Evening journal., 1914-05-27
New News Of Yesterday
--------
A Clear Headed Southern
Railroad Promoter
By HOLLAND.


In the early spring Of 1884, John II.
Reagan spent a week at Old Point Com
fort, Va. He was worn out with his
long continued labors in Congress and
with the work which he had undertaken
for perfecting the legislation which at
last was embodied in the interstate
commerce act. SO thoroughly was Mr..
Reagan identified with the work that
for long time the law was known as
the Reagan interstate commerce law.
Mr.. Reagan, two or three wears later
was elected senator from Texas. but ii
was never my privilege to meet him
after he entered the United States Sen
ate. In fact, he did not serve out his
term but resigned some three wears
after he took his seat for the purpose
OF accepting the chairmanship OF the
Texas State railroad commission.
Reagan was a man who possessed an
extraordinary gift of attracting every
one with whom he came in contact by
his personality, his intelligence and a
certain indeserbable charm Of speeeh
and manner. His fine physique may
have been in part the cause Of the fa-
all with whom he was brought in
touch.
II seemed to me that Mr. Reagan
was not especially fond Of speaking in
a reminiscent way of his experience
while serving as a member Of jefferson
Davis cabinet during the entire life of
the Confederacy. This reticence. how
ever was due exclusively to the fact
fla4 IA II.
and was profoundly concerned with af-
fairs OF the present The past for him
was a closed book
One day / asked him If he had not
served for a time as secretary of the
treasury in the cabinet of jefferson
Davis. II was my impression that
had heard from distinguished mem
Der OF Congress from Arkansas, Clifford
Breckenridge, who was the son Of John
G. Breckenridge, that Mr.. Reagan had
served in that capacity.
''ln the last four or five months Of
the existence of the Confederate gov
ernment at Richmond" replied Mr.
Reagan, Il was called upon by Mr..
Davis to serve as acting secretary Of
the treasury. II was necessary for him
to take some action of that kind be.
cause Robert Il. Bridgers, Of North
Carolina, whom Mr.. Davis had nomi-
mated for secretary of the treasury, had
declined the honor"
That was all Mr.. Reagan would say
in reply TO the question | put TO him.
The mention Of MIR. Bridger's name
seemed to awaken another train of
thought with him for he continued
"You know Mr.. Bridgers7 He is, in
my opinion, as able man as is to be
found in the South Why, he took the
Old Weldon railroad. vital link be-
tween Richmond and the South and a
very strategic line during the civil war,
and actually saved It from complete
bankruptcy.
Bridges had recommended that the
Weldon Railroad Company at the time
of the war invest all its surplus earn.
ings in cotton. SO that it would have
abundant means with which to repair
the Inevitable damages occasioned hy
the war after the war was ended That
suggestion was a very wise one, and it
led to the unanimous election Of Mr..
Bridgers as the president Of this line
Immediately after the war closed. He
had the foresight to see that the line
would be a vital link in railroad sys-
tenn operated under one control and
running from Richmond, or possibly
Washington TO Wilmington and Charles
ton and the far South. He was we'll
worthy of example. since he began as
soon as the war was over the work Of
material reconstruction. To him the
South owes much of the beneficial in
fluence which made its material recon
struction possible. He is very able
man"
Copyright, 1914. by f. J. Edwards. All
rights reservedl
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards viii tell
'How Tilden Made Good a Political
Obligation"