Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-24
GEORGE BAKER. r.,
MUCH LIKE FATHER
Son OF Dean of Wall Street"
as Little Known as ]. p.
Morgan. Jr.
BY ROGER BATCHELnER.

AFA ASOOAAAs DAASAABAA1SA@Ns
NEW YORK, May % (NANA.).-
The shyness of a great man Of finance,
the junior George F. Baker, who has
inherited one of the worlds largest
fortunes from his father. dean OF Wall
Street." has brought again q mist Of
secrecy such as that which surrounds
j. Pierpont Morgan. son of the former
head of the house of Morgan.
Few know much about this new
power Of Wall Street, although he has
been in and around the First National
Bank since he was graduated from
Harvard Obeying the traditions Of
moulded his institution into the most
powerful of its kind, none in the or
ganization will give intimate infprma-
ton concerning either father or son.
The story of the father has been
told, however, because he had many
associates in business from whom re-
porters get enough to piece together
the chronicle of the bank clerk who
forced his way to leadership, and was
remotely connected with the Morgans
at times.
Followed Fathers Wishes.
The son is the successful son Of
successful father. a man who never was
forced to work for a living, but who
wished it. That was about all that
could be found in the files Of the
newspapers when the younger Mr..
Baker was officially made heir to his
fathers millions and to the control
of some of the countrys greatest in
dustries.
wall Street has never really known
him; that is the reason. He comes
from his home in Locust Valley Long
Island. on a yacht On the way to
town he dresses and has breakfast
and when he arrives at the pier OF the
New York Yacht Club at Nineteenth
street he leaves the luxury he loves
behind him.
Sometimes q taxicab draws up be-
fore the First National and man, with
a companion, gets out and casually pays
the fare.
More often an transformations Buick,
the driver wearing sports cap and no
senablance of q chauffeur's attire, drives
I'D and deposits this quiet man, who, 1t
might be, thought, has been given
lift to his work in the bank by friend:
Once in the offices of the colossal
concern that rules railroads. steamship
lines and scores Of other corporations
dependent on great finance, MIR. Baker,
the son, is unassuming, undeliberate,
paradoxically impetuous in . quiet way
Like his father, he knows that his or
Eanizatton is perfect and when the mat
ter of decision comes 1t takes hifn 10
minutes whereas some OF the nearby
pillars Of finance might deliberate for
hours for effect-sometimes.
Leaves Bank Early.
A few signatures, some brief confer
ences, and If there is nothing further
that needs his attention. MIR. Baker
leaves the bank. =.
The son, with the long experience OF
watching a master of millions at close
range, feels that it Is not necessary Tor
him to show up every day, or even every
week, II there is no pressing business.
With his social prestige and vast re-
sources, Mr.. Baker can do practically
anything he wishes. But he shuns pub
licity, like his father, and when he en-
counters groups OF people with whom
he is not engaged in business he Is Off
hdent and self-conscious.
He likes tennis, but plays only in
private, where he Will not be watched
nor pointed out as being the Mr. Baker.
His favorite diversion Is cruising on his
big yacht, the Viking, which. while u
is not Of the seagoing Corsair type or
j. P. Morgan, is big enough to weather
storms that may be found along the
coast Mr.. Baker wants luxury and
comfort, and he has them,
His tntimateS are very few. Whereas
Edward F. Hutton, for instance, with .
yacht Of similar size, surrounds himself
with as many friends as the capacity OF
the ship permits when he goes on .
yachting cruise, Mr.. Baker prefers
small party Of social or business friends
or a combination Of each, There Is not
the slightest arrogance or Importance in
his bearing toward any one. He was
taught by his father that seclusiOn was
the happier lot for those who are pow
ers Of the money market.
Married IN 1911.
Mr.. Baker belongs to the best clubs
of New York, but Is rarely seen at any
of them. No one outside of his family
group can say what he does for personal
relaxation, though It is suggested that
he may occasionally go to the movies
with his children.
In 1911 the younger Mr. Baker mar
RED Miss Edith BreyooFt and gave as
a wedding present the mansion buiit by
her grandfather In 1884. They have
four children.
The background Of the First National
today Is an excellent reflection OF the
traits of the Bakers, father and son.
Except for its enormous proportions. II
has the quiet and the unassuming AIR
of the English private bankers once.
It Is not possible for one to get an all-
dience with Mr.. Baker Immediately.
Once in the small banking room, one
takes his place on q long settee and
waits his turn. Before htra, on slight
1y raised platform, Is the president OF
the bank Uniformed attendants. pTt-
vate secretaries and the rest are lack
ing When one man leaves the presi-
dents desk the next goes through the
swinging gate.
stranger with q certified check for
500, coo, who wishes the advantage OF
using checks of the First National may
be refused an account, whereas hard
working person whose account rarely gets
over 81 900 may be the pet Of the tnsti-
tuition because Mr. Baker has passed
the word that he Is financially stable
and that he likes him personally.
CcopyriEht, 1881, By North American News
paper Alliance, Incl