Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1905 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

Chief of the Canal BaiMen. Theodore P. Shonts of Chicago, new toad of the isthmian canal commission and president of the Panama railroad, who Is to direct the work of joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has a great opportunity to write his name in American history. Mr. Sboqts was picked out for bls new post by reason of bls experience and skill in railroad construction. He was a lawyer originally, but dropped that for work more to bis liking. Chicagoans say that bis first work in that line was quite remarkable. He was called in by the head of the lowa Construction company, which had a contract for building some branch lines in

lowa and found itself unable to get the work done on time. Shonts took it up and by his remarkable ability in the way of organization succeeded in rushing the work through. He personally directed the work of so many different gangs that he seemed to be everywhere along the line at the same moment It was this striking success which led to bis being put in charge of the work on the “Three Eyes” in Illinois. After he finished the construction work on this road he was elected its president. From there he went to the "Clover Leaf.” He is Pennsylvania born, but spent his early youth in Centerville, la., where be met Miss Milla Drake, who became bis wife. She has been president of the Woman’s Athletic club in Chicago. They have two daughters. Civil War Recalled. General Matthew Calbraith Butler, who has drawn attention to himself by his marriage near the end of his sixtyninth year to a widow- in New York city, was as senator from South Carolina for twelve years (1877-89) particularly well known. He is a nephew of that Senator Butler whom Charles Sumner savagely attacked In his speech on the barbarism of slavery, thereby causing the murderous assault on Sumner by Preston S. Brooks, his kinsman. Prominent In Life A*a*r*nee. James W’. Alexander, president of the Equitable Life Assurance society, who has been the leader in the movement to mutualize that great institution, has been closely identified with the company for forty years and is widely known as an able financier. In 1866 Mr. Alexander was Invited to give up a small law practice to become secretary of the Equitable, his uncle, W. C. Alexander, being at that time its president. He accepted the office and has remained an officer of the corporation since that time, being advanced from secretary to second vice president, then to first vice president and upon the death of Henry B. Hyde in 1809 to president. During the upbuilding of the Equitable society by the late Henry B. Hyde,

Its founder, Mr. Alexander was bis assistant and confidant. When the elder Hyde died be anchored bis stock, with its limitless power of control, by means of a trust deed, so that it might not be sold or disturbed until bls son, James H. Hyde, should be thirty years old. The time when young Mr. Hyde will have power to sell bls stock and with It the control of tbe vast trust assets is not many months away; hence tbe movement to mutualize tbe society and give the control of Its administration to policy holders. President Alexander to a native of New Jersey and a graduate of Princeton university. A man of brilliant qualities, bs ha* long been an active and honored figure In the social and business life of New York. Mr. Alexander is a well preserved, compact man of sixty-five, yet bis erect form and sprightly bearing give the Impression that his silvery hair and mustache ar* prematurely white.

THEODORS PERRY SHONTS.

JAMES WADDELL ALEXANDER.