New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-05
ALoNzo B. CORNELL AND MR.. GOULD.
THE EX-GOVERNOR TnINEs TINT FEW PEOPLE

THE EX-GOVERNOR THINKs THAT FEW PEOPLE
UNDERSTOOD THE FINANCIER.
Fx-Governor .Mon2o Il. Cornell arrived in the city
evening from Ithaca wher" he has been detained
some weeks by the Illness of his wife. He came to
attend the funeral Of Mr.. Gould Today To Tribune
reporter who saw the Ex-Governor ut tho IIt' liiS'oI
last evening be talked freely about Mr. Gould whom
he had known intimately. Mr. Corn"ls relations rs
the senior director of the Western Union Telegraph
Company having brought him into constant contact
with Mr.. Gould.
"Mr. GouM was the most misunderstood man
in this country" said Mr. Cornell MY ac-
quaintancc with him began about twenty-five
years ago upon his asccn to the presidency OF the
Erie Railway. and has continued until MS "'F''
For the last dozen years II has been my prV'G' 10
meet him two or three days in each week IN The
council chamber of the Western Union Telegraph tom
pany when we were both In the city
"Do your views Of Mr. Gould accord with the
expressions Of the public press during the last fe"
days"
Il have had little opportunity or inclination 10
follow the newspaper expressions since MI "o"ld )
death. II has. however. been my opinion Tor many
wears that there was no in The country probably
more misunderstood. Beginning with the tim" when
Mr. Gould became president Of the Erie Railway CIR
cumsanccs associated Lin with James Fisk. jr. In
every way Mr.. Gould the opposite oI the lAl'
Mr. Fisk-Socally. morally, rclciously, in business
affairs and in every possible respect KNOWING NOM
mon in buJnc,s and knowing much Of Mr.. fisks
career. l have never regretted his murder II MI
Fisk had been murdered three times he W"uid MOI
have got what ne deserved.
.On the contrary ! regard Mr. Gould as one oil
The most rem arbablc men America has produced n
= business man he was the most farsishcd man !
have ever known lie the soul Of honor In hts
personal integrity His word passed In honor "a'
As good a, any bond he could make. lie wa never
a stock gambler. He had no more TO do with Black
Friday than Won had In all his transactions H.
meant always to be strictly uS and took car" 10 get
what belonged to him. He never pretended to ho Il
philanthrcpiSt. Indeed. he never made any p?'i"n-
lions Of any kind. He know what he wanted. ana
n he could accomplish his purpose lN honorable m'''
he seldom failed. Fisk undertook 10 steal IN" ALBANY
and >,squchanna Railroad. but Mr. Gould Lad no con
noron with that natter c-cc2t 30 lar rs I'Eiuh"''
means justified in cndcaVorin- 20 ccrtio that I'M
por1ant new connection bctwoc0 the Ell" Railway at
uipchamton and the capital Cf the state
You must rccolcct tie circumstance under which
Mr.. Gould was driven out Of the Erie Railway
Perfectly Mr.. Cornell answered The Erie Rail
way has been owned In England during most II not all
Of the last forty years. 1t has been controlled from
time 10 time proxies sent out by London bankers In
charge OF FnCishmcn, sent here rs Their agents. or
sent 70 Ncw-York bankers for presentation.
The newspaper reputation of Fisk and Could. rs
they wee aNay, as, paEbly named twenty years and
mere agl shook the confidence Of the European con-
,titucncy ana The London bankers turned thcr proxies
over 10 the control Of General Dix. then the Minister
Of the United states at Paris. He CAME home with
power u dchronc Mr.. Gould from the presidency Of
the Erie road. Gould, then only thrysix years old,
in the primo Of life, proud Of his Official position and
ambition, - make a reputation railway manager.
naturally re>ed the onslaught and attempted 10 hold
III, place by means Of the opposing interest, which Ia"
might control lie already rich man for one OF
his age, and large creditor 81 The Erie Railway
Company and uudc. t.ic advice Of counsel to protect
hi, own Interests pnt In safe place the available
.ecu,itcs of what then Il pauIcr company. nj
tempting TO compete with the powerful administration
= tie elder Vanderbilt who had just then succeeded
to the ownership Of the New- York Central.
Any prudent business man accustomed to deal
with great valucs viii understand the necessity Of
President Goulds position when assaulted by clientele
igHo:ant OF TIE Interior affair, Of the company. and
whose Interests had been placed in charge Of the
fIu.,rloi, soldier who desired TO succeed Mr.. Gould
I'm the pres dcncy OF That company"
What have You 10 say Of Mr.. Goulds policy a.
the controlling power In the Western Union Company =
succeeded my father Ezra Cornell in the Board
OF Directors Of the Western Union Telegraph tni JON
Tany IL 1898. aud have been II director cOn'huhlS
until now. Mr.. Goud was el,c'td director IN ~
ince that time been the contr hing factor IN the com
pany's administration. lie had iong he'orc aPpI.cl
aied the value and importance OF me N"aerh mon
i'onpaliv and Tor several years hal all ambition Ia
bocome influential In Telegraph sfairs You VIII re-
Inrn1Lcr that he forced issue between ms fNai
comnany the American Union. and the old Western
Inon Which resulted IN the consolidation oil Inc TWO
conipanles at the period nam'd - a.
A. to his policy. and looking back over tue une
duripg which he has been IN control, have D. mes.
talon in saving that his Influence has been tlc no
Conservative and farsightcd Of any ten successive
years in the company history. lie has desired 70
make the Western Union the great ana Only tlrEruPl
company in America. He has aucc"edrd IN Govern :
his continent with is wires ard Office" nnmo ring OF
tho latter now more than 20oOO In the cables con
Meeting with the European continent ana WIN IT,
an1 he Vcst indies and thence 10 south America.
His policy which has been coidla ana carlrat Sp
5oIe ,rbo nave had charge Of TIE details OF mana: e
mrn has resulted IN adding more 10 the vaiue OF me
twenty wears 0f It's preceding Ire. ,c -.
" DO Won regard SIR. Gond's sons rs P'iaih'd 10
succeed 10 tho control Of the vast estate when lhS
now inherit, - . ~ 49,, H. w.. farm
AssIrcdly. George 'oull 'nih' n.o ~. ~ w, 49, = =
Union directory upon attaining MS mny,rltY hhu nn
henn ono Of the most attentive, hard Wornns anu
thorouch- going men on the board look upon M, as E
,n,tonaIv wcu oualIlcd TO look after the interests
OF his family"