The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-25

OF the government of Panama have con-
trlbuted to make him a man to be reck-
oned with in the politico financial
world, and have thrown him into close
relation with President Roosevelt and
Secretary Taft, the result Of which has
been his selection as the illegal adviser
of the Republican national committee,
relation involving the scrutiny Of the
source of all 'fdough'' that flows into
the Golfers OF the campaign strong box.
But Mr.. Cromwell has genius for
work and welcomes any responsibility
that pressges big results There has
been hardly a financial taDgle in the
last twenty years ju which he has not
been the court OF last appeal. He has
been the power behind the throne OF
many business concerns that nave fallen
irto the jungle Of bad management.
The public began TO first near of Mr
Cromwell about eighteen years ago,
when New York went through a money
panic not dissimilar TO tnat recently ex
perienced. One Of the best known Wall
Cromwell was at that time a junior part
ncr OF Mr.. Sullivan, and not long ont
of the Columbia law school In siI
weeks he Strengthened out the tangled
affairs Of this firm-Decker, Howell 6;
Co.-and put them on their feet
The fee the court awarded him for his
work-s400, ,000-was perhaps the larg-
est ever awarded To any lawyer up to
that time, although Mr.. Cromwell de-
clned il nnd was paid the sum of $3.50.
600, which he asked. Even this amount
was SO large and the act of the young
lawyer so unusual that his fame spread
throughout the country.
The next financial battle tnat he 7on
was in unravelhng and adjusting the
comoleX affairs OF that Napoleon OF
finance, Henry F. Ives. VINO came to
grief IN one OF the worst failures in the
history of Wall street. Mr.. Cromwell
8alvaged tine Ives wreck and whipped
1T into tangible shane. so that business
was resumed By the firm. The receiver
shin of $l3.000,000 failure was his
next achievement. and with the ease OF
woman doing fancy work he unwound
the tangled affairs of Price, McCorm-
ick s. Co 1t was Mr.. Cromwell who
was counsel for the reorganization COM
mttee OF the Northern Securities com
panv. and over a period Of years he
literally worked dav and night IN plac-
ing that bulky combination of affiliated
railroad interests on its feet and event
ually saving it from disaster.
For long time Mr.. Cromwell was the
sole controlling ard dominating influ-
cnce in Northern Pacific affairs. Ee
9uce Exchange Trust company; he set
tied the affairs Of the Metropolitan Fire
I Engine company. and succeeded IN uu-
tanellng the terrible uuddle Of the
American Shiu Building company, and
made q EercUlean effort to reconcile the
HYDE aod Alexander factions in the
Equitable Life Assurance society.
Every one OF these transactions was
battle,' said Mr. Cromwell. reflec
| lively, IN contemplating some of the en-
ga2emenis of the past. "a battle,
| sometimes, that seemed as If we would
never be able to bring 30 successful
| issue: battle in which there was never
{ a moment to be lost, ard during the
| fighting of which | never permitted
anything TO interfere for { moment.
| 'Work' is the golden text of Mr.
! Cromwell $ sermon OF life. But work is
! quickly, effectively and absolutely. he
! is a diplomat, mediator, who fights
! his battles behind the scenes-and coun-
sells adjustment where differences seem
| irrevocable. He IS seldom heard Of in
court, never associated with sensational
trials, and vet nc has quietly settled
! some OF the most colossal financial
/ taugles That ever Shocked Wall
! street.
This is the man, as / saw him. who
I has been persona erata AZ the White
! House for two administrations. aud who,
| if Mr.. Taft is elected, will be close IN
( The counsels Of a third: the man who
| is perhaps the most powerful figure IN
! tine meeting places of American politico-
| finance and the most skilled arbitrator
where hundreds OF millions are on the