The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-05-02
MORGAN STORIES.
The Great Banker, Blunt and
Gruff, Could Enjoy a Joke.
HIS KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE.
IL Was Strikinsly Illustrated by the
Way He Handled Two Defauitins
Employees and the Rebuke He Ad-
ministered to a Wall Street Shark.

Most people who knew j. z. Morgan
of gruffness, yet he had a keen sense
of humor. This is recalled by the way
he appreciated 50 we'll the joke of
young Irishman who served in his Of
fee as a 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 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. l earn $50 a week"
Duly impressed, the visitor remarked
to Mr. Morgan that he paid pretty
good salaries, mentioning the figure
given him by the doorman. Mr.. Nor
gan rang for him
What do you mean," he demanded,
"by telling this gentleman that l pay
you $50 week."
Il never told him anything of the
sort, sir" the man replied. II told
him l earned 500 d week keeping
cranks out, and | think l do
We'll" said Morgan, lighting up,
"we won't discuss that now, but just
tell the bookkeeper you are to have $5
more a week. And have no more talk
with my inquisitiye 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 E}at 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 his office. 1t had gone
in speculation, he said. He admitted
that his salary was 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" he ordered 1T is a loan from
me. expect you to pay it back. None
of the others know anything about it.
Let's see If you can't be man.
Later the clerk returned the money
to him, with stammering expression
Of thanks.
"Humph" said the banker. 1T was
bit harder saving than losing 1t
wasn't it? Well, now, take it home and
give it to your wife. guess she saved
more of it than you did"
The other clerk, unmarried became
involved through associating with toe
lively a group Like the other, he was
advanced the amount of his shortage
and. like the other, repaid It, Not long
afterward Mr.. Morgan called him into
his office and gave him three months
notice.
But, Mr. Morgan" he protested
L
Of your money since you gave me an
other chance
II know It," said Morgan, but II
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 oi
one of the largest commission houses
In the street" went to Morgan for aid
"We are absolutely solvent" he said
''but Mr.. Blank has called loan on Us
for 81, ,000, 600. We can't make 1t and
must close. Wen pay 100 cents and
have enough left for all of US, but we
don't want to sacrifice that business OF
years"
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"
Il sent for you," reared the man
who had been up days and nights try
ing to bring financial peace out OF
chaos, ''to tell you what / think about
you, but | 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 office and
stop calling loans. If you call another
one I'll break you and drive you out
Of BUSINESS"
And that settled it.
David Dows, In his day one of ths
great men In the financial district
once said to the banker:
Morgan, you see a lot of young
men and seem to be able to pick VI
better ones than any man | know.
want a man whom / can trust to looh
out for my affairs when | am away
If you can get me such man I'll pay
him $4,000 year ard forever be
your debtor"
''Dows," said Morgan, when yor
find that man send him to me, and I'll
pay him $4,000 year and pay you 6
bonus for discovering him. = New
York World.