Duke University - Chanticleer Yearbook (Durham, NC)

Page 13 text:

nil 31amfa lurlianan iuke BY B. C FORBES R. DUFCE is one of the largest holders of inveslmenis in ihc United Stales. Not only so, but his painstakingly-won capital, combined, of course, with brains, enabled him to reach a position in his industry, tobacco, such as no man, not excepting Rockefeller himself, ever attained m any other world industry. Mr. Duke expanded and expanded until he con- trolled 80 per cent of the tobacco business in the United States and, even more astonishing, became also the Tobacco King of the Old World. No great industry was ever mastered and controlled by one man to the extent that the tobacco industry was mastered and controlled by James Buchanan Duke. Were I asked to compile a list oT the half-hundred wealthiest men in America I would include Mr. Duke. When James B. was twenty-seven he was placed in entire charge of the whole business (his father ' s), so conspicuously fitted was he to carry through the ambitious plans which were formed. Up till then tSc Dukes had handled only granulated smoking tobacco, but young Duke foresaw the tremendous opportunity in the cigarel business. Soon this end of the business, under the driving power of Buck, was expanding rapidly, necessitating the building of a very large factory in Durham. When thirty-three he formed the great American Tobacco Company, which embraced four of the principal tobacco concerns in the country in addition to Duke ' s business. Just as Napoleon was not content to become the dominating power in one country but looked for other lands to conquer, and just as John D. Rockefeller had not been content to gain dominance in his own land, James B. Duke hastily started for England, and the company he formed, the British-American Tobacco Company, became the greatest power in the foreign field. A few months ago the financial world was startled by an announcement that James B. Duke, in association with George J. Whalen, had arranged to launch a colossal retail organization throughout not only the United States but throughout the whole world. The nucleus of this gigantic chain is the United Cigar Stores, which already has its hundreds of familiar corner stores. So it happens that Dukes original investment has made him an ever-growing power among the American men who are taking over world leadership. (Copyrighted, 1919, by B. C. Forbes. Used by Mr. Forbes special permission to the Chanticleer.)

Page 12 text:

Aloft from all his glossy, feather ' d host The chanticleer proclaims the darvn s advent When drear]) night has faded with its ghost. And all its gruesome fears are rvell-nigh spent. Hence, to this bool( the selfsame name is lent. Our dark ordeal and arvful fear behold! To Tveary eyes the vision noiv is sent. Our .s orp folloTvs, by this Herald bold The fray of conflict and the victor ' s song are told. E. W. A ' cC. Law. ' 20.

Page 14 text:

JAMES BUCHANAN DUKE (10)