Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-04
Montana Welcomes
A. C.. M. Statement

A u. M OCdCCIlICIAC
Montana people will be gener-
ally surprised but agreeably so,
over the announcement from the
board of directors of the Anaconda
Copper Mining company, that c. F.
Kelley has relinquished the presi-
dency of the company to become
chairman of the board of directors
an office which has been left va
cant until now, since the death or
the late John D. Ryan in February,
1888.
The eventual succession to the
presidency of James r. Hobbins of
Butte and New York was quite gem
orally expected by Montanans Mr.
Hobbins, as executive vice presi-
dent, has long been carrying for
ward much of the far-flung bust
ness of the company in the United
States and abroad
The designation of Vice President
Robert e. Dryer to succeed Mr..
Hobbins as executive vice president
of the company will also be pleas
ing to Montana people.
It is a fact of which Montana
people are always conscious that the
management of the Anaconda COM
pany remains in the hands of men
who received their early training
in Butte.
Mr.. Kelley Expresses Qualification
D. M. Kelly, vice president OF
the company in charge of Mon
tana operations, expressed his graf
ification over the announcement
from the company's board of direc-
tors.
This seemed to me to be the
logical step for the board to take
in the best interests of the COM
pany," Mr.. Kelley said. ''Presi-
dent Kelley's duties, as every one
must know. have been particular
ly arduous during one Of the most
difficult periods in the history OF
American business. 1t is my hope
that as chairman Of the board he
will be able to find some relief
from the heavy pressure of bust
ness responsibilities.
ut is a matter of satisfaction to
know that the affairs of the Ana
conda company remain in the
hands of men who understand Mon
tana problems and conditions and
who received a large part of their
training here"
The changes announced today by
the board of directors of the com
pany at its first meeting since the
annual meeting of stockholders in
Anaconda are remindful of a state
ment Mr.. Kelley made to the Mon
tana staff of the company at a
meeting here two weeks ago.
Heart of Company in Butte
Il regard the Anaconda company
much like a human being" Mr.
Kelley said. Its trunk has grown
large. 1t is operating in many parts
of the world Just now, under war
conditions abroad, its foreign prop
critics are producing more copper
than its domestic mines. But the
heart of the Anaconda company is
in Butte hill, which is the scene of
its birth"
Mr.. Kelley has spent his entire
mature lifetime in the service of the
Anaconda company. He began as a
young lad after graduating from
Butte High school and interrupted
that service only to pursue his edu-
cation. Born at Mineral Hill, Ne
yada, he came to Butte at a very
tender age. His first employment
with the company was as sur
veyor. He graduated from the Uni
versity of Michigan, Law Depart
ment, in 1898 and the next year
was assistant county attorney OF
Silver Bow county. A year later
he was member of the House of
Representative OF the Montana
agieIatura He entered tha legal
department of the Anaconda COM
pany in 1901 and became its gem
eral counsel in 1908. In 1911 he
was made vice president and since
1918 he has been president and
director of the company with offices
in New York.
Acquired American Brass Co.
The official record of his serv-
ice reveals but little of the story
of his achievement and of his de-
vOtion to Butte. With Mr. Ryan,
then chairman of the board, Presi-
dent Kelley brought about the ac-
QUESTION by the Anaconda company
of the American Brass corporation,
largest fabricator in the world of
nonferrous metals. American Brass
in its many plants uses more copper
and zinc than the Anaconda COM
pany produces from its domestic
mines.
Through all the difficulties of the
business world since the World
war, Mr.. Kelley has watched close
" and always fostered the interests
Of Montana. When copper metal sur