Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-18
MKINLEY's CABINET.
How They Became Millionaire s. Gage
Worked for 800 Year-Alger Wa
An ONCE Boy-Sherman In
vested in Real Estate.

correspondent of the GlObe-Deano-
crdt, vouches for this statement:
There are too many millionaires
among Mr.. McKinley's cabinet
selections to suit some people. And
yet, from the head of the long table
down to the foot of it, so far as the
seats have been filled, every pros
pective secretary was a boy who
began with no capital but brain and
muscle. Gage clerked for 800 a
year and saved money. He drove
a lumber wagon and added to his
assets. Alger was a lad without a
cent, and with only the one coat on
his back when he went to a doctor
in town and begged to be allowed
to do the chores and attend school.
The doctor had no need of a boy.
but Alger's earnestness won his
interest and he took him and gave
him the opportunity for an educa-
ton. Many years afterward, when
Alger had more hundreds of thou
sands than the superannuated physi-
clan had dollars, the millionaire
went to his benefactor, who was in
straits, and told him he wanted to
pay that debt.
"You don't owe me anything"
said the doctor.
81 owe you my education" argued
the rich man.
"Bosh!" returned the doctor, "you
owe that to yourself"
81 must have caused you trouble
and expense, and I want to make it
good" Alger urged.
"Well," replied the old man,
grimly. eff there was any trouble
I have forgotten it. The only
expense I can recall was the loss of
a fine cow. When you came to live
with me, Alger, 1 had the best COW
in these parts. You completely
spoiled her with your awkwardness.
1t wasn't three weeks until you had
her so skittish nobody could go near
her. I had to sell her for beef"
"There,i' said Alger, II certainly
owe for that cow, and there is about
forty years interest due on the debt.
I'm going to pay it."
The old doctor finally yielded.
That animal brought a higher price
than any COW which has been sold
in Michigan since the time of Lewis
Cass.
But how about Sherman's great
wealth? In the mind of the average
politician, with his hand-to-mouth
experience, the idea that fifty years
of practically continuous Office hold
ing has yielded legitimately the for
tune Mr. Sherman enjoys is prepos-
ferrous. Gage became rich by turn
ing owe and over his growing CAPT.
tai SO quickly that the nimble penny
became dizzy. Alger is a millionaire
by cultivation of the faculty to real
ize at a glance all there is in a pine
tree. Sherman is one of the best
living examples of persistent and
patient investment in ground. His
million has come through the slow,
but sure, accretion of land values.
Thirty years ago and more, when
congressional salaries were much
less than they are now, and when
living in Washington was much
higher than it is, Mr.. Sherman made
it a practice to put aside a few dol
lars every month. He had a rela-
tive in Iowa, located at Des Meines,
Hoyt Sherman. To this relative the
senator intrusted his early and mod
est investments. He put money into
cheap lands in other parts of the
west, but Iowa was his favorite
state, and his faith in the judgment
of his relative was unlimited. 1t is
not a matter of general information
that these purchases of farm lands,
made between thirty and forty years
ago, laid the basis of the senator's
present handsome accumulations.
The authority for the statement is
one who filled the position of private
secretary to the senator about the
close of the war, who knew of the
saving habit and who wrote the let
tiers carrying a few hundred dollars
at a time to Iowa. Senator Sherman
with all his great reputation for
financiering was not a coupon cutter.
He never bought or sold stocks to
amount to anything. He doesn't
consult a ticker once in a month. |
But study of the present and future
of lots and acres has fascination for
him.
Victor Bros. New Location.
Victor Bros. will move into the Gill |