Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-15
WINNING A FORTUNE,

| land among the many; in the latter everythin,
| tends to concentration of business in th
hands of the few. The farmer who cultiyate
| small farm by his own labor is able to drv
| out of the field the ambitious capitalist WHIT
attempts to farm upon large scale with tn,
labor of others. In Great Britain nothing ha
been more significant than that the tillers o.
small farms have passed through the agricul
| tuIal depression there far better than thos,
who cultivated large farms So in both coun
tries we have proof that under the free play o.
| equal laws land is becoming more and more
divided among the masses of the people. II
| the whole range of social questions no fact il
more important than this and nothing gives
the thoughtful student greater satisfaction
Ihe triumph OF the small proprietor over the
| large proprietor insures the growth and main
| tenance of that element in society upon which
civilization can most securely depend for tn ere
| is no force In a nation conservative of what
| Is good. so fair. SO virtuous, as race of meI
who till the soil they own.
WHEN we turn to the other army of labor-the
industrial-we are obliged to confess that
1t IS swayed by the opposite law, which tends tc
concentrate manufacturing and business affairs
generally in few vast establishments. The
fall in prices of manufactured articles has beer
startling Never were the principal articles OF
consumption SO low as they are to-day. This
cheapening process is made possible only by
concentration.
Turning to the question, "Has the young
man now chance?' Mr.. Carnegie discusses
the difficulties that he must meet He then
takes up the prizes won in the industrial world
by trained mechanics. He mentions Stude.
baker, Pullman, Babbitt, Howe Harper Bros
Mccormick Walter A Wood Roach. Cramp,
Steinway, Chickering and many others, and
continues: Every one of these great works
was founded and managed by mechanics men
fpnn no hftN TIo 1se1
could be greatly extended, and if we were to
include those which were created by men who
entered life as office boys clerks, we should
embrace almost every famous manufacturing
concern in the country. Edison. for instance
was a telegraph operator. Corliss. of Corliss
engine; Cheney, of Cheney SILK: Roebling, OF
wire fame; Spreckels. in sugar refining-all and
many more captains of industry-were Door
boys with natural aptitude. to whom regular
apprenticeship was scarcely necessary
N the mercantile commercial and financial
branches of business, which are all under
the law which drives business aft airs into large
concerns, the poor clerk takes the place of the
trained mechanic in the industrial world.
Clafiin's, Jaffray's. Sloan's the Lords, the Tay-
lors, the Phelpses, the Dodges, the gigantic
houses Of Jordan & Marsh in Boston, of Field
in Chicago, Barr in st. Louis, Wanamaker il
Philadelphia, Meldrum g. Anderson, Buffalo;
II.
Cleveland; Daniels & Fisher, Denver; Horne,
and Campbell & Dick, Pittsburg all these and
the corresponding houses throughout the coun-
try, as far as am able to trace their history,
have the same story to tell. Wanamaker Claf-
lin. Jordan. Lord. Field, Barr and the others all
poor boys in the store, and Phelps and Dodge
both poor clerks.
In banking and finance. it is an oft-repeated
story that our Stanfords, Rockefellers, Goulds.
Sages, Fields, billions, Seligmans, Wilson's and
Huntingtons came from the ranks The mill
lonalres who are il active control started as
poor BOYS, and we're trained in that sternesI but
most efficient of all schools-poverty.
A New York banker gave Mr.. Carnegie list
OF 80 names of Presidents and Vice Presidents
of city banks who had begun as boys or clerks
and promised to send more the next day Mr.
Carnegie notes the almost total absence of the
college graduate from high positions in the
business world and says that the facts seem to
Justify the conclusion that college education,
as it exists, is fatal to success in that domain
The graduate has not the slightest chance en-
tering at 20, against the boy who swept the
office, or who begins as shipping clerk at IA
The facts prove this
THERE has come, however, in recent years,
the polytechnic and scientific school, or
course of study, for boys. which is beginning
to show most valuable fruit in the manufac-
turing branch. The trained mechanic of the
past, who has, as we have seen, hitherto car
rieo off most of the honors in our industrial
works, is now to meet.a rival IN the scientific
ally educated youth who will push him hard
very hard indeed. Three of the largest steel
manufacturing concerns in the world are al
ready under the m a1agement of three young
educated men-sfudenis of those schools who
left theory at school for practice in the works
while yet in their teens. Walker. Illinois Steel
Company Chicago: Schwah, Edgar Thomson
Works; Potter Homestead Steel Works, Pitts
burg, are types of the new product-not one of
them yet 80. Most of the chiefs of depart
ments under them are of the same class. Such
young educated men have one important ad-
vantage over the apprenticed mechanic-they
are open minded and without prejudice The
scientific attitude of mind, that of the searcher
after truth, renders them receptive of the new
ideas. Let no one, therefore, underrate the
advantage of education: only it must be edu-
cation adapted to the end in view and must
give instruction bearing upon a mans career
1t is infinitely easier for q young practical
man of ability to obtain an interest in existing
firms than it has ever been. Real ability the
capacity for doing things, never was 30 eagerly
searched for as now, and never commanded
such rewards. The law which concentrates
the leading industries and commercial mercan-
tile and financial affairs in a few great factories
or firms contains within itself another law not
less imperious. These vast concerns cannot be
successfully conducted by salaried employees.
IN the industrial world the days of CORPORA
tions seem likely to come to an end. 1t has
been necessary Tor me to watch closely most of
my life the operations of great establishments
owned by hundreds of absent capitalists, and
conducted by salaried officers. Contrasted with
these believe that the partnership conducted
by men vitally interested and owning the
works, will make satisfactory dividends when
the corporation is embarrassed and scarcely
knows upon which side the balance is to be at
the end of years operations. In every branch
of business this law is at work, and concerns
are prosperous, generally speaking, Just in pro-
portion as they succeed in interesting in the
profit larger and larger proportion of their
ablest workers.
Co-operation in this form is fast coming in
all great establishments. The manufacturing
business that does not have practical manu-.
featuring partners had better supply the omis-
sion without delay. and probably the very men
required are the bright young mechanics who
have distinguished themselves while working
for a few dollars per day, or the youths from
the polytechnic school,
THE saving workman is the VALUABLE work
man, and the wise employer regards the
fact that he does save as prima facie evidence
that there is something exceptionally valuable
in him. The day of the absent capitalist stock
holder, who takes no interest in the operation
of the works beyond the receipt of his divi-
dend, is certainly passing away. The day of
the valuable active worker in the indus
trial world is coming Let, therefore. no young,
practical workman be discouraged. On the
contrary let him be cheered. More and more
it is becoming easier for the mechanic or prac-
tical man of real ability to dictate terms to his
employers. Where there was one avenue of
promotion there are now a dozen. Genuine
ability will not down. But there are dangers
that are fatal TO success. Among these are
speculation, indursng for others
and lack of concentration. Put all your eggs
in one basket, and then watch that basket is
the true doctrine-the most valuable rule of ALL
The Doctors Will Dine.
Last nights meeting of the Southside Medi-
cal Society was devoted to preparing for
banquet which Is to be held on Mays and