Evening star., 1927-10-25

Honest Money Democratic League and
the Wage Farmers Patriotic League.
both In the interest Of Mckinley.
Eleven years later Mr.. Warfield
again came into political prominence
when he took an active part in the
election Of Austin Crothers as COVER
nor of Maryland. Mr.. Crothers sue
ceeded Gov. Edwin Warfield, dis
tant cousin of s. Davies Warfield.
Mr.. Warfield's last important politi-
cal activity came in 1912. when he
was delegate to the Democratic Con-
vention which nominated Woodrow
Wilson for his first term as President.
Mr.. Warfield was the organizer of
the Continental Trust Co. In 1898 and
was it's president from the time Of its
organization. He also waS a director
of the Mercantile Trust Co. Of New
York until it's consolidation with the
Bankers Trust Co. of that city.
Merges Companies.
In 1894 Mr.. Warfield aspired and
consolidated the gas and electric COM
panies of the city. which became the
Consolidated Gas and Electric Go.
While directing the affairs OF the
Gas and Electric Co. in 1909 Mr.. war
field became the storm center Of a
bitter controversy growing out OF his
efforts to secure from the City Council
an ordinance authorizing the bring
ing Of natural gas to Baltimore from
the gas fields of West Virginia.
The ordinance was bitterly fought
in the council before the board of esti-
mates, being finally defeated. But
out Of this contest, which ultimately
got into the State Legislature, grew
a widespread demand for the estab-
lishment Of a public utilities commits
sion. After the public service CON-
mission was created In 1910 the COM
pany renewed it's efforts to get natu.
raj gas franchise before that body.
The effort again failed.
other financial projects In which he
was active were the reorga anization of
the cotton duck companies and the
reconstruction of the Maryland Ma
tional Bank.
Turns to Railroad.
As president of the Continental
Trust Co.. Mr.. Warfield became inter
ested in the affairs of the Seaboard Air
Line Railway. He acted as interme-
and the Ryan-Blair interests and on
January 2, 1908, he was appointed CO.
receiver with r. Lancaster Williams
for the company. AT that time MIR.
Warfield was a director of the Ills
souri, Pacific Railway and the Western
Maryland Railway, both then known
as the Gould properties. The Seaboard
Air Line now is one of the most pros
porous railroads in the South, and Mr..
Warfield was president and chairman n
of the board of directors Of it and its
associated CONCERN, the Baltim ore
Steam Packet Co., known as the Old
Bay Line.
In recent years Mr.. Warfield had
been most in the public eye as a
worker in the interest of economies in
railroad transportation and the protec.
tion of the roads.
In 1922, when business was ieviving
after the depression that had followed
the war and a railway car shortage
was perplexing business, Mr.. Warfield
suggested a plan for pooling all the
100000 railroad cars in the United
States into one central agency Later.
in 1923, when some were talking of
enforced consultations 10 solve the
transportation problem, he still pur.
sued his central agency" idea. AL.
though his idea was termed the most
far-reaching thought in transportation
in recent times, the railroad com.
panies chatting under car shortages
failed to act on the plan.
Realized Florida Dream.
AS president Of the Seaboard Air
Line. Mr.. Warfield became interested
in developing the roads properties In
Florida and he started to work to tha t
end. In January, 1925. he realized
one of his transportation dreams. the
connecting Of the East and West
coasts of Florida with his own rail.
road. Mr.. Warfield was given credit
by Gov. Martin of Florida for con.
ceiving and executing this connection.
Mr.. Warfield's road held vantage
point so far as the Florida Everglades
were concerned and he was from the
start a proponent of the move to drain
that vast swamp. 1t was as late as
July 10 that Mr.. Warfield conferred
in Baltimore with a group from Flor
ida on the completion Of that huge
draining project.
On July %, 1924, Mr.. Warfield was
elected director and treasurer OF
the Baltimore Museum OF Art, sue