Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-25

characteristic product of a town that is more deeply impregnated with what Is called quiet wealth. than probably any other city on this continent. Dolan's flrst distinct triumph in life was as manufacturer. He began as an office boy in commission house for the sale of hosiery and knit goods. In shoSe boyish years he was observant md tactful, and he gained many valu- able ideas for the improvement and development of the business. Tn his twenty-seventh year he began manu- featuring in small way in g little building in that section of Philadelphia known as Kensington. That one build ing soon became two. and the two in- creased until they finally culminated in group of buildings which, with the hundreds of modest homes of the op- eratives, made the plant assume the proportions of an industrial communi- ty in itself.
 Kind to Operatives.
 He had several well defined ideas in connection with his manufacturing life. One was to surround himself with com. petent and well paid superintendents. Another was to make the operatives as comfortable and contented as the exi- gencies of the business would permit, and third was positive conviction of the necessity of laws that would fur nish absolute protection to the indus tries in which he was interested. He has ever been a liberal contributor to campaigns that had for their purpose the upholding of this doctrine. He has always talked on the subject with per feet frankness, saying he regarded these contributions as an insurance up- on his business In this belief he had the assent of his associates and the sympathy of his subordinates.
 One holiday he walked through the mill district with friend who was a stranger in Philadelphia. They passed scores of well dressed girls and wom- en. It was midwinter. and some of them were clad in furs-not expensive, but good and comfortable and made with all of the art and taste known to the modern dressmaker Every now and then the manufacturer smiled and raieed his hat in greeting.
 ''You seem to have great many friends up here. Dolan." remarked his companion. Who are all of these la dies?"
 These ladies'" was the reply. with just perceptible trace of pride in his voice. 'are the operatives in my mill"
 Thomas Dolan has ever cherished the doctrine of protection with all the fer vor and intensity that one of the faith full bestows upon an article of religious faith.
 Dolan was one of the most prosper ous of manufacturers. One of the great secrets of his prosperity was his won- derful adaptability or. to put it in an. other form, the facility with which he changed the character of his products to suit the fancy of the purchasing public. He was one of the first men in the United States to engage in the
 
 manufacture of jerseys" form of knit goods that were the rage for men, women, and children for several years. Dolan kept his hand on the pulse of the market, and when the people began to tire of the garment he immediately ceased manufacturing it and turned Ifs Attention to other lines of goods. One of his specfalties was "berlin shawls.' 7 and his mill is credited with having ! S1.OO0,O0O worth in four years. But Dolan was not welded to berlin shawls any more than he had {. been to jerseys At the slightest indi- cation of their loss of vogue his mills were engaged in manufacturing some thing entirely new. So it has gone during all of Mfr. DoIan's career in 
 To the average Philadelphian Dolan's ir the politics of the city and state is practically unknown. To