The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-09-26
PRETTY, BUT NOT ALL.

Mr.. Jay GOuld's narrative of his early
struggles and life, recited before the
senate committee on labor last week in
New York, reads like a fairy tale. He
tells how he first worked for so a
month; how he started in to keep hooks,
and after being discharged as being mo
good," went to quiet place, cried and
prayed, and thought that he couldn't
have the heart to ask anybody for his
dinner the next day. Now, this reads
nicely. In fact, it may be considered af-
fecting-to any one not knowing efthe
INSCRIPTIONS after-career of the man.
That he prayed is surprising, but he was
young then and perhaps it was not a re.
markable fact. That he has since preyed
admits of no question, for the statement
goes by the saying of it. He has preyed
upon the public to the extent Of being
the richest man in the world. But to
return to his story. He next went to
selling maps, made a good thing of it,
then cleared more money by surveying.
He next essayed the tanning business
with rich man. The latter had all the,
money in first place, and Gould the ex-
perience. In course of time the latter
had all the money and the other the ex-
perience. In fact the tanning enterprise
was one of the best worked schemes Of
Gould's life, and the sharp tricks that
marked his early business venture has
distinguished all of his colossal schemes
What was in the boy came out in the
man, and since Gould has been tanning
people right and left. In the course Of
his testimony the great financier touch
ed briefly upon the various great rail-
road enterprises in which he was inter-
ected, but there were many things he
did not allude to. For instance he
failed to say anything about his corrupt
management of the Erie railroad and
how he and Fisk robbed the stockholders
right and left. He said nothing about
the great Black Friday conspiracy,
which ruined thousands, and for which
Gould was largely responsible. There
were other disreputable features Of his
life of speculation and extortion that
were not even limited at. In fact as
biography the story is fraud and
failure. 1t sounds pretty but it isn't
true. Mr. Gould's most important
omission however, was refusal to an
swer the question as to how much the
Western Union actually cost. 1t is
known that it pays immense dividends
on enormously watered stock, but the
principal owner refused to enlighten
the people is to the actual facts regard
ing this arch monopoly. He, however,
glibly moraliza9 on the law Of supply
and demand and volunteered the opin-
ion got its fair share oftne profits arising
from the use of capital. This is untrue,
according to (;ould's own admission,
for he admits that some of his cOnsoli-
dated roads are paying 81 l,5OO.OO a
month. 1t will strike most people that
capital is getting more than its share
in that case at least, and in many others
that might be specified. While it is
true that Jay Gould's early poverty and
subsequent flattering success may be an
inspiration to. young men of the present
age to make something Of themselves,
yet it is hoped that they will not seek to
| do SO thought the questionable and sharp
practices that have marked the life OF
this man. His example is pernicious.
The danger of this country is aggregated
and concentrated wealth. Its power
is one for i'll and not of good. 1t controls
legislation and debauches and tyranni-
zes labor, making slaves of freemen
Ambition is good thing and no boy
should be without q first-ciass supply
But 1t is better to be honest and upright
and decently well off than to have great
riches and an InsavOry NAME.