New-York tribune., 1920-06-19

to become a member of his banking
house. Mr.. Perkins was perhaps the
only man who ever declined such an
offer from Mr.. Morgan. But after care
full deliberation he did decline 1t, be-
carry to completion extensive plans
which he had formedfor the New York
Life Insurance Company.
Although thus rebuffed, Mr.. Morgan
was not offended nor turned from his
purpose, but little later he renewed
his invitation on terms which would
permit Mr.. Perkins to continue his
connection with and his work in the
insurance company
On those terms Mr.. Perkins in 1901
became a partner in the house of ]. P.
Morgan & Co. of New York, of Drexel,
Morgan g. Co. of Philadelphia, and Of
Morgan, Harjes & Co. of Paris. In
that capacity he soon showed himself
one of the prime factors in the fnan-
cial world of America and Europe.
He personally negotiated number
of large foreign loans, and was fore
most in the organization of the United
States Steel Corporation, the Intelna-
tional Harvester Company, and the
international Marine Company. He be-
came director of these three con-
Germs, and also of the Astor Trust
Company, the Bankers Trust Company,
the Cincinnati, Hamilton &, Dayton
Railroad. the Dayton & Union Railroad
Company. the German American In
surance Company, the Marquette &
Bessemer Dock and Navigation Com
York, the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company, the Northern Securities Com
pany the Toledo Railway and Ter
minal Company, the Pcre Marquette
Railway Company, the Chicago, Burl-
ington and Quincy Railroad Company.
the Great Central Dock Company, and
the New York Trust Company.
In Progressive Politics
MIR. Perkins retired from the firm OF
j. P. Morgan g. Co., in 1910 in order,
as he said to deote himself to other
work Of a public and semi public
nature Conspicuous in this work was
his activity in Progressive Republican
politics. He wrote and spoke much on
the subject of industrial justice, of the
need of revision of the Federal corpora
ton laws. and of the desirablity Of
giving the affairs of corporations the
fullest possible publicity in order TO
restrain abuses.
Mr.. Porwlns became deely interested
in Theodore Roosevelt's political and
economic policies and threw himself
actively into the Progressive campaign
of 1912. He was chairman of the Ex-
, ecutive Committee of the Progre ssive
National Committee, and by his untir-
ing energy and Flea fairly won Colonel
Roosevelt's tribute as "probably the
most useful man in the Progressive
not diminish his zeal for Progressive
= principles, and with his return with thc
rest of the Progressives to the Re
= publican party he brought into it hi:
= energetic spirit. He was credited Will
h the chief influence in selecting VIII II
\ Hays to be chairman of the Nationa
| Committee of the reunited party.
\ At the very outbreak of the worlC
i war Mr.. Perkins anticipated the ult
II mate entry of the United States into
Il that struggle, and was an earnest advo
\ cate Of rational preparedness and
Il sharp critic Of the policy of Presiden
H Wilson. In speech at indianapolis il
Il 1915 he declared that the United State
Il was sadly unprepared for war ane
Il urged immediate action Of the mos
Il vigorous kind When at last the United
Il States became directly involved in th'
Il war he was one of the foremost tt
\ realize the Importance Of the foot
Il question. He was appointed by hi
\ friend, Mayor Mitchell, the head of
Il committee to prevent abnormal in
\ creases in the prices of foodstuffs, ant
\ ne personally purchased vast quaint
Il ties Of foodstuffs and had them shippec
Ixfz 81
Il prohteers to raise prices extortion-
II ately.
\ Governor Whitman, in September
L 1917, appointed him chairman OF tn
4 State Food Control Board, but after
bitter and discreditable struggle tn,
: State Senate refused to confirm him
This not in the least, however, abat
his patriotic ardor and activities ant
he continued powerful and effectiv,
campaign against rising prices
He was the chairman Of the Wa,
Work Council Of the Y. NJ. c. A.,
member of the executive committee @
the United War Work Campaign ant
contributed largely toward collecting
the fund of s200,O00,00O for relic
work among the American soldiers il
France and Belgium. He spent sew
eral months in Europe in connection
with that work, and it was while hi
""o lHuS engaged tnat ne contracted
the grave malades which sapped hi.
strength and prepared the way for his
final illness.
Palisades Park
Conspicuous among the importan
public works to which Mr.. Perkins es
sentially contributed is the grea
Palisades Park, on the western banl
| OF the Hudson River, in the states o.
! New York ard New Jersey. Nor,
| perhaps than any other one man he i.
| to be credited with the creation O
| that unique pleasure ground, and will
| the preservation Of its scenic splcn
| dors from spoliation.
| Mr.. Perkins gave much Of his keen
est interest and deepest thought tt
| tho questions Of the relations o
capital and labor, and especially tt
plans for securing to workingmen O.
all grades an equitable remuneration
for their toll. In the National Civic
Federation he was the foremost ndvo
cate OF systematic and equitable profit
- sharing between employers and then
employees.
Wife and Children