The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-14

urtttsh Emit WHu.
Regardless of the fact upon which Mr..
thornton has commented. that most Eng
llsh railway managers have won their
present positions by WORKING rom the
bottom rung upward. there are some
walls over tn. passing of possible Eng
lish appointecs.
Lord Claud Hamilton's complaint of
100 much Government supervision OF rail-
Fodd business and the system of keeping
branches OF the railroad business In
separate watertight compartments is
iegard.i in some quarters as the key to
the Great Eastern's inability to ind
man 10 rs own ranks.
Tie Daily Mail somewhat fiercely at
lacks th. Great Eastern not for appoint
i0s Nj Thornton. but Tor not keeping in
touch with IN, talent of its own men. II
says
For q great company with an immense
staT to announce that no suitable Eng
shnan could be found for the position
e slur on its own methods rather than
compliment TO the United States"
The Daily Express puts the appoint
ment up 10 the English snobbish con-
tempt Of trade and says young men are
struggling TO enter the learned professions
when they might have great careers in
business
The editor of the Rdiiuoy Rericu in an
i'iervie" on the subject said he believed
me real genesis OF the Great Eastern's
'1oice was the necessity of getting a man
who WAS experienced in the identification
n railroad aud the most modern meth
eds Of handling suburban traffic by elec-
the transportation.
Ht Hard by Competitions.
H. pointed out something that is COM
mon knowledge, THAI the Great Eastern
has been hit harder than any other line
10y electric tramway and motor bus com
petition The line serves the biggest and
most crowded workmen's areas in the
metropolis, and the fall in its receipts
S'hce the latest tramway and omnibus
developments has been enormous.
NO hostility is expressed toward Mr..
thornton on the ground OF nationality.
ahd II any prejudice exists this will be
soon forgotten II he succeeds in better
hS the conditions on what is probably
me most uncomfortable. the dirtiest and
me- noisest line in the United Kingdom.
Give me a chance to make good and
no not judge me before have had it, is
Ar Tnornton's appeal to the public
'nroush reporters who interviewd him to-
day.
! have been in England only ten days"
ne sad and have spent only two Of these
T4 hn
'i'ls on my part to talk of details or to
H'ueS" anything or anybody. ] will
naturally try TO make the Great Eastern
''' only the finest railroad in Great
hf'tan but the most efficient instrument
u transportation in the world. ] have
Nieady been over the Great Eastern and
" resembles the Long Island system in
many respects. 1t has "A bigger suburban
BUSINESS than the Long Island and both
"S'ems do much short haul work.
Discusses His Plans.
Although Mr. Thornton is the first
american 10 take over the management
q" am English rail- road he says 1t must
nov ho inferred thai he is necessarily
Gong To Americsnize the system or that
'''N'l4ly 'Ht ht
Vol OF the Long Island. he said. cost more
'"ah 10000 "A mile. lie did not know
a. yet what the cost would be here. but
IT, 'id not propose to rush into electrifica-
Won unless the economic conditions war
rant II
VI" Thornton added that undoubtedly
"' American railroads have many adj
"'rhbI" features, but so have the British
"h'S ana he intends to try to combine the
rest 100 both. always remembering that
we Great Eastern IL locatcl in England
'u1 not IN the United States. The only
an, ''au IDEAS he proposes To Introduce
''' Taos" fundamental ones which are
'oiS'defcd good business all over the
"olH. The governing principles will be
10 give the people what they want
lord 'laud Hamilton said Mr.. Thorn
ION "a, appointed because his career
''' been one succession OF railway TIL
''nput From the English railway point
~ ssss there was also the advantage that