Business & Finance: Deeds & The Cash

Until last year there hung in the office of John H. Barringer, high-powered general manager and dominant executive of National Cash Register Co., a sign: "BIGGER OR BUST—$100,000,000 sales, $20,000,000 net profits." Last year because the sales were dwindling to $29,000,000 and the profits to nil, and because N. C. R. could no longer pay dividends, high-powered Mr. Barringer resigned. Into his job but not his office went Col. Edward Andrew Deeds, tightlipped, bespectacled chairman of Niles-Bement-Pond Co. (electric machinery), of Pratt & Whitney (airplane motors), of General Sugar Corp. It was a...