Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-24
TRIBUTE IS PAID
SPENCER, FIRST HEAD.
OF SOUTHERN ROAD
Bronze Figure Is Unveiled Be-
fore Great and Distinguished
ASSembIage Gathered in the
Plaza of Terminal Station
HIS LITTLE GRANDCHILD
UNVEILS THE MONUMENT

Berore an audience which filled every
seat and packed the plaza in front OF
the Terminal station, the bronze monu-
ment, erected to the late Samuel Spen-
! Ger, first president of the Southern rail-
way, by the $4,000 employees of that sys-
tenn. was unveiled with impressive cere-
monial yesterday afternoon.
Leading men OF the railway world. Of
public, business and professional life.
paid tribute to the dead railroad build
/ er, and a child of 4, Violet Spencer.
daughter of H. B. Spencer, and Mr..
Spencer's grandchild. pulled the cord
which unveiled the statue.
The statue is in bronze. and was execu-
ted by Daniel Chester French. It stands
to the right of the entrance Of the plaza,
and faces the station, whose site Mr..
| Spencer himself chose.
The exercises were graced by the pres
ence of many women, and the gathering
was a distinguished one, representing not
only the leaders of business, profess
sional and social life of this city, but of
| other sections as we'll. Present at the
exercises were Mrs. Spencer, widow of the
| president. and her family and grandchil-
| dren.
The exercises opened promptly at 2
| o'clock.
They were opened by J. w. Connolly,
OF Washington, D. c., chief special agent
| and chairman of the committee of en-
| ployes that raised the funds for the
| building Of the monument. Mr.. Connolly
introduced J. 8. B. Thompson. OF At
lanta, assistant to the president who pre-
| sided. Mr.. Connolly said: ..
MR.. CONNOLLY SPEAKS.
| sIadias and Gantlarnan. We hava mat
here today to do honor to the memory of
our beloved first president Samuel Spen-
| Ger.
"It would be impossible to say who
| first suggested the erection OF this mon
ument. Within few days after the death
I, Of Mr.. Spencer, suggestions for the erec-
ton Of a suitable memorial were received
by the management from individual en-
ployes. The idea spread spontaneously.
It was taken up IN meetings Of employees
| and resolutions were adopted. The man.
| agement gave the movement its hearty
approval on condition that contributions
| should be made freely and voluntarily.
The movement took shape In the organ
ization Of a general committee of employ
es of which I had the honor OF serving
as chairman. From the start its sue
| cess was assured. A plan was devised
which gave every employee from presi-
| dent down an opportunity to contribute
4 I'm proportion to his wages. The neces-
sary funds being raised and the monu-
| ment having been carried to a success
| full conclusion, wish to thank all Of my
fellow-employes, and especially those who
served with me on the general commit
| tee, for their support and cooperation.
| 1--WE have erected monument that Is
| q fitting testimonial of the high regard
in which our first president was held by
the entire body of employees. Our task
is done, and I now have the pleasure Of
| presenting to you, as the presiding officer
4 on this occasion, one who needs no in
| PRODUCTION to this audience, Mr.. ]. B. S.
| Thompson"
| Mr. Thompson then introduced Bishop
| c. K Nelson, who offered prayer. Then
| Mr.. Thompson introduced the orator of
| the occasion, Judge Alexander P.
| Humphrey, Of Louisville. general counsel
| for the road Mr.. Thompson said that no
( better choice could have been made. for
1 Mr. Humphrey was the intimate friend
/ Of Mr.. Spencer, as well as his railway
associate Thus he could speak not only
Of Mr.. Spencer's great material services
| to the south, but as we'll Of his personal
| characteristics.
WE'RE STUDENTS TOGETHER.
| Judge Humphrey said that he and Mr.
/ Spencer were students together at the
University of Virginia 40 years ago. They
|
| but were thrown together and began Il
friendship which was to last for years
to come. In 1894 they renewed their
friendship.
And yet, when all is said and DONE"
said the speaker, 1.-The statue here tells in
the simplest and most effective way the
story of Mr.. Spencer"
The speaker then repeated extracts
from the last message from Mr.. Spencer
to the south the speech he delivered at
the Georgia School of Technology, in
which he told of the opportunities before
the south.
Mr. Spencer" said Judge Humphrey,
was born in Georgia. He taught in the
schools here; he fought here: he married
here and now on this occasion his wife
was here; his children and his children's
children.
Judge Humphrey then paid a tribute to
the growth of Atlanta, and said that it
was fitting that Mr.. Spencer's memory
should be paid tribute to here.
He then told of Mr.. Spencer's advance
ment to the high position he held at his
death: how he advanced from rodman to
the head of the Baltimore and Ohio; then
to the position of railroad expert in a
great banking house; then was chosen as
the first president of the Southern rail-
way. Mr.. Spencer foresaw the future of
the south. and Judge Humphrey told of
scattered forces of the road. and welding
them into one great system,
| WAS A KIND MAN.
But with all this, the speaker said.
Mr.. Spencer never vaunted material ad-
vancement above spiritual. He was a
kind man. He was born in the old order
and was a leader of the new. Yet he
never forsook the best of the old. He
held that railroads were entitled to jus
tice, although he admitted that they had
been guilty at times Of abuses. He fought
laws that seemed to him TO single out
railroads unjustly.
He built up trade. and finally his monu-
ment was erected on the spot he himself
had chosen.
At the conclusion of this tribute. which
was greeted with great applause. the
monument was unveiled. Little Miss Vio-
let Spencer, daughter OF II. B. Spencer,
and granddaughter of the late president
pulled the cord. and the bronze figure Of
her grandfather was revealed, while the
assemblage stood.
Mr. Thompson then explained the in
ception OF the movement which resulted
in the statue to Mr.. Spencer, and told