The Washington times., 1910-03-06
James I. Harahan Will
Cease to Be Head of
Illinois Central.
ROOM is PROVIDED
FOR YOUNGER MAN
Position of Chairman of Board
Directors Given to
Him.

NEW YORK, March g. - James T
Harahan, president of the Illinois Cen
traI railroad. will retire from that Of
fee To be made chairman of the board
Of directors at the meeting here Wednes-
day. Such is the report current in
railroad circles.
It IS not quite plain whether Mr..
Harahan is To resign voluntarily or
whether he is TO be forced out Of the
position he nls held since he succeeded
Stuyvesant Fish on November Z, 1906,
at a stormy meeting held in New York.
when Edward II. Hartman was the
leading spirit in Illinois Central affairs.
That Mr. Harahan is not to be thrown
out unceremoniously. as was the case
with Mr.. Fish. is indicated in the fact
that ne will suiI have at least a nominal
official connection with the railroad
property with which he has been identi-
fed for a score Of years. As chair
man Of the board he will rftire with
honor: from the executive office.
II is intimated that Mr Harahan is
aware Of the program of next Wedncs-
day, and that &C will yield gracefully
10 any action .nat may be taken at that
time.
Rumors of Dissatisfaction.
The repor, received here carries the
information h. some Of the more i'm
portant interests IN the Illinois Central
have beer dissatisfied with the way the
property mas Laen managed Of late under
the leadership of Mr. Harahan. These
interests believe the future of the ROAD
will better he conserved with "a younger
and more vigorous man in charge.
In this connection IL IS said that i'm
pOrtaut Eastern interests have had an
erniSsary in the West, taking thorough
stock of the condition of the road. physi-
Callv and otherwise, and that this ennis
SaTv reported that there were signs of
decentralization thai could not be over
looked or passed by.
MT. HaTahau Is SiNty-Seven years
OF age He is not SO hale as he was
few years ago, and seems 10 have lost
some Of the VlEOr that chara cteTlZed his
earlier connection with the Illinois Cen
trail
Starts As Switchman.
He began lds railroad career as a
switchman at Alexandra. Va. in 1854,
while the civil war was still raging.
After an uninterrupted railroad service
in the South and East he went TO the
Illinois Central I'm 1890. being made sec
ond vice president For sixteen years
he was in charge OF the operating and
traffic departments and made a notable
record as an executive and developer OF
business.
When he became president four years
ago Mr Hartman said in an interview
that the question Of the future policy
Of the road was up to Nr. Harahan.
There was no outward sign of friction
between these two old friends prior 20
the death OF Mr. Hartman. and II has
been generally supposed here that Mr..
Horahan was an executive satisfactory
10 the interests now in active control
The recent canvass Of the situation.
however, led the Eastern and biz West
ripe for change i'm the presidency
Considering His Successor.
It has not been ascertained here who
is to succeed Mt. Harahan. II is not
even known that a man has been defn-
itely decided upon. but it is understood
the selection will have been made be-
fore next Wednesday so that the new
program may be completed at the ses-
sion in New York
One report had IL that Mr.. F. a De-
ianO was TO become the Illinois Central
head. but that story is semi-OfflCialIv
frey, president Of the Denver and Rio
Grande, also has been used, but a re-
port that he might be chosen is discred-
tied by men who ought TO know
What the character or extent is Of
the alleged Generalization Of the man
agement of the road is not clear. but
that there shOCld be a more aggres-
sive administration is agreed.