The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-23
POWER OF p,sspoNT MORGAN.

POWER OF PlEEPONT MORGAN.
J. Pierpont Morgan has returned from a
I six months visit 10 Europe. the most
distinguished and influential private cit
izen in the world. more distinguished
than ever-more distinguished than any
potentate know OF. for ne achieved and
cid not inherit his distinction. and Is
more influential than almost any ruler
you can name. writes ". F. Curtis. from
! New York. BlT. Morgan IS the FIRST pri-
vate citizen. I believe. 10 have his life in
sured by strangers in order that they may
not suffer by the depreciation OF their
| property at his death Policies amount
Ing 70 millions OF dollars, held by London
bankers and Spectators. have been taken
out on his life, nearly as much IN value
| as is carried on the life OF the king
| Mr.. Morgan has received more atten-
ton from the European newspapers than
any other man in private life has ever
/ received his face is as familiar as that
q General Grant. who is better known
! abroad than any other American. There
IS scarcely printed language IN which
! Mr. Morgan s biography has not appear
! ed; scarcely an illustrated paper that has
not published his portrait. and accounts
OF his plans and achievements. more or
| less fictitious. appear in the Europesn
| journals regularly every week He is
credited with the most impossible ON
impotence. Wherever he goes there is a
! financial fiutIer, and stocks rise or fall
in value, no matter whether he ever heard
/ oil them or not When he made his ap-
| pearance on his yacht CorSair in the
| harbor of Marseilles one morning here
was almost a panic upon the exchange.
! People were so curious TO know what he
| had come for that all kinds of rumOrs
were afioat Immediately. and the news
papers printed sensational contectureS.
and the same thing happens wherever he
gees.
Mr. Morgan is one Of the few men in all
the world whose company has been
sought by emperors. One Of his COM
panions tells me that the interview which
took place upon the imperial yacht Ho-
hcnzoilern. in the harbor OF Keil. last
month, was due 10 the kaiser and not
Mr. Morgan. The latter does not ask for
interviews with anybody from motives
OF curiosity. or unless be has business
to transact. and the invitation 10 call
upon the kaiser was brought aboard by
the Corsair by an aid-de-camp early one
morning before Mr.. Morgan was up.
The visit was prolonged for several
hours Mr.. Morgan was presented 10
the kaiserin and 10 the children. all OF
whom were curious TO see the man they
had heard so much about.
The next morning the kaiser came
aboard the Corsair and remained for
more than three hours. taking lunch with
Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Griscom, Mr. Elkins.
Mr.. Widener and the rest OF the American
party in most informal way. The con-
versation was perfectly informal The
emperor and the banker met as friends
and discussed all sorts Of questions. The
emperor was eager tn obtain Mr. Nor
gan s views upon a number of subjects
and had evidently prepared himself for
the second Interview. for he fred vclleys
o. questions as rapidly as Ii Hung
Chang. He pressed Mr.. Morgan TO come
To Berlin as his guest and it is not often
that private citizen declines an invita- |
ton from an emperor. The only result !
OF the two conferences. Il there was any
tangible result, was a pledge from Mr.. ]
Morgan that he would not interfere I
with German interests in his great ship /
ping combine He tried TO convince hts 1
majesty that the combine was in the in 1
terest of his country, but the latter l
seemed to be apprehensive lest the Ger
man steamship lines should be re
strained in some way by which the great /
policy Of commercial expansion that has /
been pursued in Germany for several /
years should be interfered with.
In London Mr.. Morgan diued with King
Edward and had two private audiences /
with him. He has told nobody what was 4
talked about, and as no one else was pres
ent our curiosity will never be gratifed. /
isbury at Hatfield. the latters country
home. Mr.. Balfour, the new prime min
lister of England. gave a dinner in his
honor in the house Of commons and he |
received many other distinguished at
tentions. The Sultan Of Turkey attempt
ed TO interest him in the financles Of the
Ottoman empire. and sent him an urgent
invitation to visit Yildiz Kiosk. which was
declined. He refused to consider several
business propositions from the King Of
Bulgium. who always has some big enter
prise on hand and has interested several |
Americans in them.
history of Mr. Morgans adventures
during the last six months would make
an interesting book. lie bought at least
s.. 100000 worth Of books. pictures and
tapestries during his vacation. and will
add TO his collection some of the choicest
gems OF art. He purchased a residence
in the fashionable section Of London and
has fitted IL up In sumptuous style. His
son is now occupying the house. Nobody
knows how much money he has given
away to charity. and ne did not forget TO
write a letter which made happy for life
a lady who was formerly governess 20 his
daughters.
Many important matters await Mr.. Nor
gan's attention. Probably more financial
and commercial schemes hang upon his
word at this moment than were ever de-
pendent upon the judgment OF huma n
being before. Wall street has been hold
ing its breath for weeks awaiting bis re-
turn A dozen or more transactions in
'olving hundreds of millions OF dollars
have been hung up 10 await his approval
and there is a popular opinion. particu-
srly among labor men, that he viii set
tie the coal strike by ordering the opvr-
ators and railways 90 yield.
lie takes things easily. He receives one
taller after another IN bis office with the /
ioor open and discusses the gravest pro
iects with as much c0mposurc as n they
were Of insignificant importance. lie
makes no notes There are no papers
IN his desk. only a biotter. an iEkstand
hat cost perhaps a dollar and a half.
couple of unused pens a block 81 serb
sling paper and Al oxydized silver paper
weight IN tho form Of a BUN. which some
;Teculstor gave 10 him as typical II his
.harscter.
There is very little hope 81 Mr. Morgan
lettling the strike. Matters have gone too
ar. The issues are too sharply defines.
The several great operators and railway Z
-ompanies are pledged not to yield. -
hey did two years ago. under political
PRESSURE fer fear = they held out Il
would prevent McKiniev's election No
uch side issue r. involved in the pres
nj situation. and the operators say that
his is 20 Dc tire last % the coal strfkfs