The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-02
Elected Head of South
ern Railway by Direc-
tors in New York.
COMES BACK FROM
MONON RAILWAY
New President, Whose Home Is
in Fauquier County, Long Iden-
tilted With System, Having
Served for Many Years as
Assistant to Spencer
and Finley.

- eAihAaA 1AdiIISOEl, president OK lhS
Chicago. Indianapolis and Louisville
Railway. was yesterday elected presi-
dent OF the Southern Railway, to sue
ceed William w. Finley. who died at
his homo In Washington on Tuesday
Whilo railroad men familiar with the
FAMILY history OF the Southern regard
ed him as the logical choice OF the
board. the announcement that the di-
rectors. at special meeting in New
York yesterday morning, had named
Mr. F1nley's successor caused some
surprise, I'm View Of earlier statements
that no meeting would be held befora
December IL.
with rumors affecting tho relative
chances of various presidential possi-
piiities extending from one end OF the
system to the other, the board felt the
necessity of prompt action, In order ia
prevent any element of rivalry in an
organization whose team work has
oeen marked by the utmost spirit OF
harmony.
Lives I'm Virginia.
Although his business residence Ia
In chicago. President Harrison still lava
cIaim TO the fact that his home 10 at
seivoir, Fauquier County, Va. His
iather, Francis Burton Harrison. waa
PriVate secretary to Jefferson Davis.
ieslueht or the Confederacy; his
Try as a writer. was Constance Cary
virginia girl, who lived in Richmond
curing the stirring days OF the CiviI
war. and his brother. Francis Burton
harrison, is now Governor General or
the Philippines
ihese facts. interesting as thew NAV
D.. n'Ve no bearing upon the great
work which the new president Of tha
Southern Railway must undertasa r.
10 iar more important to the bic te,.-
Iitory which the Southern traversa.
90 hhoW that he grew up under Prosf-
.t uent finley. that all of his railro.d
iie mas Deen devoted to the Southern
NJ. Us rs animated lines. and that he was
hir' Finley's close friend and chloe -
wiser In his wonderful nlans fnn .H
upouiiding Of the country tbrons,i,
""'oii 'he i,00O-mile system extends
49, Ne'v Presidents Stntemeat
am IN entire accord and SWIM,
,nt nt win the policies OF my lamente,I
,.a,, ,snu' Mr; F2nley. under whom { have
PRESIDENT Harrison, in n st,ton, 'iIo io
s"ea Yesterday IT hope to continra -
M Mouitu the southern as he built n h..
- ihotihG ana enhancing its usef,Ilne.a
.'nu IT'S cordial relations with neonIa
~ '"o oou'h. count on the support or
.ne ehtire present working orraniza
tion of the Southern, rank and nIo
iasihs grown up in the service viii,
most or them. L know how TO vaina
mem and | am proud to believe that
'hey are my friends"
resiaent Harrison is not a Virgin
York In 1869. was graduated r-, ,m Sew
Win the a. Il. degree in 1890. and fron,
Soiumbia with the a. NJ degree a.,
1921. The next year he was adn1itte,i
-, 'no I'd, IN New York, and continued
ne practice OF law in that city u..tiI
hA
mo Southern Railway in the legal de
partment as solicitor
Assistant to Spencer.
in 1908 he was made assistart g..
PRESIDENT Samuel Spencer. and in 1aos:
ne ,. pGcamc vice president, which posi-
tion he held until 1910, when he was
elected president Of the Cricago. India-
n'polls ana Louisville Railway, know,
Us the Monon. property under South.
ern control He remained, however as
a director OF the Sauthern, was a mem
oer OF the executive committee, so his
service with that road has been un
interrupted a
oetore leaving Washington to take
charge OF the Monon, he was In close
touch with President Finley, and in
mat way is better prepared than any
other oficer of the company to carry
OUT me poiicies OF tho late president in
bringing tho railroad and its patrons
together. Though ho went with tho
Southern in its legal department.. hi,
experience has not been confined to
that branch OF the service. He has
given much study 10 financial traffic
and operating problems. and Is inti-
mately acquainted with conditions OF
the southern and throughout the sec.
ton it traverses
Thorough Railroad Man.
As president OF the Monon. he was
actively IN charge OF It's operation, so
that he comes 20 the Southern pre-
pared by practical experience and a
detailed knowledge of It's affairs By
virtue OF his position as president OF
the Southern, he becomes president OF
the Alabama Great Southern Railroad.
the Mobile and Ohio and the Virginia
and Southwestern.
In taking up the work laid down by
Mr.. Finley. however, President Har-
rison realizes that tho best that Is IN
him Will be required to carry 1t on.
for Mr.. Finley made record that
stands MS q wonder In the railroad;
world. When he succeeded Mr.. Spen-
Ger the feeling against railroads In tho
against the Souti.-
ern--was bitter to degree. The big
question OF reduced passenger rates.
was then coming 20 tho front. III
many States the Legislatures was de-
manding a fiat 2-cent rate. NortI,
fght. led the onslaught Governor,
Glenn. who ia shortly to go on the In.
terstats Commerce Commissio threat s.
ening Mr.. Finley with arrest, There
was Wild talk or calling out troops 10
enforce the 3-cent ratio when the State
was estopped by the United States
Court.
In Thick OF Hate Eight.
Mr. Finley saw tho danger. Mr.. HsSs
T. In In lfs1!