Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-26
SEEN
AS SUCCESSOR
To FINLEY

Atlanta railway officials Wednesday
shock Of the news that President W
w. Finley, of the Southern Railway,
bad died Tuesday afternoon, and that
Thomas Martin Emerson, president
of the Atlantic Coast Line, had passed
away Tuesday night The double blow
was entirely unlocked for, as Mr. Fin
ley had been enjoying the best of
health and Mr.. Emerson, while suf-
was reported much improved earlier
in the DAY.
Even the grief caused by the news
could not restrain some talk in At
lanta railway circles as to the prob
able successor to Mr.. Finley in a po-
sition so vastly important to the
South and its industries.
The general impression was that
Fairfax Harrison would he the next
president of the Southern
Mr. Harrison now is president Of the
Monon Roulette Chicago, Indian
apoliS and Louisville Railway-and
formerly was vice president of the
Southern, of which he still is a di-
rector
Harrison Widely Known.
Beginning his career as lawyer
Mr. Harrison, after entering the field
Of railroad industry and development
achieved marked success and is
known widely as practical and re-
sourceful railroad man. He ista Viz
/ ginian. His father was private secre-
tary to jefferson Davis during the
. 4. Of 70 nd
Burton Harrison. brother, formerly
/ New York Congressman, is Governor
| General of the Philippines.
/ While Mr. Harrison appears the
! logical choice to succeed Mr.. Finley.
/ there is d posi- bility that F.. H. Coap-
man. vice president and general man
ager of the Southern, may draw the
appointment. Mr. Goa pman is one OF
the best operating officials the coun-
try has produced, and his additional
talent as an executive gave rise some
months ago to tife rumor that Mr..
Finley was to retire from the presi-
dency in his favor devoting his own
efforts rs chairman of the board of
directorss
A 3. Andrews, first vice president,
, is more than 70 years of age. and as
he is said to have declined the presi-
dency at the time of President Spen-
/ GERS death in 1906 and to have used
J his influence in behalf OF Mr. Finley,
J it is not considered likely that he will
be a candidate for the position now.
/ Family at Bedside.
Mr. Finley's death in We shington
followed swiftly a stroke of apoplexy
Tuesday morning. Just after he had
arisen for the day. He felt i'll when
Z he arose and while his wife was as
. 1t. L. -,
her arms and passed away a few
hours later without regaining con-
seriousness. Mrs Finley three daugh-
tiers and his only son. w. w Finley,
Ir.. were at his bedside when death
came. the son, who is in the traffic
department of the Pennsylvania Rail
way at Newark, reaching the home
just before his father died
The funeral services are to be held
! Friday in St. Johns Episcopal Church
at II o'clock in the morning Burial
viii be in Oakhill Cemetery.
Mr. Finley was born September 2,
1883, in Pass Christian. on the gulf
coast of Mississippi. He was brought
up in that romantic and picturesque
section of the South. and at 90 en-
tered the railway service as a ste
nogrdpher.
BY 1889 Mr. Finley had risen
through almost every position in the
clerical department of various rail-
ways, and in the next six years he en-
tered the executive bra nches. In 1898
he became third vice president of the
Southern, and later was second vice
president of the Great Northern, but
soon returned to the Southern as sec
pnd vice president
Held Many Offices.
on the death OF President Spencer,
on Thanksgiving Day, in 1906, Mr.
Finley was chosen president Of the
Southern.
In addition to that office, Mr.. Fin
ley also was president of the South
ern Railway Company in Mississippi;
the Cincinnati New Orleans and Tex
as Pacific. the Alabama Great South
eru; the Georgia Southern and Flor
ida, the Virginia and Southwestern.
and the Northern Ala bama Railway.
He was q director in many other biz
systems.
The death Of President Emerson
was almost as unlocked for as III ~
~ President Finley.
Mr. Emerson vas taken i'll last