Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-06-18
GEO. v. PERKINS.
FINANCIER, IS.
AMONCT CTHEDEAD.
inflammation of Brain is
Brought on by Constant
Drain Upon 1t.

tRy The Associated prcssl
NEW YORK, n. Y, June 1S.-
George w. Perkins, the financier
died today in Stamford Hall sanitar.
ium, Stamford, Conn, of acute in.
flammation of the brain brought, ac-
cording to physicians, by continuous
overwork.
George Walbridge Perkins, for ten
years a member Of the firm of j. =.
Morgan 4 Company, was reputed to
have first suggested and persuaded
big business" TO adopt profit.-shar-
ing, insurance, service bonuses, sick
benefits and old age pensions.
1t was Perkins who was also said to
have inaugurated the plan which per-
mitted employees of the United States
tional Harvester Company, in both of
which he was at one time an eXecu-
tive. to purchase stock on Install
ments and at less than market value
on the assumption that industrial
justice is the most profitable of in
vestments, that justice promotes
peace. peace promotes prosperity and
that the workmen'S prosperity is nee
es>ary To the prosperity Of the bust
ness man."
Mr.. Perkins was born in Chicago.
January 81. 1862, descendant Of
Jacob Perkins. an English ancestor
who settled in Boston in 1851. His
father. George W Perkins. long en-
gagged in the shipping industry at
Buffalo. was later pioneer IN the
life insurance field The son enter
ed the insurance business in Chicago
when , as a clerk. became book
keeper. an agent and subsequently
manager Of a Cleveland office. He
went 10 Denver and in 1908 was made
vice president of the New York Life
Insurance Company. His achieve
ments attracted the attention of the
elder Morgan and in 1900 he was in
vited 10 become a member Of the Wall
street firm. In this capacity he ne
gotiated "A number of big foreign
loans. He remained with J. L. Nor
gan A Company until 1910. mean
while becoming n director Of numer-
Gus large corporations including the
steel and harvester companies, a
number Of railroads and the lntcrna-
tional Mercantile Marine Company.
Retiring from business few
years later. as he said, Ito devote my
self 10 other work Of a public and
semi-puklic nature" Mr.. Perkins
wrote and spoke frequently on the
subject of Industrial justice and when
Colonel Roosevelt became progressive
candidate for the presidency in 1912,
he became chairman Of the national
executive committee Of the party.
Previously ne had been a republican.
The year before he had urged a re-
vision Of the federal corporation laws
and in testifying before congress
sional committee investigating the
United States Steel Corporation he
advocated the fullest publicity for all
corporations. Despite the defeat of
the colonel. Mr.. Perkins continued
active in his advocacy Of progressive
principles.
Mr.. Perkins early in the world war
interested himself in the matter Of
American preparedness. He was Sc
we're critic of President Wilson. la
speech in indianapolis in 1915 he de-
clared the United States was unpre-
pared for war" and urged immediate
action. After the United States en-
tered the struggle he endeavored to
stimulate food production and hy
large purchases Of provisions al dis
tant points sought 10 avert a wartime
shortage in New York City. lie was
also active in Red Gross. Liberty
Loan and other patriotic drives. Af-
ter the war Mr.. Perkins went to
France TO investigate charges of
waste and incfficiency against the
Young Mems Christian association
workers abroad.
A close friend of the late Mayor
John Purroy Mitchell. Mr.. Perkins at
one time was prominently mentioned
for the mayoralty Of New York. He
was once quoted rs having said that
New York City could save S25,000,-
600 year by "a proper cut IN its
budget" He was trustee of NasSar
College and Berry School. Rome, Ga.
and a member Of numerous civic.
scientific. sociological and philan-
thropic organizations. In 1911 Mr.
Perkins received the honorary de
gree of LID. from the University of
Worcester and the University of Yer
mont.
MIR. Perkins married in 1889. Miss
Evalina Ball. daughter of Flamen
children were born, Dorothy and
George W. Perkins, Jr.. the latter of
whom was a lieutenant in the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces.