Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-26
HARRISON SEEN
AS SUCCESSOR
To FINLEY
Whole South Shocked by Deaths
of Heads Of Two Big Rail-
way Systems,

Atlanta railway officials Wednesday
morning were still affected by the
shock of the news that President W
w, Finley, of the Southern Railway,
had 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-
fering from an attack of indigestion
was reported much improved earlier
in the day. y
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 be the next
president of the Southern.
Mr.. Harrison now is president of the
Monon Roulette Chicago, Indian
apolis and Louisville Railway-and
formerly was a 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 a practical and re-
sourCeful railroad man. He is a Nir-
ginian. His father was private secre-
tary to jefferson Davis during the
/ days of the Confederacy and Francis
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 a possibility that e. II. COap-
man, vice president and general man
ager of the Southern, may draw the
appointment. Mr.. Coapman 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 the rumor that Mr..
Finley was to retire from the presi-
dency in his favor. deVoting his own
efforts as chairman of the board of
directors
A. B. Andrews, first vice president,
is more than 20 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
his influence in behalf OF Mr.. Finley,
1t is not considered likely that he will
be a candidate for the position now.
Family at Bedside.
Mr.. Finley's death in Washington
followed swiftly a stroke of apopleXy
Tuesday morning, just after he had
arisen for the day. He felt i'll when
Il Il
sisting him he fell. unconscious, in
her arms and passed away a few
hours later without regaining con-
Asciousness. Mrs. Finley, three daugh-
ters and his only son, W. w. Finley,
Jr., 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
will be in Oakhill Cemetery
Mr. Finley was born September ,.
1853. in Pass Christian. on the gulf
coast of Mississippi. He was brought
up in that romantic and picturesque
section of the South. and at 20 en-
tered the railway service as a ste
uographer
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 branches, 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
ond vice president.
Hold Many Offices.
On the death of President Spencer.
on Thanksgiving Day, in 1906, Mn
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