The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-09-24
GERMAN ROCKEFELLER
IAN INTERNATIONALLY
Hugo SHINES Rated as Many
Times a Billionaire; Made
Money on War
(By United Press)

(By United Press)
Berlin, Sept. 23.-Hugo SHINES
Germans richest man, is reaching out
today as an internationalist, moi
merely a nationalist.
His wealth pours in from the foul
corners of the globe, and he is rec,
koned as many time Millionaire, ad;;
hitting in his tax returns that he is
at least a Millionaire. He was rich
man before the war. But his hold
ings today are like the proverbial tan
merry in comparison with an earlier
shoestring. He is known as "rue-
ckisichtlos' -ruthless-in his gold
grabbing.
The SHINES concern has become
all-inclusive. At least 1900 under
takings and "daughter companies" be-
long thereto. These concerns engage
in coal mining and shipping; he con-
trolls business that make everything
from high current machines to in
candescent lamps; from a screw to
an ocean steamer; from modest
workers home to hotels like the At
lantic of Hamburg and the Esplanade
Of Berlin; from big forest to news
print and newspapers.
Shines steamers travel not alone
upon the Rhine and in the Ostsee,
but also on the Atlantic and Pacific.
And, since his election from the
MISUNDERSTANDING line directorate,
SHINES is doing his utmost to extend
his foreign holdings, especially in
shipping. His boldest stroke recently
was the purchase Of the Alpinen Mon
tangesellschaft, holding the largest
closed ore supplies in Europe. but un-
able to operate because it lacked coke
following creation of Tschecho- Slovo-
akei. With his coke and coalholdings
it was easy to rejuvenate the Austr-
lao iron industry, and to absorb many
men otherwise worthless. But SHINES
is feeling the heavy hand Of COM
petion. The Hamburg-American line
dropped him from it's board of direc-
tors because he sought to enter the
South American shipping business in
dependently. He is going to fight
the "Hapag;;" but he has still an
other dangerous competitor, Herr
Haniel, owner of the great "Good
Hope" concern, which is seeking, with
considerable success, to build up a
concern to rival that of SHINES and
his 1900 holdings.
Haniel, besides being wonderfully
strong business man, is racing oper-
ator. In three or four years, he has
built up the most famous racing
stable IN Germany, has won the Der
by in Germany twice and number
Of other big races. He spends freely
on his race horses, and works also
with a free hand in his concern, so
that today he stands as SHINES most
serious competitor. The business
world regards him the pleasanter and
kindlier personality.
And, while Hanel is crowding Stin-
hes, the latter still has the lead with
a plant valued at eight mllliards OF
marks; and one million employees.
SHINES is painted swan-whlte or
raven black, according to whether it
be a nationalist or a radical who
views him. His methods are held by
many to have doubtful elements
about them--perhaps as one judges
the old days of millionaires and their
methods in America.
When SHINES started on his ca
reer Of collecting gold, he was in the
first instance a trader rather than a
producer. He still has much of that
character. He did not create his pro
perty, but received it as legacy and
developed it. His grandfather, Mat.
thias SHINES, started in with Goa!
transport on ships and then developed
into coal producer and buyer OF
mines.
+ What the elder SHINES started in
the Rhineland, Hugo SHINES has
stretched to wider sphere, using the
same methods as his grandfather
EHugo's sphere noSlonger merely Ger
many.but the whole world. -.
~ SRuthlesness is laid at his door; and
bis opponents claim the best proof OF
this is that he went into the war with
million and came out confessedly
with a~milliard, which theys believe is
fonly part Of his wealth. During the
war he joined the German LuXem-
bourg company big steel and iron
rndertaking-and it is commended
this connection did much to strength
en- his iocketbook SHINES is credited
with being chiefly responsible for the
deportation of Belgian workers to
Germany. He also wanted a peace
with Italy in 1917--some say because
it would have furthered his own bus.