The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-14
COAL BARON HAS
GLIMPSE OF WEST
George F. Baer Greatly Impressed
by It's Magnitude and
Resources.
NGreaf is tha west. -


is the railroad president who. was
| the "divine right of millionaires. - He
has never been west Of Pittsburg be-
fore, and is only at the gateway today.
of an expanse Of territory Incompetent
sources to the easterner. He has broad
ened his vision by frequent trips to
Europe and now he is going to see his
own country. It would be interesting
to interview George F. Baer when he
returns from Portland, whittier he is
bound, considering the amazement ex-
pressed when he had reached only the
borders Of the great west at its CONNER
cial door, Minneapolis.
George Baer and "Tom' and John
Ankeny Of Minneapolis were brought up
In Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Baer
married a cousin of the Ankenys.
"Tom' was nearer Baer's age and wac
more intimate with him, John Ankeny
hasn t seen him for forty,ave years.
The three met today in Minneapolis.
Last night A. T. Ankeny dined with
the Baers at the Ryan In ST.. Paul, and
1 1t was nearly idnight before Che two
tchun1B began to make any headWay on
the recount Of "reminiscences which had
piled up in the interim since boyhood.
| Sees Local Properties.
| Business interests had something to do
ALSO with tho stop made by Mr.. Baer
and associates in Minneapolis He is
president Of the Philadelphia 8 Reading
road and Of the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal q Iron company, represented in
the northwest and Minneapolis by J..
II. Sessions. In company with Mr.. Ses-
slons he inspected the local properties
from an automobile. ~}&
Mr.. Baer is accompanied on his tour
to Portland by his wife and two daugh-
ters,, his son-in-law, Heber Smith, DR..
NJ Muedhil nn e.; and Mr.; Hester. all Of
to the afternoon overland of the North
ern Pacific road. A general inspection
Of the western country will be made.
George F. Baer became>a conspicuous
figure in the late anthracite coal strike.
He is six feet high, weighs It's pounds
and is about SO years Of age. He is
: conceded to be one Of the fore
most lawyers in the country and fo1
many years was special counsel for J.
T. Morgan. When he gave up his prac;
tice for the general management Of his
iron, coal, manufacturing and railroad
interests, his practice was said to be
= worth, over 100000 annually. Mr.
. Baer is intimately acquainted with the
), sought this opportunity Of seeing the
= vast resources Of the west.
Gossip About Root.
= Gossip in connection with. the visit
Of Mr.. Baer throws side light OF
Elihu Roots entry into President
Roosevelt cabinet. Mere politica
9 ambition does not explain why com
a give up fortune in practice for com
IS parative pittance of $4,000 annually
It attached to the office which Secretary
J. John Hay has Just left. ..~A ~
g Mr.. Root, it seems, has come to tn
e conclusion that it is better to be liv
man than a dead one. He has a com
is potency; he can afford to quit prac
e tice that is sure to kill him from over
a work, and accept honors incident to tn
r secretaryship at $4,000.
n Wherever Mr.. Root went, it is said
f. to his office or into open court, hi
IS coat tails were tugged by int crest
/ which begged for an opportunity to Sc
s. him, or eagerly questioned when h
Is would take up their case, or urged hiI
Je desperately to accept q retainer. Thi
was wearing on Root and it is under
stood that after mature reflection b
determined to take the remarkable ste
d. of dropping law business, payin
r. 100000 retainer fees he had nc
7e earned, and settling down In the ha:
s. ness at $4,000 year.
- Not Interested in Lawson.
Mr.. Baer's neglect Of an opportunit
~ to hear Tom Lawson speak last nigl
er illustrates the attitude Of men Of tt
Baer class toward Mr.. Lawson's a
an tacks on "frenzied finance. - =
nd evinced no particular interest in II
IT. address. He seemed to feel that M
ng Lawson was working in another fe
IL and said that Lawson would not hui
&C. legitimate business. If there was wat
in stocks he seemed willing to |
er Lawson help squeeze it out. Manufa
he turing business is now reduced to SUI
fl waterless science that men connectt
ry with actual industries had no vital
terest in Mr.. Lawson s campaign.