The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-04-11

of fCer1l1any
Succumbs
SHINES, Industrial Kaiser y
Dies Following Three OPP
erations-Illness Caused
by Overwork.
Death Big Loss to Nation

Berlin, April 10.-Hugo SHINES.
more closely identified with German
industrial than any other man. died
this evening at $40. Indefatigable in
his labors he struggled against the
impending end and was conscious to
the last.
Around him were gathered his wife
and children. To them he had de-
voted in his later years all the time
he could spare from his vast business
interests. There had been no hope
for his recovery for many hours and
the foremost medical skill could do
nothing against the ravages of dis
ease.
Three major operations had been
performed, the first about four weeks
ago for gall stones. and it was owing
to the impossibility of keeping the
patient quiet, according to the sur.
geons, that complications arose. ne
cessitating further operations. the
last one on Sunday. II also was re-
ported that pneumonia developed.
Sole Topic Of Discussion.
Since the grave nature Of Herr
Shines Illness became known In Ber-
lin II had been almost the sole topic
OF discussion. 1t far outranged in
popular interest the project just pub
lished by the experts committees for
the settlement Of the reparation prob
lem. The far-reaching business enter
prises OF the man, his great influence
among. political leaders and his eccen-
tricties had. since the war, taken a
strong hold on the German people.
and his death. though expected. has
caused anxious speculation as to who
may arise to take his place.
The death OF SHINES. at the very
moment tho process OF disentangling
the reparations knot seems about to
enter upon its final stage, Is felt in
official quarters and industrial circles
as a distinct loss TO Germany. What
ever the popular or official attitude
towards his political orientation, or
his far flung economic program may
have been, there was widespread
impression that SHINES was pre-
eminently qualified to take an active
part in the final adjustment OF the
problems OF which the experts COM
mittees have rendered an exhaustive
verdict.
Worked is Hours = Day.
Herr SHINES perslstently refused
to enter into public discussion OF the
PREPARATION problems or the French
occupation of the Ruhr. He preferred
TO hold himself in readiness until the
moment for ultimate action had ar.
rived. Even during his four years
|incumbency OF a seat in the reich
stag he declined to participate In its
debates. save once when he unfolded
bis program calling for more pro-
duction" and abolition OF the eight
hour day law. OF which he was the
|unrelenting foe His own working
day averaged is hours, and he was
uncompromising In declaring that a
uniform eight hour day was viciously
inimical to Germany's economic re-
covery.
SHINES would talk freely TO news
paper men with whom he was ac-
auainted. but not for publication.
Likewise he was always accessible TO
financial leaders and business men
from abroad who made pilgrimages
to Berlin solely to meet the man
who bad been vaguely dubbed "the
uncrowned monarch of postwar Ger.
many"
Began Career on Farm.
The great German industrialist be.
gan his career In his fathers coal
mine at MuelheIm. where he worked
with pick and shovel. shoulder 10
shoulder with veteran miners.
To his associates and business ac.
auaintances, SHINES was anything
hut a man whom popular legend por.
trayed as an octopus with widely
ramifying tentacles. ciutching madiy
at smokesacks, buzzing dynamoes
ocean liners, hotel properties and
newspaper plants.
HE was hard.headed business
man. who espied in the disrupted post.
war economies everywhere fertile
field for tho exploitation of his un.
eanny genius for swiftly appraising a
situation and then applying to IL his
talent for constructive organization. 81
one OF his associates in the Ruhr oh.
served today. His invasion OF the
financial world was of more recent
occurrence The administration OF
his diverging interests viii develop
upon his sons. Edmund and Hugo
ir.. the latter al present in charge OF
his fathers shipping interests in
Hamburg. Edmund. the oldest. Is
resident general director In Berlin OF
the SHINES interests located there.