The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-21


heart and a mind constructed for hand
ling details, and not easily disturbed. He
lives at 3,9OS Ridge avenue, Rogers Park,
almost on the edge of the northwestern
limits of Chicago.
The district is so unfashionable that
while Ridge avenue is legally a boulevard
it is fringed by chicken farms and truck
gardens or waste land The air is good.
the scenery fine and Lake Michigan near,
but the society there is not that OF the
great spectators of the board OF trade,
nor Of the wine and horses crowd that
has millions in cereals -oday and but a
penny for lunch tomorrow. It is pretty
suburb. where people take their children
to grow up, wnere there are churches for
plain people and homely ways Of living.
1t is just on the dividing line between q
farm and a city. and about as near rural
life as one could hope TO get without
leaving the town altogether.
His residence looks like that Of man
who wants comfort and very little show;
a man who likes the game Of life for the
game itself and nothing else. Mr.. Phil
lips leaves it every morning in most
matter of fact fashion. walks leisurely
ton of the Northwestern road, is carried
IN to the Wells street station IN eighteen
minutes, and finds himself in the Rialto
building. where his offices are. ten min
utes later. The Rialto stands just south
Of the board Of trade building and is con-
nected with the latter by bridge and
court.
The first thing the new speculative star
does upon entering his Office is to attack
his mail. de receives hundreds of let
ters daily. Many of them are begging re-
quests. Others are from clergymen in all
parts Of the country. who state that they
are praying for his success. 1t is not
made clear why the clergy should be in
terested in corn deals but Mr.. Phillips
accepts the letters and politely answers
them. Many farmers write him, thank
ing him for what he has done, for it has
enabled them TO get better prices for
their corn. Grain dealers address him be-
cause he has brought about a most rigid
inspection of grain. and indirectly Sc
cured the Indictment of one operator for
alleged "doctoring" of corn.
While his mail is disappearing he is
receiving advice from all parts of the
country as to the state of the market
and also information as to the plans Of
his opponents. He is said to be one of
the first big spectators in the west who
have made it q point TO know in one way
or another what the opposite side of the
market is preparing to do to him. He is
ready for his operations OF the day by
nine o'clock, and a few minutes later may
be found in the pit or over at the bulletin
boards. one OF his favorite resorts, or
hidden away in his private office, direct
ing the proceedings Of his confidential
agents.
he is inaccessible to visitors Except
those who are directly interested in the
MARKET until about three o'clock He
goes to lunch at half past one and is in
his Office again at three Then the gen
eral public may see him il it has legiti-
mate business. His manner Of greeting is
and open. He seemingly has nothing to
conceal nor anything to boast OF.
Il believe ne says. in a legitimate
market If corn or oats are not in sight
the market should be a rising one. The
farmer is entitled to me best prices pos
sible, and the traders aim should be to
deal on the facts as they are Nothing
extraordinary has ever happened in my
life I have worked and worked hard.
I have gained some knowledge am in
this business as a business man. dealing
with facts. like legitimate speculation.
I see no reason why / should not con-
tinue in it,"
on the board Of trade those who ad-
mire him the most say:
He has done more than any five or ten
of the old operators to bring outside
trade to the Chicago market. He has a
big line of customers buying corn on its
merits, and -4e ought to be helped instead
of injured"
He may be a deposed Corn King in
time. but it is not going to disturb his
full and greatest enjoyment of one thing
in Iife-his wife and three children. He
hates notoriety He avoids it in every
way possible. He does not wish TO be in
terviewed or held up to public view in
any way He has worried more over
newspaper articles about himself during
the last six months than over his bust
ness affairs To himself he is nothing
more than plain
George II. Phillips. Corn Dealer"