The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-13
COL. HARVEY WILL LEAVE THE HAMPERS AZ TER b YEARS Story of J. P. Morgan's Re- lations to the Great Pub
 fishing Firm HARVEY REACHES
 HIS BOYHOOD GOAL How Cotton Developments Have Justified Remarks Made By Harding In Midwinter
 Baltimore Speech
By HOLLAND

New York May 12.-(Speciall-O sal urdav of this week Col. George Harvey retres from association with Harper & Bros publishing house, which, as chief executive, he has maintained for 10 years. Aside from the personal interest which Is due to Colonel IIarvey's prominence as n writer and particularly on account of various associations he has had with the nomination of woodrow Wilson as gover- nor of New Jersey and later as President, tis retirement from this house is of es- pecial interest, since 1t points to some Of the striking changes which the puoica- ton business of the United States has experienced during the past 15 years.
 First of al there should be an expla- nation of the relations of the house of j. F. Morgan & Co. to this business The belief is widespread that Harper X Brothers became 15 years ago subordi- nate of or passed into the ownership of J. F. Morgan X Co It is an impression which sometimes proved embarrassing to Colonel Harvey for instance, in the some what sensational meeting between Colonel Harvey and Gov Woodrow Wilson, in which Governor Wilson was compelled to
 
 of him by Colonel Harvey in the Har- pers' publications was harmful because it was attributed to certain Wall street influences.
 From authoritative sources which no one would question the real story of the relation of J. P. Morgan X Co. to this house, which was at one time the great est of American publishing houses, has been learned and can now be told. In the latter part of Mekinley's first ad- ministration as president, it became known to the surviving Harpers- some of whom were of the third generation that for various causes they were in em- barrassment and must obtain help. Al appeal was made to the late J. P. Morgan Friendly as his relations were with MT Harper, nevertheless he looked at th' proposition from an absolutely business point of view. He was willing to lent what was needed provided the security was satisfactory. The Harpers had al enormous plant, itself visible iilustra ton of how the business had grown II 60 years from that of little bookseller shop and printing house to one or th' great publication houses in the world The Harpers held the fee of practically - an entire block. Upon thls land they hae A.slased to be built a Yer Nlarge pfipilhi and publishing plant. Slich an appraiaa as the experts of an insurance company would make fixed the real value of thi' Ifoperty at a large sum, several million dollars. It appeared to be ample se' caused obe built very large printing anxious to make. 1t offered IS se- ctirity and upon it J. r. Morgan x Co made heavy loans. There, provided the interest upon these loans is paid, the re- lation of J. P. Morgan X Co., to Harper & Brothers ended. Since the loan was made, Colonel Harvey has secured bank ing accommodations in the ordinary course of business not from J. r. Morgan & Co. but from two banks in the financial district in New York.
 A Great Change
 It was about the time tho control of this great property passed from the Harpers' at least so far as the management of the business was concerned to Colonel Harvey and his subordinates that there began to he detected great changes in the publish ing business in the United States. The day of the low-priced magazine had come and these were seriously competing With some of the Harpers' periodical publiea- tions. Then, also, there was a consld- erable change in the methods of book publishing. in the marketing Of books ano in the distribution of them Undoubtedly it was in part due to these changes that the Harpers found themselves in cmbar rassment. This evolution has continued and is now perhaps at it's climax. At al events it has persuaded Colonel Harvey that he had accomplished all that he coult have expected in directing the Harpers business so that he is now free to devote himself to what in his boyhood was his cherished ambition-namely, to become ths owner of the venerable North American Review. The changes in the publication business. and especially that of periodicals are expected to be refectel in the meth. ods which will be adopted by those who have succeeded Colonel Harvey in the di. recton of this property. The perodica business of the United States is believed