The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-30

s.s0 yVu9Bers BAKER VIII emerge from
the helm.
Hshas taken a leaf out of Cecil
RHODES book in that he often, when
9fdeaa 10 under discussion, assumes the
role OF theI other side and starts to
pick holes In the terms proposed by the
bank people. In other words, he be-
comes the opposition, 50 to speak, and
has to be convinced that the terms are
favorable or at least fair. to the other
I party or parties to the transaction.
One Of his most pronounced char
4otertstics is his thoroughness.
Although he, reached his eighty-fourth
birthday last Thursday. George y. Bak-
er, sry is today active both In mind
and body. He Ii now on his way home
from his usual winter sojourn in the
south accompanied by one OF bis clos
est friends, President Loomis, Of the
Lehigh Valley railroad.
Charles e. Mitchell, president Of the
National City bank Of New York. an
Institution whose resources are climb
ing toward the billion mark, lis bull
on Cuba. During his visit, to the is
land this month he demonstrated his
faith in its future by buying q mum
Der Of bank buildings throughout the
island while the City bank Is now busi-
" erecting an imposing new building In
has .outgrown the facilities Offered by
the banks present quarters.
During a chat with Mr.. Mitchell yes
terday, hespounded out, with his char
acteristic vigor, reason after reason
for his faith in the future of Cuba.
His facts and figures were impressive.
I hope, to. give some OF them in this
column within the next few days :
This Is significant Of an Important
economic evolution now under way.
John n. WHY'S announced at San Fran
cisco this week that he 10 to send two
engineers to the Pacific coast to choose
for q. new WHY'S Overland plant there.
Mr.. WHY'S and his companies have
achieved one OF the most remarkable
comsbacks in industrial history. Caught
in the business and financial collapse
which followed the after-the-war boom,
he found himself to an uncomfortable
extent In the hands of banking inter-
ests. But he refused to. give up. As
did ,Schwab ut one stage Of his career,
he cast aside all social activities, rolled
up his sleeves and went to work with
might and main. schwab finally sue
ceeded In putting Bethlehem Steel sol
Idly on the map. Wiilys Is working .
Transformation In his companies. Other
autonaehile leaders take of their hats
a plant on the Pacific coast Is now
BECOMING an 9QJuuCb OF most Oh OUT DIX
pfosresisve Industrial enterprises.
American Can company directors have
again fooled Wall street and the pub
lie who dabble In stocks. Declaration
Of another extra dividend was conf
9entially counted upon, and the shares
went sisyrocketing. But no extra divi-
dends were announced. And, Of course,
the shares tumble0 neadIong. ~
The stock market record OF this COM
pany is about as bad as that OF any
company in the country. Outsiders who
monkey with its shares have only, them
seivse to blame when they get their
fingers burned Insiders are much too
clever for them. as
III 1T keeps up the record it has been
making, the Equitable company of New
York will soon De the third or fourth
largest financial institution in the Unit
ed States. Its resources have passed
100000 900 for the first time in its his
tory. The explanation? It has able,
aggressive men at Its head.
John d.. Ryan. undisputed copper
rope this week without giving out q
word about his plans. That is like Mr.
Ryan. He shuns the limelight as a
lion shuns fire. tried to get an in
terview from him recently, but he de-
INJURED, remarking:
.You are the only fellow 1 have ever
given interviews to, but. this time
want TO keep quiet"
I I recalled that Mr. Ryan once ex-
planned to me sfnilingly:
I'm between the devil and the deep
blue sea. IF / talk pessimistically, I
get In wrong with my stockholders. II
talk alphabetically out It goes 10 Butte
and my men there think It Is time to
strike me for more pay. So find II
best to say nothing.
He succeeds In doing this extremely
we'll.
would, rate John D. Ryan as one
OF the six most important industrial
figures in America todays--Copyright
1924, by B. C. Forbes. MyS