The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-05-14


knowledge may be traced American
gains of millions of actual money.
He was largely instrumental in the
negotiations which placed the United
States on the footing of a "favored
nation with Russia. 1t was moi
the resources of the American PEG
pie alone which gave the United
States the cream of every contract
for the Siberian Railway. Mr.. Smith
had carefully fostered every natural
advantage of the situation, and had
eliminated many difficulties, before
this triumph was possible. These
contracts, entered into seven, eight
and nine years ago, ere the hrst
victories of the magnificent campaign
which the United States has since
waged to control the worlds com
merce. This alone is quite a triumph
for a man who is entirely the archi-
tect of his own fortune.
SECRETARY LONG GREW UP ON A FARM.
John Davis Long, secretary Of the
navy, was born in B~ucksfeld, Oxford
County, Maine, in 1888. In his early
life he tasted the hardships and pri-
vations of a farmer boys life. He
secured a common school and AGA
demic education in his native town,
and, after teaching school two years,
went to Harvard, where Asa Gray
was greatly attracted toward the
sturdy boy and often predicted that
he would be a leader of men. His
personal force and influence can be
gauged by the fact that he has
weathered the storms and contro-
versies which have waged around
the navy department since the out
break of the Spanish-American War.
Notwithstanding the bitter strife
which has smirched many reputa-
tions, John D. Long has admins
tered his great department, has dis
bursed hundreds of millions of dol
lars, and by his word decided ma
tional and international interests,
and withal has held the personal re-
spect and confidence of every officer
and statesman with whom his office
has brought him into contact. The
farmer boy shows in his best light in
the person of Mr.. Long. Such boys
make their mark.
nrD u~1TCuCOCH ruu ONTv NTMpTp
BORN IN THE SOUTH.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock, the Sec
rotary of the interior, is the only
member of the cabinet born south
of Mason and Dixon's line. This
interesting event occurred at Mobile,
Alabama, in 1885. His father was
the grandson of Ethan Allen,
the hero of Ticonderoga. The fam
lily emigrated from Vermont, went
first South, and then established a
home in St. Louis. Mr.. Hitchcock
attended the public schools of that
city and afterwards went to the
Military Academy at New Haven,
Connecticut. He began life as a
clerk in a small commission house in
St. Louis. Afterwards he went to
Hongkong, China, in the interest of
the well, known firm of Olymphant
& Co. After several ventures he
returned to st. Louis, and devoted
his energies to the organization of
the glass manufacture in the United
States. He was the first American
Ambassador accredited to the Rus
sian court, and served at that post a
little less than a year, and was then
appointed Secretary of the Interior
to succeed Cornelius N. Bliss. In his
person, Mr.. Hitchcock ~contradicts
the adage that a rolling stone
gathers no moss. During his diver
sifed rec he has garnered to him
self wealth and honor.
SECRETARY WILSON FIRST A FARM
HAND, THEN A FARM OWNER.
James Wilson, Secretary of Agri-
culture, was born in Ayrshire, Scot
land, and is the only member of the
present cabinet who is not a native
of the United States. He is also the
oldest of President McKinley's adj
visers. He was born August Is,
1886, and is exactly one month the
senior of Secretary Hitchcock. Mr..
Wilson went to Iowa as early as 1856
He worked as a farm hand until. bv
industry and thrift, he was able to
purchase a farm of his own in 1861.
He was elected to the general assem-,
bly, of his State in 1866, and served
continuously until 1872, when he
was sent to Congress. He received
his education in the schools of his