Evening journal., 1903-11-25
pireetinn a Bio Life Insuranee co.

and asks about the great system of
street railroads, he is generally told
that William c. Whitney controls them
II Mr. Whitney does control them, he
exercises his control in a very quiet
and unobtrusive manner.
Mr.. Whitney is also called the father
of the American navy Of which he was
secretary under President Cleveland,
and he would probably deny this soft
impeachment. but the idea is too firm
ly rooted in the public mind for it to
accept his modest denial.
There are three epochs I'm the career
OF Mr.. Whitney viz. those of lawyer,
statesman and financier. When he
became the last he ceased being a
statesman, and when he became
statesman he gave up the law.
When he came to New York he at.
once entered politics. distinguishing
himself as an opponent OF the Tweed
ring
Mr.. Whitney was corporation counsel
of New York from 1875 to 1882. The
qualities Of mind that later made him
a power were here first made known.
From this to position Of great infiu-
ence in the political affairs OF his
state was but short step, and he ad-
vanced at the same time to a similar
place in the political affairs of the
nation, respected consulted and trust
ed. Mr. Whitney's appointment as
o secretary Of the navy by President
Cleveland. IN 1855. was the result OF
5 an earnest desire on the part Of the
executive to give to the service OF the
! country man with whose abilities he
had been deeply impressed. and TO
obtain for his Cabinet one who had
shown such power AZ the council table.
The United states had no navy when
Mr.. Whitney took Office. He quilted the
department leaving the nucleus Of
that splendid white squadron which
, was afterwards built and which led
the way TO making the United States
one of the great powers. His name i'm
the Navy Department viii live.
II is to be recorded that in twenty
five years Of conspicuous leadership
Mr.. Whitney has held but two political
/, Offices. This is not because he has
striven and failed to attain office, but
because he has avoided it. There have
been times when movements to make
him a gubernatorial. senatorial, and
even presidential candidate have
sprung up seemingly OF themselves;
movements requiring only formulation
to make them formidable. But Mr..
Whitneys consent was never given.
lOther affairs had absorbed him for he
= had, by this time, been drawn into the
management Of financial affairs. not
ABLY as the controlling spirit I'm the
B Metropolitan Street Railway, and as a
trustee of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company of New York. His ,plain
suite of Offices are in the Mutual Life
building at Nassau. Cedar and Liberty
streets. wheer he transacts all his seri-
Gus and most important business. He
finds this the most tconvenient neighbor-
hood to be in, as many of the institu-
tions in which he is interested have
their offices in this same building-the
J Morton Trust Company among others.
1t is also very convenient for his at
tendance at the Mutual Life Committee
land board meetings, which occupy
much of his time.
one constantly reads Of Mr.. Whitney
in connection with achievements on the
turf. both here and in England; of his
purchase of great preserves for stock
breeding, or of some social entertain
ment Of special note that he gives from
time to time. either at his magnificent
IuouHt III NEW AoAh Vi at Ills country
place. or elsewhere. The general pub
lie reads all this and envies Mr.. Whit
ney his elegant leisure, but how many
persons know of the exacting business
life that he leads? Besides the above
mentioned interests, he is a director
IN several railroads and a number OF
large companies and banks.
, Mr.. Whitneys abilities are not OF
the showy order Few i'm twenty five
years have heard him make set
= speech. Interviewers find him very re-
ticent. Yet his faculty for clear, di-
rect, precise, logical statements
amounts to positive genius. All these
qualities find their best employr<n
in the management Of the large AFFAIRS
which interest Mr.. Whitney. The as
seas of the Mutual Life for instance are
over 1894, 900. 900 held in trust for
policy holders. This sum is more than
I double the combined capital Of the
Bank Of England. the Bank of France
ID and the Imperial Banks Of Germany
and Russia. This immense sum must
ID be kept productivity employed. How
is II done? Where are found the men
of sufficient experience and ability to
handle these funds successfully Are
' they obscure men, OF whom the worlC
u never hears2 BY no means. They
are men not only OF national, but OF
international reputation. who i'm ths
midst Of their other duties md tim,
- to give their best thought to the con-
y duct OF the company's affairs. Thes,
? are the men who should be. and gener-
h ally are, employed upon the board of all
I.r .N.I .