The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-26
RAILROAD NEWS.
Edward H. Harriman's Life
Published Soon in Book Form.
Friend of Famous Railway Man
Writes Biography.
INSIDE OF BIG DEALS.
Information on Great Fights and
Successes of Rail King.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

New York, Sept. 26.-The complete
story of the life of Edward H. Harri-
man-his official biography-has been
written and will soon go to the printer.
This work of 25O,0O0 words was pre-
pared by G. w. Batson Of the firm of
Eugene Meyer & Co., Wall street,
who was counted among Mr.. Harri-
mans most intimate friends.
The career Of Mr. Hartman during
the last fifteen years of his life gives
complete history of Wall street and of
the greatest financial deals known in
the history of the world, and the au-
thentic story of many of these great
dramas of the Street" of course, vera
known by Hartman as no other one
fnan knew them. and will be made
known for the first time.
Friends Select Writer.
He often talked these matter over
with Mr.. Batson. and on many occa-
sions dictated statements to his friend,
who, by the way, was formerly a news
paper man, and it is upon this inti-
mate knowledge of the inside stories
that Mr.. Batson will reveal the real
Hartman to the world 1t was for this
reason that Mrs. Hartman when con-
suited by Mr.. Harriman's associates
and friends selected Mr.. BatsOn for the
great task.
1T first required a man who had an
intimate personal knowledge of Harri-
man the man and of Hartman the
financier, and it also required man
with an understanding of finance ana
of Wall street, and after THAT the man
to do the big work had to be a writer"
a friend of Mr.. Hartman commented,
in discussing the work of Mr. Batson.
This same friend. who has had access
to the manuscript, declared the book
would be one of the most sensational
and dramatic works that has appeared
in this country.
Inside History.
1T is bold, frank, and tells of the
great fights and successes of Harrl-
man in the baldest. straightest possible
manner. 1t involves the greatest
names in the country. and no one will
be spared in telling the truth" the in
fOrmant continued
TT begins with the antecedents of
Hartman and takes up his boyhood
history, little of which is known to the
general public, and yet is filled with
wonderful color and episode.
L wish I could quote accurately
some of the boyish anecdotes" he con-
tinued, but I cannot. There is one
story when Hartman was a little chap
of u or thereabouts, employed as
runner in one of the big Wall street
offices. Thomas F. Ryan was one of
his associates, and other boys who
have grown to more or less prominence
IN the I1ndnClal WOTlQ WORKED sue Dy
side with him. One day Hartman
asked one of the other boys what
wages he got and the boy replied
Seven dollars 'Geer answered Harri-
man, I only get five. I don't see why
you get more than I do, and you won't
for I'll look into the matter He did
and got his raise"
Had Belief in Himself.
'.That is characteristic of Hartman
the man. He had a magnificent belief
in himself and saw no obstacles in his
way to get ahead of the fellow further
along on the road"
Perhaps what will interest the public
the most will be Harrimans own YER
sion of his taking hold of the Union
Pacific at its reorganization in 1896:
the real story of his connection with
the Equitable Life Assurance Society,
and of the Thomas F. Ryan contro-
versy, when he alleged bad faith on the
part of Ryan in refusing the half in
terest in that concern which was prom
ised him after Hartman had assisted
Ryan in having Paul Morton elected
chairman of the Equitable board. Har-
riman's famous reply of mot yet
when Attorney Hughes asked him on