The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-16
NG,PENF|E[D 5
|. RIVAL 0WERIN
BUSINESS WORLD
Through Marriage Rises ,
Near Control Of Giant
Fruit Company.

Eugene w. Ong, one OF the prin-
cipals in the Penfield divorce scandal.
Ia now forty-five. He Is general conu-
sci, vice president. and general man
ager of the United Fruit Company. He
has his headquarters In Boston. but
makes frequent trips to New York.
Washington. and elsewhere.
He is a son Of former Judge Walter
Ong, of the court of common pleas,
Cleveland. Judge Ong, now retired. Is
passing the remaining years of his life
In Pasadena, Cal.
Eugene Ong was admitted to the
bar at an early age, He studied at
the University School in Cleveland,
was graduated from Yale In 1900, and
from the Harvard Law School in 1908.
Meantime he had met the family of
old Andrew w. Preston socially.
Married In 1904.
The Preston home on the Fenway,
Boston, was one of the finest in the
Hub. There were three daughters,
Bessie. Isabel. and Blanche. Bessie
was the eldest. She and young Ong
fell in love and were married in Bos-
ton in 1904.
Preston, forty years before, had
stood on the docks of Boston and
dreamed dreams that finally were
Fruit Company shipping merger. He
was and is president of the com.
pany. Minor c. Keith, an early
partner. is vice president In charge
of the New York office.
Preston. less than sixty years old,
took a fancy to his son-in.law and
groomed him for an important place
in the fruit company organization.
Ong first became clerk In the
law office Of Story, Thorndike. Pal.
mer and Dodge, general counsel for
the fruit company.
Here he remained until 1914, when
he was made vice president and gen.
eral counsel. His salary was raised
to $4,000 a year. and his fcther-in-
law presented his daughter and her
husband with beautiful home in
Brookline and a country home in
chusetts watering place. At the lat
ter place, particularly at the 81 ,000,-
600 New Ocean Hotel. Ong's friend
ship for Mr.. and Mrs. Penfield de-
veloped, II is alleged.
Gradually, in the course of the
years, three children came to Mr.. and
Mrs. Ong-Dorothy, eleven Richard.
six, and Patricia paddy. three.
All this time Ong's capacity for
business and untfring zeal won him
he regard of his father-inlaw. After
he has been elevated to the post Of
general counsel and authoritative vice
president IL was generally understood
that Preston intended eventually that
his son-in-law should succeed him in
the fruit company presidency.
Ong Rises Rapidly.
Although rivals termed him "The
Crown Prince" Ong's lucky star
seemed always In the ascendency.
Gradually changes were made in the
personnel of the executives Of the
gigantic merger and Ong was credited
with having dictated them all.
For instance, leopard @. Schermer-
horn, formerly executive vice presi-
dent OF the company In the New York
district, found 1t expedient to resign.
Young. vigorous, forceful, chermer-
horn. 1t had been thought, might be-
come president of the company.
Recently, 1t has been said, the
salary Of an important vice president
OF United Fruit was reduced from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year. OnR's
power has been manifest in his an
parent control !, of the all-powerful
executive committee, consisting of
Preston, Ong, Bradley w. Palmer.
of Story, Thorndike, Palmer, and
Dodge, a Francis r. Harts q chGiffnan
IF the directors of the Old Colony
Trust Company. and Mr.. Lee, of Lee.
Hgginson and Company, Boston
bankers.
In the last two or tire years.
Preston, the indomitable old indus.
trial empire builder, has leaned more
and more upon his forceful son-in.
law. In inner fruit company cir