The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-08-11
A Great Leader Deposed.
Charlotte Observer.

W. oiit VINO VIEWS WlUn proper
interest the development of American
industry can fail to experience regret
that George Westinghouse has been
+ nusted from the Westinghouse Elec-
/ trio and Manufacturing C0mpanv's
presidency. At Il meeting of the
directors in New York Edward F.
Atkins OF Boston was elected as his
! temporary successor until a per-
manent selection shall be made. 1t
! seems that there had been strong
! friction between Mr.. Westinghouse
and the directors for more than two
years, eliminating in an open break
between him and Chairman Robert
Mather recently. When the panic of
i 1907 broke out the Westinghouse
company was doing business on Il
scale which strained it's financial re-
sources to the limit. Caught over
extended, it was forced into a re-
ceivership OF fourteen months dura-
ton. ReOrganized in December, 1908.
the company, led by bond holders
committee. made Mr.. Mather chair
man Of the board of directors, with
supervision of finances as his special
with Mr.. Westinghouse, who from
~" cnnpany's earliest inception had
been having charge of the financial
as we'll as the operating manage
meat and who WIS not disposed to
linqush his authority. Mr.. West
inghuuse cGmplainnd in IL circular
letter to the Stockholders three weeks
ago that Mr. MAther Was making it
difficult for him 'to exercise the duties
OF all official except when specifically
required by the board" Another
statement was to the effect that 81
have naturally opposed Mr.. Mather's
efforts to eliminate me from respon-
sible positions, and harr. when [
thought the interest of the company
required, also opposed and voted
against some of his recommendation
to the board. the CARRYING out of
which would involve loss either in
money or prestige" However, Mr..
Westinghouse did not from under
take contest with the directorate for
control. He is now out after quar-
ter OF a century of almost absolute
| dominion over the company.
George Westinghouse's invention
of the airbrake and automatic rail-
way signals has been very largely
instrumental in rendering modern
railroad service possible. Alternating
current electrical machinery, which
he introduced into this country
against general opposition, has rem
dered possible the development of
hydro-electricp power for long distance
transmission. He has made many
other inventions, and innumerable
improvements, in gas and steam en-
gines and electrical machinery. He
built the great generators at Niagara
Falls and also those for the elevated
railway and rapid-transit system in
New York. Unlike the generality of
the men whose inventions mark eras,
he had capacity for business organi-
zation and industrial leadership.
Under his management the Westing
house Electric and Manufacturing
Company, with its affiliated corpora
tions, became one of the greatest in
dustriaf concerns in the world, estab-
fishing works in England, Germany
and France. He has received decora-
tions from several foreign govern
ments. The Westinghouse interests
in the aggregate have about $75,-
100000 capital and employ twenty
thousand people. At the period of
his forced retirement George We sting
hOuse-he WAS born, II country boy
of good German stock, in Schoharie
county, New York, studying at Union
College (Schnectady( for two years as
his most important period OF educa-
tion-is only GA years old.
We are not in a position to declare
just what might be the rights and
wrongs of the Westinghouse COM
pany's dispute Perhaps, as often
happens with enterprises on the large
modern scale, it simply outgrew one
man power while it's founder refused
to recognize that division of labor
in directing it had become necessary.
At all events, we hope that an ample
field for the exercise of his abilities
will still be found. The man who has
not only done great things for HIM
self but taught and inspired
countless younger men to go out and
do them deserves we'll of his country