The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06
WORKED FOR So A WEEK.
(ConcIuded from First PnneA


individual fortunes in the United States?'
No, 1 am not at all alarmed at it," re-
piled the secretary of the treasury. Il
grant you it would be far better if the
wealth of the country were more equally
divided among the citizens, but 1 do not
believe that so great a disparity prevails
as is generally believed 1t is true that
many of the rich are becoming richer but
not that the poor are becoming poorer.
The last census showed that the poor were
sharing in the general prosperity of the
country A. cstimate made by Mr.. Henry
Gannett, the geographer of the census,
showed that only ) per cent. of the capital
in 1880, was held by millionaires and that
at that time fully nine-tenths of all our
wealth was held by people who owned be-
tween $1,000 and 81 200, Co.,"
Still, million dollars is an enormous
amount of money. Do you really think a
man can make a million dollars honestly,
Mr.. Secretary"
of course he cam replied the secretary
of the treasury. MANY men have made
millions, and that without damaging their
fellows. Hundreds of fortunes-yes, thou
sands of fortunes-are honestly acquired.
As rule the growth of a great fortune
benefits the masses as well as the few who
directly own it. Let me give you a case.
We will suppose that the farmers are get
ting certain price for their grain 1t
costs them so much to raise and harvest
1t. Then man comes along with a method
or machine by which each farmer can
save 20 per cent. of the cost of production
lie asks farmer per cent. for the means
of making this saving. The farmer pays
1T, and is is per cent. better off as to that
item than he was before. The man has
made per cent. out of his invention. This
is a small sum with the individual farmer.
but when you take all the farmers of the
country, the per cent amounts to a great
fortune. That is the story of some of the
fortunes which have been made out OF
labor-saving agricultural machinery There
are hundreds of similar cases in other lines
that I might mention"
SUCCESS AND HOW TO ATTAIN IT.
is it in the power of any man to make
a fortune by practicing certain principles,
Mr. Secretary" said l.
NO 1 do not think So" replied MIR.
Gage. This matter of money making is
to a large extent one of natural ability
1t is also one of opportunities and circum-
stances"
What would you advise a young man to
do who wanted to suceed?"
What do you mean by success?" said
the secretary of the treasury. do you
mean the getting rich?"
No, not exactly that" said I. ST mean
the making the most of ones self"
4 would advise him." replied the secre
tary of the treasury, ito do with all his
might the thing that is before him. and to
always keep the door open in front of him
to take advantage of whatever offers. He
should use his leisure for education. and
should be preparing himself for such op-
poftuniues as may come. As to gettine,
rich, that is relative matter. What seems
riches to some is poverty to others AS
Tor me. / think the golden mean is the
pest. respect the man who is able to
make moderate competency, who does
his part in all the avenues of life who edu-
Gates his children and dies leaving enough
for his widow but not enough to raise a
monument Such men get too little credit
in this life. They are entitled to a great
deal"
Have YOU ever had a great ambition to
be rich, Mr.. Secretary"
No replied the secretary of the treas
ury. L am not rich, and do not care to
become So l have always done what was
before me with all my might. have made
NA+eN7Lt " i've tOulioTldnly ana nave not
worried about the future"
rs 1t as easy TO make money to-day Mr.
Gage, as II was when you We're young?''
think not, was the reply. ''Vaues
curing the past few years have not haen
Increasing so rapidly. The country is fast
becoming settled, and the chances for MON
ey making are not so great"
Just enc question about our finances -,
sara j.. do you expect to have to borrow
golc Of the English bankers in order TO nav
the running expenses of the governments
Il hope we shall not have to borrow .
was the reply; but if we do we shall
borrow where we can get the money at the
lowest rate. whether that he from the
English, the Germans. the Dutch or the
Americans. This borrowing money is nor
q sentimental matter II is not one of
f2voritism. nor does ii carry any other oh
legation than that of mere repayment with
H. What we wann is the money and that
AT the cheapest rate. j think however.
THAI If Congress will give us the proper tar
tlf we will have. plenty of money to run
the government"
How about the prosperity which The
DdhistratioD2 Where Is ~"
i don't think u is very far off, re.
piled the secretary of the treasury. THE
seeds of il have been sown. They have al
ready sprouted. and under the sun OF set
tied business relations and a proper tar
IN they will multiply many fold. / look
for a rapid Improvement in the times Just
IS soon as the tariff bill is passed.