The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-12-02
A CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY

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James ]. Twitchell was a shrewd man.
Persons who have suffered through his
shrewdness say more or him he was
born in a country village in no. thsrn
New York The good citizens of the
town do not boast of the fact. however
His father was a farmer, quite honest
His mother was a chuTchgoing woman,
who taught James many homely maxirns
that might have helped to make man
Of him, but did not.
At an carly age little James proved
most industrious. He acquired a major
ity Of the stock of naxo-es in circula-
ton, and engineered a corner in second
hand jackknives. When he became older
he peddIed the Saturday Globe. installer
electric bells-in private houses, and saved
up a hundred collars before ne was six
teen.
4 year later he started for New York
city. his good mother Intellectually p.o-
testing against his leaving home. He
proudly toll her it was time for him 10 80
in search OF his fortune James was bod
snd confident. lie had an eye aIways
10 the main chance. ana a mothers feet
ings were merely incidental.
When he reached New York he secured
q room and board for s. a week. in one
OF the lower streets Of the cd Ninth
ward With characteristic energy he
walked down town cary the following
morning TO lcoE Tor employment in the
financial district The first opportunity
that presented itself as 3oaId-bOy in
thriving ''bucket-shop. with weekly
compensation Of IS. He eagerly accepted
the offer
He practiced telegra ply at home every
evening until he was able 20 copy grain
quotations from Chicago. He was then
given a place as grain operator at S12 a
week. As he walked to business the
were no carfares 10 pay. and he went
without lunches in order to save s. of his
saary
As soon as he became more proficient
he was gi-en a post as sending operator
or a long country wire. at So weeAly.
He held this position until he was y, anu
saved 1900 through practieed thrift and
self-deniaI.
His employers had confidence in his
ability. and gave-hirn the management
Of = branch Office at Patterson with a
fixed sslary and commission. There wa
a large established trade, when lasted
until the clients lost their money, a mat
ter OF only two= years. James had ac-
eumulated $500. lie closed the Office
and went to Allegheny. Pa. to accept a
position as private telegrapher in the
Office of the Lion Steel Company. At
this place he not only performed his
duties well but studied every detail OF
the business with accustomed thorough
ness.
As this is a story Of lucky, ambitious
man, 1t is to be recorded that James J.
Twitchen became manager of the Lon
Steel Company in January. 1896, at the
age Of twenty-seyen. The managers sal
AIRY was $500 year.
The business instincts of some men ex-
tend even to matrimony. James won
Mss Alice Thurston by sheer persever-
= ance- Her father, the judge. had a for
, tune Of two hundred thousand or more in
bond Investments. He was a widower
Alice was not a beauty but had a gentle.
easy nature, and was thrifty. Mr. Twit-
chen considered her good Investment.
notwithstanding the unavoidable increase
in his immediate expenses.
\ year after their marriage the judge
died. The estate was quickly settled. as
ne had bequeathed everything to his
only child.
Whether due TO TwitcheH's bad man
agement or TO the prerainng hard times.
the Lion Steel Company contracted debts
which it was unable 20 pay, and was
reOrganized Mrs. Twitchell's inherited
fortune was used To purchase the con-
trolling interest James J. was elected
president The conpany was capitalized
for one million dollars. with no bonded
debt. Shares We're held by numerous
ssraau investors
The steel business. for many years
psuper. was now borne along by the
tidal wave of prosperity that followed
the defeat of Organism. and soon became
the old. mighty monarch Of industry. The
Iiou Steel Company. economically man
aged, was the most prosperous of the
smaller organizations. Mrs. TWitcheu
held $4,000 in stock Twitchell had 800
eco and wanted mere. as the company had
just begun to pay dividends at the rate
of ten per cent. The small holders would
not sell They were contented 20 hold
their stock and receive the handsome
dividends. james J. had committed an
He should have bought out the small
holders first. But it saust be remem-
bercd that he knew no.hing OF high n
nance His efforts up 10 this time--,S2S-
had been along the lines Of strictest econ
ofsy and personal management FOR the
company's best interest He had rot Yet
learned how to make the company the
means for bringing him unfair profits.
But row he began TO crave for more than
n was legally entitled 70. like other abe
manufacturers who have turned pirates
becahse the country j. 50 rich. The sight
Of easy loot is n temptation to men who
must have more than enough money.
Mr. Twitcheli tried in vain To buy up
minority stock No one wogsld sell Even
Mrs Harriet Jackson a mild little widow.
Owning nifty shares. was obdUrate. She
lived quietly on her income OF five hum
dred a year. and was coutented.
The president reasoned with himself
that the success cf the company had re-
suited entirely from his own efficient
Encouragement. His interest was compara-
lively small. other persons were s-ttinS
,he benefits OF his laEoTs. How could he
;ncrease his holdings This was the
hardest problem h had encountered. \
i&~ years later the solution would have
peen simple. He was not YET flRa2cler.
There are no textbooks TO teach this
lucrative science. \ nnaneier. Ike a poll
tIcian, must nave the opportunity So d.
II order 10 know how II vas done. TNit-
enen was merely a bud. unfolding
f>rn We're several small Sreaf cam