Evening journal., 1914-11-17
New News Of Yesterday
An Epigrammatic Rail
road Magnate
BY Holland.

After the close Of business Of
midsummer day two or three men
who are all Of national reputation
because Of their association with
prominent industrial or financial ac-
( tivity in the United States, met in
the Office OF one of the great indus
trial and financial leaders Of his
generation. They came, as it was
their custom TO do occasionally, 10
chat in an informal way, about men,
public aff3irs, the business situation,
and kindred topics. They were all
fond of anecdotal narration, especi-
ally If the stories served to furnish
a sidelight on the character or per-
/ sonaliiy of some one who was pro-
minent IN the public eye These in
/ formal symposiums, so they called
! Them. we're never marred by un-
kindly comment or anything which
/ would suggest that this or that man
who had achieved greatly, was the
! object OF envy or jealousy. The
traits that were good and worthy
! of recognition were discussed, and
nothing else.
On the afternoon referred 10 at
the beginning OF this anecdote, the
conversation centcrcd upon James
J. Hill The extraordinary mental
activity of Mr. Hill. his breadth Of
view. and a quality Of business
craftsmanship which characterizes
him we're referred to.
One Of the men said: "Mr. Hill
differs from almost all those who
are In the same rank with him IN
one respoct-he is a fluent talker He
is not q silent man. He makes pun
lie addresses and seems 10 get en-
ioyment when thus brought face 10
face with an audience probably be-
cause he feels that his audience is
in thorough sympathy with him. Al
most all of the big men with whom
. Mr. Hill has been associated in one
way or another are either from
choice or from necessity supposed
10 he silent men
Another Of those who we're Of this
party and who knew Mr. Hin well
enough to call him by his first nam.
said: while Mr. Hill has undoubted-
~ an unusual gift of fluent and in
teresting conversation, he can be nf
silent as a sphinx, or he Is capable
Of compressing into a sentence of a
few words all that is necessary tC
say Of man or a situation. ! viii
illustrate that with an experience O
my own not long ago. My motor cal
stood in front of one of the hotels
Of New York awaiting me ] ha,
gone in for the purpose Of leavins
a card for a friend who was stayinl
there When I came out and wa
!, about TO take my car Mr Hill ap
> peared from somewhere and askeI
= my chauffeur If the car was fo
:, hire. presume he thought so be
cause he saw Il standing in from
of a hotel entrance. | spoke up an
said, No. IL Is not for hire, but
n will give me the greatest pleasure Z
take you wherever you want TO go
lie accepted and his face lighted Il
: with the cordial expression Of gree
ing with which those who know hil
well are familiar.
"When we were upon the smool
pavement | said to him: 1 am ven
glad to meet you. for Il gives me a
opportunity to ask your opinion
two men OF whom | want to kno
something. One of these q name
hfm) is a man whom we are col
sidoring in connection with an In
lOIIhnI tAt(ullNt OliAt IL q 6AN'
Il corporation. You know him tho
| oughly. / will take il as a grei
| favor if you will give me your opinic
of him.
III "In an instant Mr. Hill replie
| His hatband is too small for hin
That is all he said, and that WI
| enough. Our people did not care
secure the services of man who
whole character Mr.. Hill describ
in that single sentence.
Ill "'Well I said, there is anoth
III man Il named him) whom we a
ii considering in connection with Z
III most important position in our ra
III road company. You knoY this M
better than we do, Mr.. Hill. II
| me what you think of him.
lI Almost before my question W
| finished Mr.. Hill replied. He is
| smooth bore. You know that
ii modern gun is rihed.'
ut was not necessary for Mr.. II
to say anything more. In this tel
answer he had indicated to us q
the man was a back number, or,
It is sometimes called, 'has-be'
and therefore he would not do
our purpose"
Ill fConxrioht 1914. nv the McClt