Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03
CHOOSING HIS men
How Carnegie Selects His
Lieutenants.
A MILLIONAIRE GROUP
CHARACTERISTICS THAT THE
GREAT IRoNMAsTER VALUED.
Industry First Of All and Ability to
Keep Quiet Tongue Also
Foremost.
A MILLIONAIRE GROUP

written Ior Inc Evening Star by Thomas u. Nisk.
Andrew Carnegie was recently bluntly
asked the question:
What influenced you most in the selec-
ton of your lieutenants in the steel indus
try?'
laconic reply.
Then, after moments pause he added
by way of explanation:
Il watched young men with whom I came
in contact. and whenever 1 ran across one
who, all unconsciously, by some small
action or word uttered in ordinary CONVEX
sation. made me feel that he had the quail
ties demanded in the business, 1 gave him
a chance to prove that he really had them.
And when he did, then he became one of
my leutenants and in return for his assist
ance l endeavored to let him have a fair
share in the profits of my business"
This. in brief, is the story of the selection
and making Of the so-called Carnegie group
of millionaireS.
Charles NJ. Schwab is one of these men.
James Gayley, vice president of the United
states Steel Corporation, is another Thos.
Lynch, successor of H. c. Frick at the head
or the worlds biggest coke company, is
third; Mr.. Prick himself a fourth, and
William E. Corey, the youthful president
Steel Company, fifth. Then there are H.
Z. Bope, Daniel M. Clemson, A. R. Pea
cock, M. T. F. Lovejoy, w. W. Blackburn
and Thomas Morrison, a Carnegie cousin.
brought over from Scotland and given a
humble position In a millyard: Andrew NJ
Moreland, George Lauder, Albert c. Case
and Joseph E. Schwabs brother Of Charles;
Lawrence Phipps, who. though a nephew
OF Henry Phipps, Mr.. Carnegie's lifelong
partner, had to start at the bottom and
work up with men who had no rich rela-
tives; A. R. Hunt, w. E. McCausland, who
began life as a messenger in a mercantile
agency office, and many others.
A Remark That Led to a Fortune.
The incident that led Mr.. Carnegie to Sc
lect A. r. Peacock. formerly holding the
important post Of purchasing agent Of the
Carnegie properties, as a lieutenant Is
typical Of the manner in which the major
ity Of the members Of the famous group
were picked out.
Mr.. Peacock owes his millions to a re-
mark that his last employer liked.
Twelve years ago Mr.. Peacock was sales
man for New York decorating house. At
that time Mr.. Carnegie arrived in the
metropolis to see about some decorating
that he wanted done in the 5th avenue
mansion that he recently discarded for the
more magnificent one further UP the ave-
nue.. He asked the firm that had Mr.. Pea
cock In It's employ to send him some sam
pies of wallpaper, and Mr.. Peacock was
assigned to take them.
The salesman's manner of displaying the
samples and conducting business SO favor
ably impressed the prospective customer
that few days later, when he wanted to
inspect more samples Of wallpaper, he ex-
pressly requested that Mr.. Peacock be sent
with them. His second talk with the sales
man pleased Mr.. Carnegie more than the
first, and just as Mr.. Peacock was leaving
the millionaire said, apropos Of nothing that
had gone before:
young man, you will be rich some day."
Mr.. Peacock laughed
Mr.. Carnegie" he answered, eff I
thought SO I'd be willing to give the man
who helped me to riches a liberal discount"
Mr.. Carnegie's reply all but took away
his hearers breath:
IN take you at your word Go to your
employers, resign at once and come with
me-"
Mr.. Peacock did as he was bid, and judg-
ing by results he gave Mr.. Carnegie lib
eral discount in work, for his fortune Is
coEservatively estimated at 100000.
II. G. Frick not long ago named Mr.. Pea
cock as one Of the thirty men in Pittsburg
who are worth this sum and over. He has
recently moved into a new house which
cost $1,OOO,O0O and which is said to contain
the finest interior woodwork of any private
residence in America
A Farrier Made Lieutenant.
Daniel NJ. Clemson is another of these
fortunate two-score men. He got the good
will Of Mr.. Carnegie, and. ergo, his mil
lions, because he could shoe horse well
and wasn't afraid of work.
Mr.. Clemson was born on a farm in CEN
trail Pennsylvania. When he was nine
years old he was apprenticed to a black
smith. The recompense was all that he
could eat and an occasional suit of home
spun. He blossomed out as an accomplish
ed "smithy' on his nineteenth birthday.
AS his pay was still his board he went out
into the world to seek his fortune.
He drifted to one Of the Carnegie mines.
what can you do?" asked the superin-
tendent.
"Shoe horses" was the reply.
Mr.. Clemson shod horses so well and so
many in a day that when Mr.. Carnegie was
inspecting the mine the superintendent
said:
THAT fellow shoeing horses over there Is
the fastest and best man in the shop. He's
not afraid of work either; he'll work all day
and all night, If necessary
"Give him a chance in the mechanical de-
partment," ordered Mr.. Carnegie.
Mr.. Clemson soon had charge of all the
mining machinery. Next he became the
mine superintendent. In 1885 he was trans
ferred to Pittsburg. Now he has charge OF
the lbs river and lake vessels owned by
the steel trust, and is head of a natural gas
which has under lease $4,000 acres,
operates 100 wells and produces 4O,OOO,OOO
cubic feet of gas each day IN the year. He