Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-02

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ity for instant and decisive action. and
that is probably one reason why he has
been called "the great opportunist.'
The most dramatic instance Of that
power was the unexpected and extra
ordinarily brilliant coup by which the
Third Avenue Railroad corporation.
then in a receivers hands, passed into
the possession Of the Metropolitan.
How long Mr.. Ryan and Mr.. whitney
had been picking up the details by
which they we're able thoroughly we'll
to inform themselves OF the weakness
of the Third Avenue and of the precise
method by which the attack could be
made they alone knew. But 1t was all
so suddenly done that the receiver,
former Mayor Hugh j. Grant. was for
moment stupefied when the news
came over the telephone from Wall
street that whitney and Ryan had
secured the majority of the stock Of
the Third Avenue and would bring 1t
Immediately into the Metropolitan
family.
Many have thought that Mr.. Ryan's
consummate exploit as a constructive
financier was in the creation of the
Consolidated Tobacco company. Ger
tainly Mr., Whitney looked upon that as
final and perfect proof of adroitness.
secrecy, thoroughness and the power
to Judge exactly when and how to act.
Once Mr.. Whitney, in speaking Of Ryan.
said that Mr. Ryan reminded him OF an
anecdote he had heard of Field Marshal
Won Moltke, who, after infinite patience,
secret and tireless study that was al
most drudgery, was as perfectly In
possession Of all the details of his own
armies, Of the topography of the field
of campaign and of the possible move-
ments of an enemy as though he had
learned these facts from history, SO
that he knew instantly when and how
to strike. That power Mr.. Ryan had,
and Mr.. Whitney looked upon him as
possessed of an extraordinary combina-
tion of patience. industry and ability to
fix his mind exclusively and intensely
upon any problem, preserving all the
time perfect mental and physical equi-
poise.
Some Political Experiments
Mr. Ryan had in addition wonderful
capacity for persuading men, not merely
by demonstration and argument, but
by a peculiar personal force. He
seemed almost to magnetic men. Ger
tainly he knew how to pull down objec-
tions which men as great as he in some
respects might raise, to show the weak
ness of their argument without offend
ing their prides and to persuade them
of the soundness of his plan. That gift
was especially effective when he ap-
preached Mr.. Hyde, persuading him
that 1t was to his own interests, to that
of the policy holders and to that of the
insurance company itself that Mr. Hyde
part with the majority stock which had
been in possession of his father and of
the heirs of his father since the COM
pany was Incorporated.
Mr.. Ryan has had other triumphs
than those of finance and reorganiza-
ton. or the building UP of the so-called
great trusts. Possibly his chief triumph
is the reputation he has gained of never
having betrayed a friend or an asso-
ciate or having done anything that
honorable conduct in financial battles.
He did venture somewhat into politics
a year ago, undertaking to lead in a
general agitation for the nomination of
Grover Cleveland for president
| Mr.. Ryan has been spoken of as a
taciturn man. 1t has sometimes been
thought strange that he had not the
volubility, the excitable temperament
which are sometimes thought to be
characteristic of the race from which
Mr.. Ryan sprang. But he is taciturn
only in the sense that he is much
thinking man, deeply absorbed. not
given to triviality, although he has a
delightful sense of humor. He Is some-
times spoken of as one of the hardest
working men in New York; but there
is no sense of drudgery with him. no
labored and perfunctory approach to
his task for his work In sense is a
recreation, since he finds his highest
qualification in the working out of prob
lens and in the record Of success. 1t
is sense of achievement with him that
is his reward for all that he does. He
is singularly free from the small jeal-
ousy of others who have also succeeded,
not having any envy for those exploits
that are constantly brought before the
public. His habits of life are correct to
the utmost; his family, his farm. his
Holstein castle and his kennels give
him all the recreation that he desires
or needs.
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