The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30

it included some of the brightest minds
Of the United States. One Of Mr..
Strong's associates and friends was
John Sherman, who had come to Mans
field from school at Mount vernon
to study law with his brother Charley.
1t must have been during Mr.. Strongs
mercantile experience there that Sher-
man became candidate FOR congress
and canvassed the district, going about
with an old white horse and stopping
at the country crossroads to make
speeches. Another young man was
Amos Townsend, who afterward went
to Cleveland and made big fortune
there. He was sent from Cleveland to
congress, and was for years one OF
the soundest advisers OF the Republl-
can party. I think Townsend and
Strong were partners at Mansfield An
other man who has done much since
he left that part of Ohio is Gen. Tom
Eckert, who is now the president of
the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany. During my chat with the mayor
I asked him how he happened to leave
Mansfield. He told me that he was am
bilious, wanted to see something of the
world, and concluded to try New York.
He began his work here as a clerk,
receiving at first $100 a month Then
he was sent out West to collect bills
for his firm and succeeded so we'll that
his salary was increased right along.
In those days there were no collecting
agencies.
The merchants came to New York to
buy their goods, and as they usually
purchased on time, the wholesale deal
ers had to send their collectors out
West to get the money. They sent them
much as they now send drummers out
to sell goods. Young Strong soon got
large acquaintance in the West He
was good mixer, and was so popular
that it is said that he would often take
dinner with man in the evening or
go to church with him, the man know
ing that he would the next day appear
against him in a law suit. He did so
we'll, in fact, that he was soon able
to go into business for himself, and he
is now one of the rich men of New
York. He is, I am told, worth consid-
era bly, more than million dollars, and
he has other interests of many kinds.
When he was elected mayor he was
one Of the directors of the New York
Life Insurance company, president Of
the Homer Lee Bank Note company.
and the confidential adviser of other
institutions. Before he took the office.
however, he said to his associates of
the different boards: Gentlemen, for
the next three years you will have to
get along without my aid. am now
IA
and will have to work for them"
Mayor Strong has carried out his reso-
luton.
His commission business is managed
by his son, Putnam Bradlee Strong,
and the mayors whole strength is de-
voted to the city.
WILL LEAD THE WORLD.
I asked Mayor Strong a few ques-
tions about the greater New York He
said he had no doubt but that the city
would prosper even more than 1t had
done in the past, and that 1t would
eventually be the greatest city in the
whole world. His ideas on this sub
ject are those of an optimist He has
faith In the United States and in New
York. He does not believe the coun-
try is going to the dogs, and evidently
does not think the days OF prosperity
are past.
HOW YOUNG MEN CAN SUCCEED.
One of my questions was as to
whether he thought that young men
had still a chance Of success In the
great metropolis, and whether the busi-
ness chances would be good in the
greater New York. The mayor replied:
There are plenty Of opportunities
for young men who come here In the
right way"
"But what is the right way, Mr..
Mayor" I asked
ANY young man who expects to Sic
ceed in New York." replied Mayor
! Strong, must come here determined to