New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-04
MORGAN'SCAREER
IS THAT OF BOY
WHO MADE GOOD
"Son of His Father" Like
Him in Most Ways, He
Surprised Wall Street.
OVERCAME HANDICAP
OF HEIR TO MILLIONS
Work in Harvard and Finance,
Life in Society and Sport
Marked by Modesty.

Marked by MOQeSly.
Just like his father-in appearance
and manner. and even down to the tone
@, his voice and the gait with which
+, walked with an appreciation
for and a grip on business such as only
TIE son Of the eminent fnencier could
inherit. That. in brief. summarizes J.
Pierpont Morgan. head of the banking
house which bears the name OF his
father and himself.
No two men could have been more
alike than the elder and the younger
Morgan; each banker, each an art
connoisseur and each yachting en-
thusiast J. Pierpont' Morgan is the
physical image of his father and has
al Of his commanding personality.
From his college days, when he was
Known as Jack" Morgan, a student and
Cevotee Of athletics rather than as the
ION of a multimillionaire. down 10 the
Present. his courage TO stand by his
convictions and his desire 20 remain
cut of the public eve attracted VICE
sDrcad attention. As banker. Keen
and brilliant; as Q citizen he is char
table and opposed 20 publicity. An
instance similar in q way to yester-
,av's attack shows the latter trait
In February, 1912, within a week
cftc~ his home had been looted Of val
rable icwelry. Mr.. Morgan received a
threatening letter from q man who
,-rote that he knew Of the manipula-
lions Of the Morgan Wall Street house,
end through il had lost all the money
he had" He turned this over to the
notice. but when information was
ought from him he merely said: u
have never received O threatening let
ter in my life. and | have never been
blackmailed. This is all poppycock."
Started with Handicap.
NJ. Morgan has been confronted
with one of the worlds greatest handi-
cans: he was placed in position
where he had TO keep his reputation
ND 10 the high standard his father be-
lore him had set. When he succeeded
his parent as head Of the banking
house which has for years marked the
corner Of Wall and Broad streets
downtown interests asked: Can ne
do Il? Is he as strong as his father 2!
His achievements have proved tna0
they had no reason 70 be afraid OF the
son, and that when the weight OF Dusl-
ness was thrown upon his shoulders
he WIS able 70 bear the burden.
His quiet appearance is indicative
of his actions In his work he IS Keen
but not noisy; sound in mind, but nor
obtrusive. This comes from sympa-
thetic study Of his father, to whom he
was always Jack" his son and his best
friend. And il was in quiet way thal
he took upon himself the place MS
father had created.
Mr.. Morgan speaks with an air of au-
thoritv and with sense OF navlhC
studied a situation carefully before
he makes an answer. This is evident
in both his business and his yachting
career. A few years ago he was asked
WHY he did not buy q racing boat IN
stead of being content TO use the
Phrvne, a thirty-footer. Nv ell, ne
said. as he slowly took his pipe from
his mouth, 81 cant afford to race Dig
Yacht because il takes up too much
time. I am simply one Of the little TEL
lows in the big meet"
but this modest statement does not
reveal the true Morgan. better
Glance Of his characteristics was shown
. 10 those who attended the recent hear
;ngs Of the United States Commission
on Industrial Relations, at one OF
which Mr.. Morgan was on the stand.
Modest in Public.
As he rested his chin on his hand
he reminded the auditors who filled the
assembly hall Of the Metropolitan Life
Building of his father. who had estab-
hshed the banking houses known as
the Morgan chain. For an hour and a
half he gave his testimony, smiling at
some of the questions the commission
ers hurled at him. replying 81 don't
know" 10 others, and occasionally look
ing straight at Chairman Frank Z.
Walsh and telling ell he knew of the
phase of labor then being considered.
Here. too. his modesty again APP
reared. Replying to a question in
which he was asked to suggest rem
edy which might alleviate unrest
among the nations working classes
he said. with q smile: "The purpose
is admirable. but it's beyond me. l
haven't the power or the capacity to
suggest legislation. I'd be very glad
10 give you any suggestions II l had
them"
Yet Mr.. Morgan was the first Of rep
IetGNlELlNt UQSlANHo 4ilNAA w ~ W ~
White House and talk freely with
President Wilson. The visit was made
at his request Just a year ago yester-
day. When he had finished and was
asked what had been discussed he
only seemed jubilant and referred men
20 the President.
Mr.. Morgan's last marked appear
ance in public was before the Indus
trial Commission. Then he admitted
calmly that he did not know whether
$40 q week was sufficient pay for a
longshoreman.
"If that is all a man can get he said
as the audience smiled, 81 should think
that was enough" the latter half of the
sentence bringing a hearty laugh from
both the witness and his hearers. AT
that time he declared he knew labor
conditions in a general way, but was
unable TO satisfy the commissioners
when they asked him specific questions
upon particular points. Even the curl
Gus, almost impairment queries were
invariably returned TO their sender with
calmness, accompanied by a smile. II
Mr.. Morgan's answers did not please