The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-08
REFUSES TO
ACCEPT OFFICE
Howard Elliott Declines to Become
President Of the Missouri Paci-
fle Railway to Sue
oeed Gould.
STAYS WHERE HE rs
Feels That the Wise course to Take
Would be to Make No Change
at the Present
Time.
WHERE HE Is J

~~O
Howard Elliott of the Northern Pacific
who left st. Louis yesterday with his
famdly for St Paul, wired the COM
mittee representing the controlling in
terests in the Missouri Pacific his dec
'lination Of the presidency rendered
him last week In New York. His
reply was worded as follows:
After very careful consideration of
the very complimentary offer that you
and your associates have made to me
about taking charge of the Missouri
Pacific. have come to the conclusion
that it is best for me not to accept
the offer. have been with the group
of roads with which l now work all
of my business life, and / feel that
my best work can be done in connec-
ton with those roads and the many
friends and fellow workers in them
with whom l have been so intimately
associated for many years.
In conaing to this conclusion. I do
not underestimate the importance of
the southwest, the relation of the
Missouri Pacific system to the coun-
try, the great growth that is bound
to come, and the opportunity to do
good working in helping to develop
that part of the United States. On
that account, and for numerous per-
sonal reasons, it has been difficult for
me to arrive at conclusion more
promptly. On the other hand, there
are great opportunities for good work
in the middle west and In the north
west, where have spent my life and
have many friends, and | feel that the
wise course for me is to make no
change at the present time.
Il am sending this by wire as know
how important it is to you and to your
associates to have my answer, and l
will ask you to show this message to
the other gentlmen with whom l
talked I am writing to You and the
other gentlemen In New York more
fully expressing my appreciation of
their great confidence in making me
the offer, and my regret that have
been unable to reply more promptly,
and my further regret that do not
see my way clear to take the position.
! "HOWARD ELLIOTT"
Mr. Elliott's ultimatum, while caus-
4 ing eminent satisfaction in st. Paul,
will be very disappointing in the bust
ness circles of New York and st.
1 Louis Railroad men and f1nanciers
had strongly urged his acceptance of
the Gould line presidency helieveing
that he was the man best fitted for
the place and would bring about the
4 highest results for the owners Of the
1 property. In fact no other railroad
man had been seriously considered by
/ the committee for the position. and
4 it is now confronted with a difficult
problem Within the past few days
Mr. Elliott's friends in st. Louis had
! used all their persuasive powers to
induce him to accept. and his return
here would have been gratifying to
all interests, business and social. The
Missouri Pacific annual election takes
place here next Tuesday, and ii is
4 scarcely probable that vie COMMITTEES
appointed to select president will be
able to report by that time or at the
meeting of the new directors to elec'
officers. which is generally held II
New York one week later. When ar
agreement is reached, however, on the
new president he will be duly elected
to the board, provision being made fol
that purpose at the stockholders meet
= ing next week.