The Washington herald., 1910-05-22
Southern Railway Employees
Honor Late President.
ATLANTA SCENE OF TERONG
Bronze Monument on Plaza of New
Terminal station Dedicated to
GeOrgia and Capital I'm Honor of
Native Son, Who Was Builder of
Great system-RaisinE the Fund.

heroic bronze statue or samuel Spen-
Ger. first president of the company, was
unveiled this afternoon at o'clock,
being presented TO the State of Georgia
and the city of Atlanta as the gift OF
10000 employees Of the system which is
the fruit OF his genius. The statue. which
shows Mr.. Spencer in a sitting posture.
on a pedestal of Tennessee marble. is on
the Plaza OF the Atlanta Terminal Sta
ton, facing the great passenger termi-
nal 1t is the work of Daniel Chester
French, one of the most famous Ameri-
can sculptors.
The cords which held the veil were
unIoosed by Mr.. Spencer's four-year-old
granddaughter. Violet Spencer, the daugh-
ter Of Henry b. Spencer.
Washington Man Speaks.
J. w. Connolly. OF Washington, y. c..
chairman of the general. committee Of
employees which raised the funds. after
prayer by RI. Rev. CIeland Kinloch Mel
son, Bishop Of Georgia. opened the ex-
ercises by introducing J. S. b. Thomp-
son. assistant 10 the president, as the
presiding officer. Mr.. Connolly told Of
the movement among the company's en-
ployes for the erection OF the monument
and in his address Mr.. Thompson. on
behalf Of the employees, thanked Mr.. Con-
nelly and the members of his committee
for their faithful and efficient work
Mr.. Thompson then presented President
w. W Finley. who presented the monu-
ment 10 the State Of Georgia and the
city OF Atlanta. Mr.. Finley said in
part:
This monument testifes not only 20
the high esteem in which President Spen-
Ger was held by his associates, but also
10 the loyalty Of the band Of employees
which he organized. and which his genius
directed in building Up and operating one
Of the greatest railway systems IN the
South. II symbolizes the ideal relation
between the manager of a railway sys-
tenn and those who serve under him.
each one in his particular sphere giving
TO the property the best service OF which
he is capable and cooperating with fel-
low employees 10 secure the best general
results. The management of the con-
pany appreciates at it's full worth the
spirit Of cooperative loyalty that per-
vades our organization and makes II one
that any man might be proud 20 lead.
II is an organization which, man for man,
I do not believe has its superior on any
railway in the United States It is an or
ganization in which men are constantly
showing high capacity. and In which va
cancies occurring in the service. includ-
ing the more responsible posts, are being
filed by promotion from the ranks.
Tribute to Mr. Spencer.
Mr.. Spencer was essentially an Or
ganizer and "A builder. Ills highest ambi-
ton was the development Of the Southern
Railway into a more efficient transporta-
ton system. thus making it a stu more
important factor in the upbuilding and
prosperity OF the South II was 10 this
problem that Mr.. Spencer was constantly
devoting the best energies Of his con
stru-tive mind, and as We, his SUCCESSORS
carry forward the great work he had
planned I believe that the people OF the
South will recognize, even more fully
than they do to-day. the inestimable
value 10 our entire section Of the crown
ing work Of his life"
Gov Joseph NJ Brown, on behalf OF
the State, and Mayor Robert F. Maddox,
speaking for the city, accepted the monu-
ment, both paying high tributes 70 Mr..
Spencer as a man and a. constructive
factor in the work of developing the
South.
The principal address was delivered by
Judge Alex. =. Humphrey. general coun-
sci for the Southern Railway Company
at Louisville, Ky. his subject being The
life and character Of Samuel Spencer. "
Judge Humphreys long and intimate
association with Mr.. Spencer, dating from
their student days at the University OF
Virginia, made ii peculiarly proper Tor
him to deliver this address.
After paying a high tribute 20 Mr
Spencer as a man, Judge Humphrey re-
viewed his career as a soldier of the
Confederacy, going from the college tc
the campfire. and after the surrender
back to college halls to complete his edu-
cation. He told OF his rise in tie rail-
road world. His steadfast convictions
in matters touching the relation OF raIl-
ways and the public were based on the
idea that railways should give and re-
ceive exact justice, and realizing the
great part to be played in the develop
ment of the Southern States by the rail
ways, he sought to impress the fact
that. exactly like other business enter
prises, they could not expect to attract
money from investors except upon the
promise Of adequate return. Summing
up the organization Of the Southern
Railway Company and the development
of the system as the crowning work OF
Mr.. Spencer's life. Judge Humphrey said
Crisis for the Builder.
In 1891 came the final call This was
to become the first president Of the
Southern Railway 1t was a task no less
grateful than difficult With an eye that
could look through the veil of the future
Samuel Spencer saw that this was but
a beginning. and that there was in this
his native State, and these other States
Of the South a promise and a potency
of industrial development undreamed OF
in the olden days. The need Of the hou,
was the creation Of a strong. compact
and coherent system Of transportation
which should bind together every State
south of the Potomac and the Ohio. from
the Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi
in confederacy of commerce, industry
and peace.
THE materials to his hand were nu-
merous short lines OF railroad, bankrupt
in credit, and Of whose track and equip
ment it could only be said that they
were fifty mated. There was also to be
met and satisfied the diverse claims OF
disappointed holders of conflicting securi-
ties. and the jealous and not always
reasonable demands Of rival communities
The task, repeat was a grateful one
to him. It called into play every faculty
of his mind and character. Imagination