Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-09
CONTINUED from Page one.)

stocks as did that OF the late Edward
Henry Hartman. On his recent re-
turn from Europe the great Stock Ex-
change in Wall street spent nearly
one whole day in suspense. Buying
and selling were at a standStill. Ev-
erytEing depended upon the health of
the little man coming up the bay. II
he should prove TO he on the road &c
recovery. up would go Union Pacific.
Central Pacific New York Central and
other securities under his control. If
he was seen TO be in bad way, they
would tumble. Until one or the other
was definitely known there was moth
ing doing.
His arrival satisfied the brokers that
tie railroad king WAS far from we'll
man After his retreat to Arden the
rumor was noised about that he In
tended virtually TO retire. On this
mere breath his stocks were hammered
down. down till Union Pacific fell off
G or { points. Southern Pacific, New
York Central and others sharing In
the decline 1t was a striking tribute
to the mans power. testimonial to
mastery by Wall street. There was no
sentiment in it. There never is in these
bull and bear raids. They are as ut
terly mercileSS as an earthquake or
cyclone. There is not heart beat in
the whole high finance body, how
ever many there may be in the indi
vidaals who compose 1t. And when
h. 4
man securities in the days when their
master lay ill at Arden they merely
advertised that they had been afraid
of the man and showed what they
would do when the fear was even &
little abated.
There are many popular misconcep-
tions concerning Hartman. One il
that he was a man with an abnor-
mally large brain, which Slapped the
life from his understood body. Harri-
mans head was not large. 1t was I'M
der rather than over the normal size.
1t was quite well proportional to his
small stature. His body gave the i'm
preston of slightness, it is true. but it
was not emaciated, except in his last
steel spring He was stopped, as are
most men who think much. He was
never a careful dresser and was quite
commonplace in appearance. But the
idea that his brain ate up his body is
a mere flight of fancy. 1t might be
said as truly of any man who is ut the
head of big things in this day of 81
gantic undertakings.
Smnrtest Boy of His Class.
Another mistaken notion is that Mr..
Hartman WAS born in New Jersey
He was born ut Hampstead. Long Is
land, in the state of New York. Feb.
%. 1918. He was the fourth child OF
poor Episcopaiian minister whose
salary sometimes amounted 10 as
much as 500 Il year 1t was after
the future railroad kings advent that
the family moved to Jersey. settling
In modest portion of Jersey City
Just off the HackenSack meadows. 1t
was not promising environment, but
there were rich relations on both sides
OF the house. The lad went TO Trim
fty school in New York. walking three
miles each way. He had a reputation.
which still survives. Of having been
the worst boy aud the smarteSt of his
class. AT the age of fourteen he quit
school altogether and entered bro
ker's office. The first year he earned
the magnificent salary of So week,
and even this pittance lie turned over
TO his father
Friend Of Children.
Perhaps the only beings with whom
Edward II. Hartman the man ever
entirely uubent were children In New
YORK he was the head of great boys
institution, q sort of combined gym
nasiun. club and debating society. for
more than quarter of II century
At Arden he was never so happy as
when he had an automobile loud of
little ones and was spinning about the
countryside. To them he was not the
cold business machine known to the
world. He was Pop" Hartman. their
comrade and friend. Perhaps he was
SO unreSeryed with the children be-
cause they did not ask him leading
questions and try to take away his
money. In the country he was as God
made him. In business he was as Wall
street made him. There is differ.
ence here. one that will appear greater
the more 1t is contemplated.
Great Constructive Genius,
The best two things about Mr., Har-
riman We're that he WAS constructive
and had a national view of things. He
was not alone stock manipulator
but builder. History must give MIN
this credit. 1t is questionable if we
have had any greater railroad build
ers than he. The manner in which he
took the rundown and bankrupt Union
Pacific, went over the ground and saw
the business there was for the line
coupled with the subsequent courage
and energy he displayed in pouring
hundreds of millions into straigbtep.
Ing and improving the road. showed q
constructive genius of the first order
Ruthless he might have been. vet the
fact that he did things. and big things
at that. must be told to his praise
The story of bridging Great Salt fake
and draining fhp S1lton con ;o not ~.