Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-03
Business Methods in National
Treasury Department.
Good Words for Secretary Cage
Democratic Enough to Suit.
Gives Advice to Business Men and Discour-
ages Running In Debt.

he has been in charge of large affairs He
has been in the habit of having people call
upon him for favors. He has been sought.
He has had to bow the knee to no one. He
has never been trained in the ways of pol
iticians He has never been taught that
mon who can lead state machines and
control committees and that sort of thing
arc of prime Importance. There are indl-
cations that Mr.. Cages education as to
the dignity of members and congress and
the difference due senators has been some
what neglected. At any rate Mr. Gage
goes at his work in businesslikc fashion.
There is no fuss or feathers about him,
none of that half deceptive caJollng meth
cd with which politicians of high and low
degree are only too familiar. Mr. Gage is
simple, straigl Stforward, direct. He runs
no circumlocItion office. He says what he
means and means what he says. He Is
democratic enough to suit all corners. No
red tape is required to gain an audience
with him. He transacts business with
great rapidity When his days work is
done at O'Clock, be goes away home to
take good rest.
Applicants For Office.
Mr. Gage has been convinced by the secre-
tary that he did not want office. A case of
this sort happened only q few days ago. A
young man engaged in business had dab
blcd in politics in his state. He had been
of some service to the party. Naturally he
looked for reward. What he asked for was
reasonable, and if he had not met NJ.
Gage he might have received the appoint
ici, hn l,oI cpt hic Eoort Tor,t
the secretary asked the young man some
questions. He wanted to know what bust
ness he was engaged in, how long he had
been in it, how he was doing, what his
prospects were, and all that. If there is
anything NJ. Gage does know, it is bust
ness. He is noted all through the western
country for his ability quickly to under
stand business situations, for his wisdom,
for his good advice.
Well, the result OF this interview was
that Mr.. Gage told the young man that if
he were in his place he would not think of
taking an office under the government.
He not only told him this, but explained
the reasons. He pointed out to the young
man that his business was paying him
small profit over and above his living ex-
pcnses. eff you take this Office said the
secretary, "and como down to Washington
to live, it will tax all your ingenuity to
keep within your salary. You will not be
able to save cent. You will make some
friends, and learn something about gov
eminent methods, but of what use will
these be to you in the future? Practically
none at H. AT the end of four years you
will have lost touch with your people at
home. Your rivals will have the business
away from You. If you go back and try
to start up again, you will find yourself at
terrible disadvantage. You say your
business will go on just the same in the
hands of partner? You may think so,
but it will not. If man wants his bust
ness run right, he must run it himself. -
Mr.. Gage talked in this strain, and even
went into the details of the business and
gave the young man SO many hints as to
how he might do better and in good timo
make himself rich man that the appli-
cant for office became quite enthusiastic
and decided then and there to withdraw
Ills application and go back home to his
business. The chances are that in a year
or two he will thank his lucky stars that
he took the secretary's advice.
Philanthropic In Advice.
As the head of the biggest banking
uOubO al SntCuSO NIL odSC littS DCCH QOlDS
this sort of thing for many years. 1t is no
new experience for him to give advice to
business men. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. thou
Eands-of men in Chicago can look back to
a talk with Lyman J. Gage about their
own affairs as the turning point in their
careers The advice which he gave them,
the encouragement, the practical lesson in
business and financiering, saved them
frnr,, mic faE nd in, FRI,
ruin. In Chicago Mr.. Gage has the repu-
tation of being the wisest man in town.
If knotty point arises, if complications
in some business affairs appear, if some
one gets into trouble and wants an adviser,
nine chances out of ten he will be told to
"see Gage"
M Changed His Mind.
There is told the story Of the manrfac-
turer in the suburbs of Chicago who called
at the First National bank and asked for
loan of $1,000. He had good security,
but was referred to Mr.. Gage. They sat
down to talk it over. In ten minutes the
banker knew all about his callers affairs.
Moreover he called him Charley and got
ON the best sort of terms with him. Then
he talked business. He talked prudence
and wisdom. He made suggestions. In
another quarter of an hour the manufac-
turer left the bank with 81, 500 and per-
fectly satisfied that he could get along
without the other So, 500 just as well as
not. After that the manufacturer got into
some trouble in his business, and said
that If he had borrowed the 200 which
he thought he wanted he should have been
ruined.
The politicians do not quite know what
to make of this smooth spoken, wise,
thoughtful business man. He is SO gentle,
DO farsecing, understands human nature
60 perfectly, has SO little sympathy with
practical politics, is possessed of such
hobby for having everything done in
businesslike manner, and of making ap-
pointments on merit without much regard
to politics, and withal is so pleasant and
plausible and fascinating that they scarce
~ know whare they are at, as the congress-
man from Alabama put it. AS congress
man who visited Mr.. Gage several times
to get a job for one of his constituents cx-
pressed it:
HE is smooth. He talks the push all
out of fellow. You 60 to see him deter
mined to have your man put in or know
1he reason why, and in ten minutes you
walk ont feeling that you were chump
ever to have asked such thing and glad
to have had talk with SO charming