred in New York
City yesterday at a special meeting OF
the Board of Directors, will in no way
effect the present independent rela-
tions of the Laclede Gaslight Company
and the Union Electric Light and
Power Company, according to mem
Der Of the Leclede syndicate, who
discussed Mr.. Campbell's election yes
'terday
Mr.. Campbell succeeds C. w Wet
more as president of the North Ameri-
can, the latter being appointed special
| advisor to the board and will con
tinue as a director Mr.. Campbell has
been director in the North American
for several years, and is also a direc-
4 tor in the United Electric and Laclede
Gaslight companies. The Laclede Gas
light Company recently withdrew
from the North American, following
the purchase of its stock by syndi-
cate of st. Louis capitalists, with
Adolphus Busch at the head.
Of the Laclede Gas'ight Company has
been called here for December rs, and
, 1t is probable that at that time a new
president of this corporation will be
chosen to succeed John I. Beggs The
! presidency Of the Laclede has been
4 rendered to WI. k Bixby, who has not
made known whether he will accept
the position,
Directors Of the I.acledo Gaslight
Com not admit, however, that
III rcan tt;et bet n cen sssgs
terdayss efeotion Of Mr. Campbell siid
the selection of Mr.. Campbell and tfls
selection Of Mr.. Bixby as head OF the
gas company. Mr. Campbell's memr
bership in the North American direc-
torate. as we'll as in the Laclede Gas
light company directorate will not af-
. feet Mr.. Bixbys election, it is explains
ed
G.. w. Wetmore, who retires from
the presidency OF the North American,
has served as the head of the corpor-
alton for the last sixteen years III
health is given as the cause of his re.
tirement
The North American Company con
e trolls the Union Electric Light and
o Power Company of st. Louis, the
II United. Railways Company of St
u Louis and the street railways and
e lighting plants of Milwaukee, the
lie home of John ] Beggs
e. Mr.. Campbell has been recently ar
d. advocate of ST Louis ownership of ST
e. Louis public service corporations, al
is though few months ago he was act
Is i've in trying to sell the Laclede Com
81 pany to the American Light and Trac
tion Company, of which Emerson Nc
st Millin is head. Later he aligned him
ge self with the ST Louis syndioat,
sk headed by Adolphus Busch, G. H
a Walker, w X Bixby, C. Fl. Huttis
Thomas II. West and others, whicl
IN purchased the Laclede from th'
ri. North American interests.
lis Campbell is said to have been tn
ay real financial power for years in thu
m North American Company. His eles
ton as head of the concern will meal
- that all the public service corpora
- tions of St Louis will ultimately b
= directed by men in this city.
;, Mr. Campbell is also interested i
= the St Louis and San Francisco Raj
-. way Company in its recent separation
from the Rock Island system, whic
0 will result in this railway company
81 system being owned in st. Louis.