Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-01
Tom Johnson's Early Life.

|
wife and family. trudged YEARLY over
inc foothills OF Kentucky from their
little homestead in the village Of
Georgetown to Staunton, Va, for pro-
lection, writes Robert Mackay, in the
July number Of Success. The family
consisted Of two boys--brieht. CHEEKY
| fellows. One was tired and sore from
the continued tramp over the hard
| roadways, but the other was helping
him as best he could and urging him
on to the place where the rest awaited
| them AT the same time re was en-
| couraginG his downhearted father and
mother with kind words.
Don't mind. pa he said; II kin sell
papers an will give you all make"
Today that boy is mentioned as
| candidate for President of the United
States. lie is Tom L. Johnson.
| mayor Of Cleveland. Ohio. When Tom
Johnson told his father that he would
eel rapers to help him along he was
iust il yoars old. In the five weeks
Immediately following Lees surrender
he proved that he had the head of a
financieT. In that period he earned
sSS. There was great thirst for news
in Staunton, but once day only was
ii IN communication with the outside
world. and then it was by railroad.
Tom saw his chance for a monopoly in
papers and straightway cornered the
Tom saw his chance for a monopoly in
market. He made the friendship Of
he conductor Of Staunton's daily
train. who turned over 10 him all the
papers. For five weeks he held this
monopoly. selling daily papers for i
cents each
Three years later Tom went to work
in rolling mill in Louisville. at a
small salary. In the same office with
him was another boy. Arthur Moxam.
WHO. later. became MS business part
nor. For economical reasons the
managers decided that one Of the bows
had 7" 20. When it came to a choice
M"Aain Was retained. and johnson was
turned "ut 10 begin over again.
Louisville had 4 ramshackIe. broken
down street railroad. the ears Of which
were drawn by mules when Tom John
SAN applied there for work Recently he
Soid his interest IN that railroad at a
handsome profit. after being. for l.,
years. its largest stockholdcr. ana
chiefly Instrumental in changing it
FROM mrlr 4" electric power
After young johnson had been con-
ntctoi with the railway 2 few weeks
its President. Ii.,eiman Du Pont. no
uc"C him picking ur some pieces of
scrap iron ard dcpositing them in Il
barrel that stood near the entrance to
the car shops.
What are you doing that for?"
asked NJ. IN Pont rather sternIy.
Why. sin said Tom. q little en-
hHiraSscd. there is no use wasting
these pieces Of iron. The co!npany
may want TO have them melted over
some day
MIR. DU Pont went into his office
and thought. He sent for Tom. and
said: Il just think | have some work
ior young man like you. How would
you like to stay in the Office ana have
your salary raised 81 week." Then
rom l.. Johnson went up like rocket:
but. unlike many rockets. ne stayed
up- He quickly rose from position to
position-fIom office boy to chief
cashier: and. on his seventeenth birth
day. he was made superintendent Of
the road. Then he began a system
thai improved the road and put it on a
paying basis. He improved the pas
Scnger accommodate and reduced
III c"ieilSeS ihree years rs Snperln-
'Aoc"t o. 'h's foad mace MN long FOR
wider fields Of acton. He told his
employers that his scope was too limit
3d. Mr.. Du Font had every confidence
IN bis protece. He knew that the am
bilious young man would try to sue
coed honestly
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