The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-26
COAL HIS GOD AND KING
Has Founded His Power on It
and Aspires to Dominate
Business of Europe.

Berlin, July 1l.-"Who will go TO the
Spa conference ! asked a prominent
S Ss.s. aso o s,,hSa. in Berlin few
Yes, l think he will be one of the
delegation" was the reply.
Who will the others be-"
Well said the official, after q mo-
ments hesitation, does 1t matter
That little conversation about the Spa
conference, the most important interna-
tional happening since the signatures
were put 10 the treaty OF Versailles
puts the present situation In Germany
In nutshell, says George Renwick in a
special cable to the New York Times
The government--any government---may
agree to this or that, may sign any
thing; but the final word. the final
deed, rests with Hugo SHINES.
Who IL this man who held up the Spa
conference SO dramatically and who
hoped to hold up Europe and dictate to
II before he Is done with II? He is q
man OF Jewish origin. born less than
fifty years ago. II you saw him at
work at his desk with his coat off you
colliery office. He is always carelessly
and shabbily dressed. HIS shoes are
habitually down at heel With his
close cropped, dark hair and black
beard and mustache, his paid features,
his twisted nose and his large, sharp
him power is the breath OF life. II IL
not In him to play second fiddle. He
lett his fathers great business because
those over him were In his way. He
launched out for himself and on his
own lines.
Nations Biggest War Proflteer.
To hear much of him before the war
you had to go to the Mulheim coal re-
gion or to British, German and French
ports where, the export Is mainly coal.
Yet before those fateful days OF August,
1914 he was millionaire several times
over. The war gave him great
chance, and. grasping the opportunity.
he became the Fatherland's biggest war
profiteer.
His coal enabled the Goeben and
Bresiau to reach safety in the Darda-
nelles. He amassed millions out OF Bel
GUM between 1914 and 1918. His was
the Infamous idea to despoil the Bel
gian factories and deport Belgian work.
ers. He could order Hindenburg and
Ludendorff about. The ex-kaiser en-
tertained lively fear and sneaking ad-
miration for him, and while Germany
was being fought down he was pilinn
up his financial fortunes and adding to
the sources OF his power. The exploits
Of American railway kings, oil magnates
and steel barons are almost child's play
when compared with his.
He has been compared with the late
Herr Ballin, the great chieftain of the
American line, but the ways
Of the two men We're fundamentally diff
ferent. The secret of success OF my
Balm once told me, lis that |
IN 1t there Is no place for a smart young |
man. Ballin required the steady. ex-
Derienced lieutenant. SHINES wants the |
smart young man, wants, his fresh
IDEAS, his suggestions, his daring. his !
brains. He uses them till the supply |
Tries up, and his has been a success far |
beyond Ballin's, though soul destroying, |
success as sinister as the sIan him |
,elf looks.
81 build ON coal" he once said to mo
n days long before the war From |
hen to various industries. to ships OF J
commerce, and coal will lead you to
wood and forests, to wood pulp and pa
Ter. Coal Is king"
Coal Is his king and god. At Spa he
fighting for coal, and see how he has
,uilt on 1t. He owns fifteen or ak
cen groups OF mines. He had his hand
n France. where he has lately been
plying out the land again. and In Eng
ad, Luxembourg is practically his.
ars. Vast forests belong to him. He
distributes practically all the coal OF
Germany. He owns one Of Berlins big
rest hotels, and nearly all the ships
which are left to Germany can be moved |
'nly at his bidding. Certain It Is that
viii be at his direct or indirect COM
nand.
Tho Hlndenburgs and Ludendorffs,
3ethmanns and Won Kuhlmanns have
rome from their places, and Il matters
title to SHINES. He laughs at politics
md despises diplomacy. Business to
lin is International. He hopes to win
irst place In the French coal industry,
ust as he looks to trading union be-
ween Germany and Russia to dominate /
he business of Europe.
/ watched him the other day lunching
With one of the chiefs of the trade mis-.
ion which Germany Is going to send TO
russia. II will be SHINES mission
more than anything else, and at that
luncheon table 1t received Its instruc-
ions.
Control Economic Parliament.
SHINES, l have said, laughs at politics
10 Is member OF the reichstaR, but
o thinks little of that, for he dominates
much more important body, the
Observation-Disclosures. or economic par
ament, body unique In Europe. That
eichstag of business will run Germany. |
nd II will do SHINES bidding. He
kinks he has the workers In his hands.
'nce after the revolution OF 1918 his
liners sent a deputation TO him. The
Id order had gone, he was told. The
lines were to be run by the miners and
0 on. SHINES, with his coat off and
boxing like a miner. too. replied In ef-
set:
"Oh. take the mines by all means.
brow them at your heads"
The deputation turned to 40.
zone word more" said SHINES. You
ant rim ninaa Won knnuv Aau In