Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-30
THE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENsE--l
BY Frederic J. IIaskIn.

WASiIINGTON. April 2o.--Daniel
Willard. who is chairman of the ad-
risory committee of the Council OF
National Defense, belongs to that we'll
known school Of Americans. founded
by Abraham Lincoln, who starts with
tho lowliest jobs they can find. and
toflfuliy ascend to the highest i'm their
respective lines. This fact may not
seem pertinent to MIR. Wizards present
JOB OF co-ordinatng the transporta-
ton and communication systems OF tho
country for war, but 1t is significant
because few men of this thoroughgoing
and competent variety arc now found
In American public service. The crea-
ton OF the advisory commission marks
the entrance of new kind OF man into
our public life.
What sort of men are these civilian
commissioners who have left large af-
fairs TO devote all of their time with
out compensation to the work of or
ganizing for war? In what spirit do
they enter upon the undertaking? This
letter and the next one will be partial
answers to these questions.
Daniel willard Is Il man reputed to
shun publicity. who has recently come
in for Il goodly share Of II. His reor-
Eanizatfon of great railroad system.
his leadership of tho railroads in their
fight for freight rate increase. his
Endorsement OF the administrations
eight-hour law. and finally his selection
to head the advisory commission, have
made him easily tho most famous rail-
road man in America These achieve
mcnts also suggest that ho Is n rail-
road executive of an unusual sort. and
this is borne out both by the looks Of
the man and by his record.
lie Is n 1ean-faccd New EnElandcr
with moro brow and less jaw than the
typical American money maker-a man
more idcalistic than acuuisitivc. He
began his railroad career at the age OF
eighteen as track walker on the
Central Vermont Railway. Then came
that long period OF toll and obscurity
which usually forms a large part of
the lives of the great. though not Of
their biographies. willard was almost
everything that a railroad man may be,
including engineer, conductor. round
house foreman, and finally at the age
Of thirty-ciEht n division Buperintcn-
dent. This was not dizzyinE ascent
but 1t gave him thorough knowledge
of the railrond business.
Then Opportunity Came.
And now that lie was prepared on
portunity came along in the shape of
Il. ID. Underwood. who made him as
sistant manager Of tho Baltimore and
Ohio. From that time on the way to
q railroad presidency was open to linn,
and his story becomes monotonously
successful. He did not try to form
b
merely ran his railroads in a COM
pctcnt, quiet sort OF way. II was plain
that he was not another Hartman or
Hill. But when the railroads wanted
spokesman to tell the country about
their need for higher freight rates
willard was selected for the Job. Here
was n railroad executive who did not
astonish the public with his deeds OF
high finance, but whom. perhaps. the
public would trust. willard has been
described sort OF unofficial mcdi-
ator between the public and the rail-
roads. That led naturally to his pres
ent position as chief OF the represen-
tatives OF big business who are help
ing to organize the country for war.
Mr.. Wizards share OF the work OF
Industrial organization is to have all
of the railroad, telephone and tcle-
graph lines OF the country ready for
co operative government service. He
has already held meeting with fifty
railroad executives. representing 900