The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-06
Want SOUTHERN
NAN TO HEAD S. A. |.
And, as Second Choice, @. 81. Xix,
Now Vice President and Vir-
ginian. Is Mentioned-South-
ern Stock Holdings Are
the Heaviest.
R1CHM OND- VA.-Special.-

RICH MON D. Special
no little disappointment and anX-
1cty are felt in Richmond in cOnnec-
fion with the report that the new
or is about TO obtain control of the
Seaboard Air Line, has offered the
presidency of the system to j. G.
Stuart. now vice president and gen.
eral manager of the Erie Railroad.
Whatever may be the extent OF Mr..
Stuart's ability, il is felt in Richmond
and elsewhere throughout the South
that the presidency of the line should
go to a man closely Identified with
the South.
Nor is il going too far TO say that
the popular choice falls on John Skel-
ton Williams. of this city. the man
whose dynamic energies first injected
life into the system and made IL a
definite force in the railroad world.
II is by no means certain that Mr.
Williams would accept the presidency,
even though he could have il for the
asking, though ii is assumed on all
sides that he would at least lend his
services in the financial management
OF the corporation.
Certain il is that John SHELTON Will
Hams shares the opinion of hundreds
OF other stockholders that the eNecu-
tive head of the Seaboard Air Line
should he q Southern man.
Southern brain and Southern capt.
tai have made the system what il is
and past experience shows that out
side interference has done little to
advance the interests Of the line.
Today there stands in the name Of
residents of Maryland and the South
approximately 100000 shares of Sea-
board stocks. out or a total of about
$4,000 shares outstanding.
The Cumberland Company controls
10000 shares and the stock in the
names Of residents or New York. New
England, Chicago and the West
rr,Ha- -
while that held elsewhere, including
5oreign countries, amounts to about
$1,000 shares.
Xix Is Suggested.
IT is obvious from these figures
that the Southern security holders are
not unduly self-assertive when they
demand dominating voice in the
selection OF a president
And 1t would seem, from every
thing hereabouts, that their first
choice would be John Shelton Will
hams. But should he find it impos-
sible to accept the office, his admirers
would feel their disappointment much
assauged by the promotion of c.
ID blk, the present first vice pres
1dent and general manager of the
system.
Mr. Xix is a Virginian and in every
sense is Southern in tastes and bust
ness affiliations. Moreover, he has
all the experience and qualifications
A glance at the history of the Sea-
BOARD after the really brilliant career
OF John Shelton Williams in organic
ing the system and in serving as its
president, does not reveal much to the
credit of his successors.
Following the ousting OF Mr.. Will
hams by the Ryan interests came J.
M Barr, who was succeeded by the
late Alfred Walter. His death put w.
A. Garrett In the executive chair and
then came, the receivers.
Much of the good work done by
fhese-in fact, popular opinion SAYS.
the bulk OF twas accomplished by
Lancaster Williams, brother of John
Shelton Williams.
The system got out OF the courts in
November, 1909. and since then N. S.
Medium, of New York, has been its
president He has been a financial
rather than an operating expert, how
ever, and study OF Seaboard Stats
tics does not fail to reveal this.