The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-30
HhRYEF AND COINS SCHOOL.
The Mans Origin and Rise to Greatness
West yirglnian by Birth.

The June number Of the Bookman gives
tho following sketch Of William Hope
Harvey. the author Of COINS Financial
So oOl:'
The whole man is in the fight which he
is maintaining in the present financial
controversy: from The scles of MS ieet
10 the crown Of his head he Is or SCI
purpose and firm VIII cCmi ounucu.
There is an unhnching courage in MS
determination 10 carry on the cause
which he has championed, as there is
a rough honesty and audacity about TINS
man who stands so boldly on the strength
of his convictions end looks the whole
world scuarely i'm the face with unfaltcr-
ing eyes. Certain Of one thing We are,
that Mr.. HaVty's conduct shows not the
SLIGHTEST evidence Of insincerity or pOlit-
cal jobbery: perchance he may be mad
man or fanatic i'm the estimation OF scme;
whether there lis method In his madness
rs yet TO be seen.
William Hope Harvey was born I'm Au-
gut. 1851. near Charleston. West Va. lie
came of sturdy parents of Scotch ana
Irish descent. His early years were spent
on his fathers farm. and he gathered the
rrdimenis of education In a log school
house. which he supplemented 10y such
reading as his fathers library permitted
These were days Of arduOus toll and hard
hood. and body and soul were knit to-
eether IN the lad in a healthy ambition
10 'scOrn del ghts and live laborious
days" At the age of sixteen he had saw
ed sufficient funds 10 take himself out or
the narrow limits of his home and an
entrance into a country academy soon
wid'ned the breach for the hOnOrs OF vii
ldge SchOOlmaStcr. Here was laid the
beginning of the train which was TO blaze
up suddenly in after years In the
school idea OF his financial tracts we
see the sch0Olmaster I'm evidence and
make no doubt that his early experience
was peculiarly fitted 10 bring him into
that public nositiCn which comes to him
who with a7siduity uses the present as
the training camp for opportunity"
The prOgrcssiveness and untiring energy
which have characterized his career are
seen IN the leaps and bounds with which,
as opportunity offered. he rose TO a life
of larger usefulness and wider influence.
FIRST he gave up the schOol-roOm and NOV
ed TO Ohio, where he studied law. For
some time he followed the legal profess
sion. but again changed this IN turn for
the field of commerce. one OF the most
fortunate events in his life. he says, was
his meeting at GallipOlis with Miss Anna
X. Halliday about this time. They were
married IN 1876 and their two boys ana
two girls comprise COINS" family school.
From Ohio, where he had met with signal
success. he went to Denver. ard setting
up the sign of real estate and lawyer"
a time when silver was booming. ne
realized on his investments with such
shrewdness and success as 10 become
a fairly rich man. He was now forty
years old when he openly declared war
against what he calls "the greatest dan
ger Of the cOuntry-thc gradual but sure
establishment of a plutocracy." Looking
around him. he saw that men were vague
In their financial theories. and. believing
that there was a great work I'm the field
for some one bold enough to master the
problem. he gave up his business for a
time and travelled far and wide to money
conferences. studying the question or
finance, especially as il affects the silver
States, in a thorough. practical manner
and eventually settled down with his
family in Chicago.
For two or three years he worked vlgor-
ously but inconspicuously. and the estab-
hshment of his paper excited no com
ment: bat suddenly the name OF Harvey
became blazoncd forth In matters con-
corning wCrkingmcn. IL was meet that
the man. whose only boast is that he is
the champion Of the working classes, be-
cause he is sprung OF them, should first
come into public notice through an action
IN their behalf. and not as an author. II
will be remembered how General Ran
dallS industrial army was thrown into
jail at Lap0rte. Ind. Mr.. Harvey started
for the scene on receipt OF the news ana
secured a speedy release for all the men.
10 was the last spur needed to convince
him that the money question was at the
bottom of The entire Industrial trouble.
and he set 10 work at once on bis now
famous ycllOW-cOyered book.
The clear insight which OWNED the
need OF the hour, and the quick under
standing and grasp Of the situation in
meeting that need with a popular trea-
tise are remarkable From the first he
was confident of success, and assured
the agents that the sales of the book |
would be certain 70 reach a million copies. |
Scarcely a year has elapsed since its pup
licatiOn. and his expectation has been full |
filled within a few thousands. and the |
sales show no signs of diminishing. AL |
ready rich man before he launched this |
venture, he declares that the fortune |
by the sales OF School shall |
be kept In trust as public fund, 10 be |
spent for the benefit Of the workingman |
In this warfare.
Mr.. Haryey's only right TO mention IN |
these pages is as the author OF book |
that has become a household word |
throughout the country. Yet ne would |
be the first 10 dselam the right. for he
affects no literary style, and writes only |
as he talks-a plain man addressing plain |
people. lie has just finished a new pam
phlet. IN. - which Is an answer to his
critics. and has left Chicago for q season |
Ia Aarn 4 zAneh-nesded rest