Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06

graSSnopper II has heard the
- lament that that day is past and
gone when the boy with no means
other than those contained within his own
personality could hope to forge ahead in this
worlds affairs. The arguments put forth
In support of this statement have been
many; it is not the aim to recount them
but to show that all are refuted right along
by the way in which boys who started out
with no backing and were solely dependent
upon their own efforts daily come to the
front--daily win out in fields where the
croakers would have believe there are
TO longer opportunities for a boy with am
bitlon, ideas and a willingness to workout
no influence.
George B. Cortelyou Postmaster General,
is boy who has been winning out lately In
great shape.
When the eighties dawned he was still a
schooiboy. In 1883 he learned stenography
ana became a teacher at a meager salary
IN the school In which he studied For two
years ne was court reporter. Next he
rose to the princfpa.ship of a college pre-
paratory school; still later he was a private
secretary and confidential stenogra pher All
THESE several steps he took in less than
eight years; and in the beginning of the last
oecade he found himself in Washington the
private secretary OF the then fourth assist
u,
His career since then is nrettv ue, L,or,,
ana the TACT that he has enjoyed the conf
dence of three Presidents. one of them a
democrat, Is pretty conclusive evidence that
Eeofse .. Sorteiyou has won out through
ms own efforts and not because of that
mysterious thing called pull
fauI Morton. who seems TO be winning
out IN Il notable sort of way Just now
pesah as an Office boy in freight office
Oh a western railroad. He was then six
teen years old. But the way in which he
applied himself to his lowly duties as office
BOY won him clerkship; from that posi-
dlon ne Went to a rate clerks desk, and
so on up to general passenger agent, when
lie successfully fought a serious strike of
engineers and iiremen and gained recogni-
tlon IN railroad circles throughout the coun-
Try The same qualities that caused him
to win clerkship while an office boy are
sending him forward still.
lhomas f. Ryan, now for the first time
a national figure, was an humble dry goods
cierk IN Baltimore for two years following
ms departure at the age of seventeen, from
the none too prosperous home OF two aunts
In Virginia. Then he went to New York
entered brokers' office in a minor posi-
ton and IN four years had won a seat on
The stock exchange. Shortly after he be-
gan the series of big financial undertakings
that have won him the respect Of the
street, and now he is known far and
wide as the man whose action put a stop
to the internecine strife in the great Equit-
able Lie Assurance Society.
X
Robert NJ. La Toilette. who has certain
ly been winning out in more ways than one
IN Washington the last five years or So
was only eight months old when his father
dieo, thirteen years later he was at the
head OF the family, helping to support his
mother and her other three children by do
ing the work on the family farm.
for hVe years he farmed. then sold the
property and moved to the state capital
There he entered the State University, be-
came locally famous as an orator: had
hankerlngs for the stage but was kept
from 1t largely by reason of the debts
hanging over MIN; went to work in law
Office; III five months WAS admitted to the
bar, and since that day, some TWENTY-FIVE
years ago, has managed to attain his pres
ent political eminence in the face of con-
slant opposition of the bitterest sort.
Everybody knows how Joseph w Folk a
boy with no backing, became a LAWYER
went to st. Louis from Tennessee to prac-
tice, was offered the nomination of circuit
attorney by the democratic bosses. In the
face of his declaration that he would wear
no man s collar, and when elected began
his great work of unearthing graft and put
ting the grafters in the penitentiary. He
is national figure, and he has won out
beyond a doubt.
Also there is Charles s. Deneen gov
ernor of Illinois. AS boy he worked hard
on farm in Illinois Then he taught school
ana studied law books when he got an OPP
portunlty. He went to Chicago to finish his
studies; his money gave out; he tried to
gain employment in law office, and failed
When reduced to his last penny, he got an
offer of a position in st. Paul, held down
the place till he was on his feet again:
went back to Chicago, and succeeded in
gaining his degree by porting over Black
stone by day, while he taught school by
night. Once more he almost starved this
time while waiting for clients; became in
Ua1
ness at the game; eventually was elected
states attorney; put influential grafters of
various sorts in Jail with startling rapidly,
and last year won the republican guberna-
torial nomination in the face of bitter and
long drawn out opposition. Mr.. Dene ms
life has been an uphill struggle right from
the beginning-but he has won out.
Weaver and Burbank
Lately the whole country has been filled