Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-05-28
MORGAN STORIES.
The Great Banker, Blunt and
Gruft, Could Enjoy a Joke.
HIS KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE.

ministsrsd to . Wall Street Shark.
Most people who knew J. F. Morgan
knew him as q man blunt to the point
Of g%ruffness, yet be had a keen sense
Of humor. This is recalled by the way
! he appreciated so well the joke of 4
young freshman who served IN his Of
fee as Il sort of exalted porter that he
raised his salary.
The joke was on one Of the bankers
visitors. who, thinking to have some
fun with the young man, remarked to
him his was a most difficult task, keep
ing those whom Mr.. Morgan did not
wish to see away from him without
giving offense.
That's So" said the Irishman. but
don't mind. earn $50 n week"
Duly impressed, the visitor remarked
to Mr.. Morgan TINT be paid pretty
good salaries. mentioning the figure
given him by the doorman. Mr.. Nor
gan rang for him.
what do you mcan." he demanded.
"by telling this gentleman that l pay
you $50 a'week|
Il never told him anything Of the
sort. sir" the mau replied. Il told
him l earned $50 a week keeping
cranks out. and | think l do"
WELL" said Morgan. lighting up.
I'VE won't discuss that now. but just
tell the bookkeeper you are to have IS
more a week. And have no more talk
with my inquisitive friend here on the
| private affairs Of the Office"
Every banking house has little pecu-
lations at one time or another. No
public record exists to show that the
Morgan house suffered in this respect,
but that is because the banker handled
these cases in his own way. Two such
cases are recalled by a veteran in the
street. In one the culprit, a married
man, admitted that he was some $500
! short when the head Of the house
called him into bis Office. 1t had gone
in speculation. he said. He admitted
| that bis salary vas ample for his
needs.
Mr.. Morgan advised him to go home
and tell his wife about it and see him
in the morning. In the morning he
handed him the amount he was short
after the clerk had said he had told his
wife everything.
Put that where You took the money
from" lie ordered. TT is a loan from
NE. expect you to pay it back. None
of the others know anything about It.
Let's see If you can't be a man."
Later the clerk returned the money
to him. with a stammering expression
Of thanks.
"Humph" said the banker. 1T was
q bit harder saving than losing it.
wasn't It? Well. now. take it home and
give it to your wife. l guess she saved
more Of it than you did"
The other clerk, unmarried, became
involved through a%ssociating with too
lively a group. Like the other. be was
advanced the amount Of his shortage
and, like the other. repaid it. Not long
afterward Mr.. Morgan called him into
bis office and gave him three months
notice.
But. MIR. Morgan" he protested.
Pm all right. l haven't taken a dollar
Of your money since you gave me an
other chance"
II know It," said Morgan. but 1t
won't he long before you will. You're
travelling with your old clique again."
There Is one banker. not Of the Sec
ond class In Importance. who probably
never will forget his experience on the
BLACK Monday" panic. The head of
one Of the largest commission houses
In the street" went to Morgan for aid.
I'VE are absolutely solvent" he said,
but Mr.. Blank has called a loan on us
for $1.OOO.O 900. We can't make It and
must close. Well pay 100 cents and
have enough left for all Of US, but we
don't want to sacrifice that business OF
years." "ai--'
"What security have you got?" asked
the banker.
The broker told him.
"All right. I'll give you the money
Send the stuff here. Jack. telephone
Blank ! want to see him."
II sent for you" roared the man
who had been up days and nights try
Ing to bring financial peace out of
chaos, Ito tell you what ! think about
you. but l haven't the time now.
You've been pounding this market
ever since this trouble began. trying
to make money when everybody else
has been trying to help those in trou,
BILE. You go back to your ONCE and
stop calling loans. II you call another
one III break you and drive you out
Of business"
And that settled it.
David Bows. In his day n of the
great men in the financial district
once said to the banker:
Morgan. you see a lot OF young
men and seem to he able to pick ul
better ones than any man l know. !
want a man whom ! can trust to look
out for my affairs when | am away
II you can get me such a man I'll pay
him $4,000 a year and forever bt
your debtor"
"Dows." said Morgan, when you
ind that man send him to me. and III
nav him $4,000 q year and pay you 4