New-York tribune., 1911-01-22
H. Sbnnmq Seer of the World His Admirers Call Herr Balm
, Friend No Government oubvent
for the Hamburg Because He Wants to Boss his o"n op'
Without Anyln ererence in lines of Peace

,,yisbI, or as completely as d!d he For
many wears he had uursed the ambition 10
sond ont a round theV orld cruise. and his
p,sn vas successfully and proftably car
rieJ out lest year wien the steamship
cleveland booked to capacity. made the
voyage from New FORK 10 San Francisco
via Srez ana hack again.
The question Of ship subsidy, which Is
assuming interesting proportions in this
country ine. now. Is something for which
Herr RalIin has little regard. When one
considers that the British government pays
tho Cunard Line an annual subsidy of $780,
ooo q vear for the maintenance of the tur
bino nvers Mauretania and Busitania, 1t
would seem that Germany is rather incon-
eiderate rot 10 give some substantial recog-
milton 10 its biggest line.
Tho truth is that Herr Ballin Is not III
favor Of government subvention. He ia
willing to let the empire have his ships AS
TRANSPORTS in time Of war. but in llme ot
rcacc he wants no dictation in the manage
mont of his business. He knows that the
conditions imposed by subvention do not
nav. Herr Ballin wants to be free to SEND
his ships where he peases, with no restrlc-
lions on their speed. their time or departure
or arrival. or on the length Of time they
shall or shall not remain in any special
port. He wants a free hand in curtalling
traffic where trade has declined, and III IN
creasing it TO ports where business is goon'
THIS cannot be done when the government
has a finger i'm the pie. Subsidy is losing
game. and Herr Ballin never attaches NM
self to losing propositions.
The head OF the Hamburg American Line
has sixteen thousand men in his employ
lie r an exceptionally strict discipllnariah'
but according to those closely associated
with him has a kindly heart and is forever
making secret gifts OF money to the WIDOWS
and orphans of men who we're once In the
service Of the line. Herr Balm mas no
children but he Is fond OF them. some
seventeen wears ago he adopted the three
ycar-old daughter Of one Of his wife's reia-
,ives She recently married an officer IN
tho German army. and or the day OF her
wedding received q check for larEc
amount from her adopted father.
Herr Balln's influence is felt throughout
the shipping world. Germany has seen ~
IA decorate him with the Royal Prusslan
Crown Of the First Class ana the Ike"
Eagle Of the Second Class. France con-
fCTIcQ uyOn nm INC ls'Gl'l bl ll'l'''' '''''
tho King Of Italy and other rulers have
honored him with receptions aud dccora-
tonS
The German Emperor looks upon Herr
Rallin moro as an old time friend than q
faithful subject who has helped build up
the commerce Of the empire. occasionally
the Kaiser Is given TO practical joking apd
if the stories current at Kicl arc io nc
trusted Herr Ballin is more than mate"
for his royal comrade i'm meeting him hall
wa-
II is said that one morning while Director
Rallin was taking his bath the Kaiser called
him up on the telephone. Graspins his
robe he rushed To the receiver and wanted
10 know who could he so foolish as TO can
/ him at such an carly hour.
! 1T IS |, Wilhelm" replied the Kaiser.
''v,n" majesty" explained Herr haII'n'
win tremble In his voice, 81 assure You
/ that your humblcst subject never stood 80
i trembllngly before YOU
"Why. what do YOU mean. Herr Balm
! asked the Kaiscr.
We'll, your majesty has cared me from
my bath to the telephone, and I am cold
and wet. Maybe YOU can hear me shiNcr-
ing"
There was a buzzng on the wire for =
moment. and when the Kaiser stopped
laughing Herr Balln suggested that ho