Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-10
Edward n. Hartman.

Edward III. Hartman was a pronounced
type OF the organizing American. He was
the logical successor in the railroad world
of Vanderbilt. OF Huntington, of Garrett,
of Scott. He was indeed the extreme
combination of the railroad amaIgamator,
the assembler Of properties rather than
the creator. In. his most successful activi-
ties he was a railroad politician, being
first a financier and second a manipu-
lator of properties on large scale.
MIR. Hartman was a seer of visions. but
with an intensely practical capacity for
realizing them. He was inspired, as are
all the great leaders in the industrial
world, by a concept of concentra ted
power. 1t was his ambition to become
the head of railroad system controlling
the transportation of the entire country
His successive acquisitions were animated
by this moving principle, the pursuit of
which he never RENTED even to the hour
Of his fatal illness, which undoubtedly
cut short the execution of plans for the
extension of the Hartman system" to
the seaboard by way of the New York
Central lines.
1t will remain for historians to deter
mine how far Mr.. Hartman benefited his
countrymen in the course of his opera
lions as a railroad politician. He was
working on the principle which underlies
the modern trust. He was a monopolist,
firm in the belief that monopoly is an
economic necessity, and singularly capable
of working his theories into practice. He
was thus in antagonism to the reform
spirit of the period, which has aimed at
the re-estabhshment of the doctrine of
competition.
Few men who appeared in our great af-
fairs during this era of remarkable ex-
pansion and development have been so
well equipped for the role of magnate.
Hartman was no aristocrat. He as
sumed no poses and took no particular in
terest in the public concept of his char
acter. He saw his own line clearly be-
fore him and followed it, but he did not
make the mistake of one of his predeces-
sors and consign the people to condemna-
ton.
Hartman was distinctly human. ele-
mentary in his tastes and modes of life,
deyotedly admired by those who were as
ISOLATED with him and clever in his under
standing of the public moods and lenses.
Naturally a secretive man, he confided
his plans to comparatively few. He was
shrewd judge of men. and although not
a SICdS ldiHodu duIllIniSlIdlOT III the
sense of personal competence to control
all the details of his many properties, he
was supremely great leader of men and
1t was this faculty that enabled him to
win his successive fights for the enlarge
ment of his holdings and the extension of
his power.
There will probably be no single sue
cessor to Hartman in the railroad world.
Many names have been suggested in this
connection, but whoever ascends to the
role Of president of the various railroad
corporations which comprise the Harri-
man system will be put to the supreme
test Of leadership. the ability to command
the unquestioning allegiance Of his forces
and to control the sources of wealth which
were at Harriman's disposal. Hartman
had won prestige, the one great asset
necessary for any leader and manipulation
OF properties.