The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
A MILLIONAIRE,s ADVICE.
The Sound Counsel of Rich Man Who b
gan Life on 81 a Month.

A MILLIONAIRE'S ADVICE.
The Sound Counsel of Rich Man Who Be-
gan Life on 81 a Month.
New York Times.
Charles Croker, the Southern Pacific railroad
magnate, who was lately thrown from his car
riage and seriously hurt. is reported now by his
friends to be on the sure road TO recovery. He
has suffered good IDEAL from the fractured
bones and general shaking up that resulted from
his accident, but tender nursing and hardy
constitution have pulled him through. There
are few men in Wall street railroad circles
who have so many friends as Charles Croker
He is millionaire who is not proud The fort
une that gives him all the Injuries of life he
carved out himself. He has known what 1t is to
work for board and clothesp-board, too, that
wasn't the choicest and clothes that were not the
finest It is not many years that he has to look
back to the time when he felt prosperous on
wages Of 81 month"; quarter of dollar
per day.
when my employer finally decided to give
me $12 month" said Mr.. Croker not long ago.
recalling those old days, II hailed him as the
biggest sort of a benefactor." Yet Mr.. Croker
self so far as to have paid out $50 000 900 in
wages to other workingmen. He believes that
he solved the secret of success at the period when
he was a mere wage Garner. Ask him for that
solution and he will be loath to discuss his own
rise in the world. for a modest man, he disllkes
-
a day or two ago an incident from Mr.. Crocker's
career which aptly illustrates not only the prac-
teal way he has of looking at things, but it has,
as well, pertinency to these times OF labor agl-
tation ard the pro and con fight as to wages and
the length of work day.
When Mr.. Croker first started out to build
the Southern Pacific route, said my narrator, he
Also decided to build better house for himself
than he had been occupying. He summoned his
architect and told him what was wanted, adding
fhof ho dol Ynop anIr tn
work on the house. "And," he added pointedly,
II consider eight-hour labor second-class labor"
That was time when, as at present, there was
a great hurrah in various parts of the country,
particularly in California, over the demands OF
workingmen for ten hours pay for eight hours
work. The architect shook his head doubtfully.
He was afraid that it would have to be eight
hour labor or no labor at all, and he told Mr..
Croker "All right, then" commented the
railroad builder; ''well wait till somebody
laziness." He waited. Bricks, and lime, and
lumber that had been provided for the pro-
posed structure lay exposed to the weather
with no prospect of it ever proving of any use.
Mr.. Croker used to walk down and look over
his big pile of material every day. Nobody in
the long list Of builders who had been ap-
preached had been found willing to take the
contract, for though the work was to be done at
their own price their workmen were so welded
to the eight-hou doctrine that they stood con-
taking to Mr.. Crocker's taste.
One afternoon, as Mr. Crocker stood examin-
ing portions of the timber going TO waste, he
caught the eve of a young man rising just above
a neighboring fence. A muscular young me-
chanic of Mr.. Crocker's acquaintance owned tAe
eye.
"Why is it. Mr. Crocker," asked he, shat
you are no longer the friend of the working
mani"
mot the friend of the workingman!" calculated
hat do mag
"You do not allow any one to work for you
who is committed to the eight hour system and
this is a big disappointment, sir, for we've al
ways counted on you for our friend
look here. young man, you strike me as an
intelligent fellow. Now, suppose you come over
the fence, and we will have a little talk.
The young mechanic scaled the pickets, and
the two men sat on piece of hewn timber and
talked Familiarity. Said Mr.. Croker: Have
you no ambition to be something more than q
mere journeyman mason2 Haven't you an am
bition TO become master In your trader The
other said he had ambition, but little expecta-
ton. "Now listen to little common sense
went on Mr.. Croker do you ever expect to
get any higher than you are to day-do you ever
expect to be mastermaso by working only
eight hours day. If somebody else has no
such ambition. and wants only money enough to
buy glass of liquor beside his daily bread-if
such men are anxious to cut down the hours
of work, are you going in to help him bind you
going to tie yourself to log2 Are you content
to be toady to lot of loafers2 And are you
ready to make sacrifices of all your ambitions
and all your prospects in order to join an organ
iZaton which demands an eight-nour system
imply to make loafers equal to good workmen like
yourselft Young man, l don't believe you intend
any such thing. You have not thouaht this
matter over. Did you ever hear of any man
getting to the top in any trade profession on
the eieht-hour platforms Not a bit of it, young
man, never once. Shirks not the successful
men. Now wake up to cold facts go to your or
ganization aud tell them that you propose here
after to be a free man and work as many hours
as suits yourself Then bring some of your
companions with you and take hold OF this job
You can have the contract at your own price;
but want to feel sure that have men at work
whose chief object is not looking for the close Of
the day, and who are worrying perpetuaily Tor
fear they will work a little over time"
That young man was converted Associating
himself with one or two Of his fellows, he pushed
the contract through in excellent shape salts
fed the employer, and made handsome profit.
Eight years or so afterward Mr. Croker was in
Western city, when a well kept man ac-
costed him. do you remember mep he asked.
Mr.. Croker cid. 1t was that young man who
had abandoned the eight-hour gospel after the
memorable sermon on the log by the site Of the
unbuilded house.
II am prosperous now" said the mechanic.
ssYour common sense talk to me that afternoon
has made me man through and through. In
stead Of remaining-as / would-a mere jour
neyman at dollar or two today. aud an ever
lasting anxiety over working too much and toe
hard, / am now ell-to-do in the world Do you
notice that block of new houses down the
street, He pointed to q handsome brick row,
sThey belong to me- I've earned them by tax
ing some advice and not being afraid TO work.