The evening herald., 1917-03-10
SELECTION or WILLARD.

The reported intention of President
Wilson to place Daniel willard. presi-
dent Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, az the head OF the transporta-
tlon department Of the council of ma
tionai defense. has met with the uu-
anhnous Endorsement OF the railroad
aud business men OF the country. In
the opinion Of those acquainted with
Mr. Willard no better man could be
found for the position. the importance
of which. in the event OF actual hos
tilities, could scarcely he oyeresti-
mated.
The rapid movement 81 large bod
les ~ men and great quantities Of war
materials and supplies from one sec-
slon Of the country to another. y the
questioa Of the capacity OF tracks. sid
ings. and terminals. the capacity ot
cars and the amount OF power ncces-
sary the way in which everything
would he assembled ana the effect on
the country OF the sudden mobilization
OF 80 large a part OF the rolling stock
facilities In this unaccustomed use
these are some Of the problems of
high strategy that Mr. Willard and
his advisers would be called upon tn
solve, and solve without hesitation. n
the event Of actual warfare.
In Americas large colony of rail-
rood giants none IL taller or broader
.ot stronger than Daniel willard. who
during the last six years has PLACED a
sor"ly-tried railroad system among tho
great transportation properties Of the
country When. six wears agn Mr..
Willard was called uDon from the
vice presidency of the Chicago Bur
lington ana quincy system 20 tal-e
the wheel and compass and steer tho
=. and q. road out of 10 stormy path
way into clear water some men shook
their heads doubtfully They be.
lieyed that MIR willard WAS equal to
the task II anybody was but thcy
didn't know whether or no, anybod,
was
Mr. Willard h Yankee. having
been born m the village Of North Har'-
land Vt Jan Is. 1861 Like so manv
men 81 his calling and high status in
The contemporary RAILWAY world he
began ~ the bottom: but he started
ont with better education than many
NJ his rivals. WIN o. high school aud
agricultural education To- his credit
when ho was Il wears old he began
raiiroading as brakeman. aud ne
continued Ia the lower ranges Of thr
seryice until 1893 when he wns made
assistant to the general manager Of
the Baltimore and Ohio road. IN 1901
he went 10 the Erie. ana when he ic;
that system. in ig0i ho was general
manager During the next six Years
b." was vice president and admins
trutivo officer of the chicago. Burlmg-
ton ahd quincy and during "a. part ~
the same period hc filled the pre-
idrucy ~ the Colorado Midland Rail-
way company Thus g, will Dee seen
thHt he had had q varied training for
the post ~ responsibility that came
~ him in 1910. when hc was chosen
10 fill the presidency Of the Baltimore
and ohio road.
Probably Few men in the railroad
business possess any greater on clearer
knowledge Of the transportation sD'-
.cuao than Mr. willard But with hif
knowledse he Is broad and. unlike
many railroad presidents and other
Officers hish in authority ne talks
freely 90 newspaper men. and what
be says rs generally wise. lie ls foar-
iess ~ speech and II hr commits or
rors. he appears ready % stand for
them But 80 Far he has made nI
errors Of speech that are worth tho
term.
He believes IN resJlts--not In the
number OF hours put m ~ any task
ne is distinctiNeiv man Of affairs in
general with the Baltimore ana
ohio road he las done wonders. Dur
mg His six Yoate administration tho
roads operating capaeit, and financiai
statue haye radically gf.ansed fuF ihe