The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-08
TO MAKE ASUCCESS
THE BIG MEN MUST
AVOID THE DETAILS
This Will Be Elli0tt's Method
of Handling the New
Haven System
ELDER VANDERBILT
SLAVE TO DETAILS
And Yet He Was First to Originate
Having Chairman of Board to
Oversee Work of Other
Executives
By HOLLAND

New York, August 7-(SpeciaI )-In
some of the conferences between those
charged with the responsibility of select
ing the successor of Charles S. Mellen as
chief executive of the New Haven railroad
system, there were occasionally COM
ments based upon what was thought to
be a mistake in the methods that have
been characteristic of President Mellen.
IN all the conferences there was cordial
recognition of the very great ability
shown by President Mellen and of the
soundness of his fundamental purpose to
create single organic railway system
} operating in one of the distinctive Sec
lions of the United States-New England
There did seem to be. however, feeling
that President Mellen may have erred in
undertaking much work which might have
been properly left to heads of various de-
partments.
President Mellen took to himself respon-
sibilties which in the opinion of those who
have chosen his successor might have been
left to men perfectly confident to assume
responsibilities, of if they were found not
to be making good then they could be re-
moved and others appointed in their
places.
The New Haven system is made up of
a large number of what were formerly
small independent railroad lines. These
were taken into the New Haven company
for the most part since President Mellens
administration began. Theodore N Vail,
10 whom the responsibility was committed
of recommending a successor to President
Mellen. is firmly convinced that in this
day of great organizations the executive
head should leave to competent assistants
the direction of details and should be con-
tent with causing those who constitute the
staff, so to call it. thoroughly to under
stand what are the general principles and
the policy of the corporation which they
serve.
The new influences which have taken
hold of the New Haven. or, in other
words, the old influences which have de-
cided upon new methods are understood
10 be In perfect agreement that the ex-
ecutive head of this corporation must
adopt the methods characteristic of the
general who commands a great army
made up of large number of corps d.
visions and brigades, each with its respec-
tive commander He tells his generals
what they are to do and they are expected
to carry out his orders.
1t is the understanding here that this
view was either cordially accepted by
President Howard Elliott OF else was rec
commended by him in his first tentative ne
gotfs tirc.S with those who represented the
New Haven company His view is under
stood to be that there are great economic
advantages to be found in an organization
built up In many respects as is the organ
fzation of an army. On the other hand IT
is his view, at least such Is the under
standing here, and it is certainly the view
of the great individual forces who are to
stand behind President Elliott, that there
are extravaganza. friction and wasteful-
ness and an Inevitable lack of successful
organization in system which imposes
not only the executive management, but
the details of it in all departments on one