The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, September 17, 1909, Page 6, Image 6
llr"Wr-v.f The Commoner. TOLTOIE S, NUMBER 3 6 6NT t-, tf n r-f topics S HHnrj 1 1? k yPL mHL. A 1 -v EDWARD H. HARRIMAN, the railroad mag nate, died at Arden, N. J., on the afternoon of September 9. For several creeks there had been conflicting reports concerning the state or Mr. Harriman's health. It seems, however, that since his return from Europe he grew steadily worse. Mr. Harriman was bora February 25, 184S. He re-organized the Union Pacific and effected the Chicago and Alton and Illinois Central railroad deals. His wealth is estimated all the way from fifty million to one hundred million dollars. His father was the rector of an Episcopal church at Hempstead, L. I. He began life as a messenger in the office of a small broker in Wall Street and learned his lessons under Jay Gould, Jim Fiske and Jay Cooke. At the age of 22 he bought a seat in the New York stock exchange. He entered active rail road work and became famous through the re organization and combination of several great railroad systems. The announcement of Mr. Harriman's death did not occasion any distur bance on the market. THE RAILROADS and other concerns con trolled by E. H. Harriman at the time of his death are as follows: Union Pacific, South ern Pacific, Central Pacific, Oregon Short Line, Illinois Central, Central of Georgia, Baltimore & Ohio, Erie, New York Central, Big Four, Lake Shore, Michigan Central, Nickel Plate, Southern Pacific of Mexico, Chicago & North western. In these roads, Mr. Harriman was either a director or an officer at the time of his death: Brooklyn Heights Company, Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, Texas & New Orleans, San Pedro Line, Pere Marquette, Oregon & California, New York, Susquehanna & Western. He was also Interested to a more or less extent In these corporations: Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, Guaranty Trust Company, Hwaco Railway Sb Navigation Company, International Banking Corporation, National City Bank of New York, Night and Day Bank of New York, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Railroad Se curities Company, Rio Bravo Oil Company, Union Pacific Land Company, "Wells-Fargo Com pany, "Western Union Telegraph Company. CONCERNING some of the Incidents of the recent illness of E. H. Harriman, the Omaha World-Herald says: "A disgusting feat ure which has attended the serious illness of E. H. Harriman is the conduct of the jackals' of Wall Street in hounding the home and even in yading the privacy of the household where the great financier has lain on a bed of pain. Asso ciated Press dispatches announced Thursday morning that it had been necessary to strengthen the line of guards and to prohibit the entrance of anybody not connected with the case. The 'spies' of Wall Street must be kept out at any cost. The Jackals were there to report both In this country and to foreign markets some sensa tional report that would set the maTket into a commotion which would stimulate the gambling on the boards of trade. With what looked like approaching death, with the sadness of the end of a magnificent struggle for life, the jackals were eagerly hanging about and seeking en trance along with representatives of the press. The original jackal Is a beast that thrives on carrion, and its work Is no more despicable than that of these human money grabbers who will eek at any cost to living or dying the gossip that sets the bulls and bears at each others throats. The persistent hounding of the Harri man home by these Wall Street emissaries has been one of the pathetic features of the illness of the one time master of Wall Street and the railway world." THE SCENES at the bedside of the late E. H. Harriman are told in a New York dispatch carried by the Associated Press in this way 'With the passing of E. H. Harriman from the realm of business where he had long occupied a dominant position achieved by remarkable genius and Intense energy, the attention of hosts of his friends and admirers turned today to the stricken family in the silent house on Tower hill at Arden. The magnificent courage with which Mr. Harriman faced the unconquerable enemy was characteristic of the man and stirred the emotions so, not only of those who had been close to the railroad financier, but elicited tributes from men who had been his opponents in many a business fray. Almost to the very last, the mind of the man who had never given up in defeat continued actively directing the great business he had built up. His last in structions were delivered to a subordinate only a few hours before hia death. Constant vigil had been maintained at the Harriman home all during the night preceding his death, for the members of his family realized that only the stern will power of the, man sustained him In the unequal fight he was waging. A crisis was anticipated at any moment, but Mr. Har riman's cheerful optimism was abundantly ex pressed when he returned from Europe to take as he said, 'the after cure gave hope that he might yet survive the critical stage. Ex-Judge Robert S. Lovett, vice president of the Union Pacific and one of Mr. Harriman's closest asso ciates, remained at the house all Wednesday night. Although the patient's vitality was at a low stage and he was suffering from a high fever, he revived a trace yesterday morning and endeavored to cheer his despairing wife and children. 'Don't worry, my dear he said to his daughter. Miss Mary Harriman; 'I am going to get well. Some hours later it became apparent that the end of the brilliant career was ap proaching and the members of Mr. Harriman's family were summoned to the bedside. There, according to one of those present, the scene enacted was most affecting, as the husband and father bade his wife and children good by. With unfaltering courage, but ebbing strength, he clasped hands with all for the last time, em braced them, spoke words of cheer to his wife and daughters and of advice to. his sons, Roland and Averill. Roland, the youngest son, who has been his father's constant companion during his illness, was shaking with sobs as his father clasped him in his arms and whispered the fare well words." IT IS AUTHORITTVELY announced in New York dispatches that Edward H. Harriman was a victim of cancer. It Is announced that the Harriman railroad system will not be dis turbed. The work will be divided between Jacob H. Schiff and Judge R. S. Lovett. Mrs. Simons, a sister of Mr. Harriman, was quoted as saying that Mr. Harriman died at 1:30 in the afternoon whereas the announcement of his death was not made until 3:35. It was re ported that the announcement was held back until the stock market closed In order to avoid havoc among the securities. Dr. W. G. Lyle, the family physician, has issued a statement saying that Mr. Harriman died at 3:35 and that the announcement was Immediately made. A great many people sold Union Pacific and other railroad stock but to the surprise of many the stock advanced in price readily. THE INCOME Tax League for the state of New York was organized September 4 at Albany. An Albany dispatch to the Chicago Tribune says: "John S. Crosby of New York City was made chairman, and after the organi zation had been perfected resolutions prepared by William J. Bryan were offered by Michael B. Murphy of Malone and adopted. The resolu tions follow: 'Whereas, Our federal constitu tion as construed by the supreme court, pro hibits the collection of an Income tax except in a restricted form; and. Whereas, An Income tax is not only Just, but may in time of war or other emergency become imperatively necessary; and, Whereas, President Taft recommended the adop tion of an amendment to the constitution spe cifically authorizing the collection of such a tax; and Whereas, Such an amendment has, by a unanimous vote In the senate and by an almost unanimous vote in the house, been submitted to the states for ratification; therefore Resolved, That we, the members of the Income Tax League of the state of New York, heartily favor the ratification of the said income tax amendment and pledge ourselves and our organization to use every honorable means to secure such rati fication hy the legislature of the state of New York at Its next session; and further Resolved, That we urge all voters who favor the ratifica tion of such income tax amendment to publicly pledge all candidates for the state legislature to vote for the ratification of such an Income tax amendment. Colonel Crosby was elected per manent president of the league, and five vice presidents, a secretary, and other officers were chosen. The president also was empowered to appoint an executive committee of fifteen to carry on the work of general organization and also a committee of three to draft by-laws.' " A WARNING that will be serviceable to ad vocates of the income tax everywhere is given by the New York World when it says: "The meeting of a few so-called progressive democrats at Albany Saturday represented the first organized movement in this state to further the adoption of the income tax amendment to the constitution. If thi3 meeting were to be taken as a gauge of public sentiment in this state no prediction would be safer than that the amendment will fail of approval in the legislature. The meeting passed off almost un noticed. If the income tax amendment is to be carried in this state its friends can not afford to take chances and remain idle. The same is true in many other states. The financial inter ests do not need to be aroused. They are al ways on the alert when they have anything to gain or to lose. Fighting in the open is not their habit. They have quiet ways of doing things under cover. To get together they do not need to hold conventions or plan public campaigns. If a majority of the senate in each of as few as twelve states votes against the income tax amendment it will be lost. Fewer than two hundred votes judiciously placed in twelve state senates would be sufficient to de feat it against the unanimous vote of thirty four state legislatures. In the election of the legislatures which will deal with the subject, many issues, mostly local, will figure. The in come tax amendment is in danger of being over looked as a minor matter unless special efforts are made to keep it in the front. Popular in difference is the condition its opponents desire most as furthering their ends." AN OLD-TIME train robbery of the Dick Tur pin order occurred at Lewistown, Pa., when a lone robber held up the Pittsburg and North ern express on the Pennsylvania railroad. The robbery occurred at 2 o'clock in the morning. An Associated Press dispatch says: "While there were thousands of dollars In the express car, the robber is believed to have obtained only $110. With this he escaped and is believed to be hiding in the mountains. But the railroad Is using a pack of bloodhounds from Chillicothe, O., and the capture of the desperado is believed to be almost s certainty. The robber, who was masked and possessed of remarkable coolness, cowed the railroad men completely, the only show of resistance being made by the conductor, Isaac R. Poffenberger, one of the oldest men in the service of the company. When Poffen berger interfered he was shot through the hand." THE SPOT where the robbery occurred is said to be an Ideal locality for a holdup. The Associated Press says: "The tracks occupy a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the Nuanita river. Heavy timber covers the mountains and paths leading to an almost im penetrable fastness. The robber placed an ob struction on the track and the engineer sighted It in time to save his train. The unusual stop brought Conductor Poffenberger forward. The masked man shot him through the hand. The safe in the express car was taken out by the men, but it was too heavy and unwieldy for them to handle and they did not succeed in opening it The train held up was No. 39. It left Philadelphia at 9:02 o'clock last night and Harrlsburg at midnight. The train consisted of twi engines, three express cars and two sleepers. v"-. &a. -J-LW. in) i' iiiiniifimiiiif j