His efforts, in particular the attempted takeover of the Boston and Maine Railroad, brought him into public contention with antitrust lawyer Louis Brandeis in Massachusetts. In May 1908 Morgan's partner George Walbridge Perkins wrote to Morgan: "I still feel, as I have for couple of years, that Mr. Mellen is getting the New Haven into considerable of a muddle by his financial methods and this, I think, is becoming more or less the general opinion." The failed Morganization of the New Haven was among the great embarrassments to the Morgan interests.
Morgan's efforts, especially his bid to take over the Boston and Maine Railroad, led to public clashes with antitrust lawyer Louis Brandeis in Massachusetts. In May 1908, Morgan's partner George Walbridge Perkins wrote to Morgan: "I still believe, as I have for a couple of years, that Mr. Mellen is causing significant problems for the New Haven by his financial tactics and this, I think, is becoming more or less widely accepted." The failed attempt to merge the New Haven with the Morgan interests was a major embarrassment.