The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-07
Boys and Opportunity.

Boys and Opportunity.
Governor Johnson's message to the
legislature was on the whole a we'll
written document. T he Journ a
has commented upon a number OF its
recommendations heretofore, but now
wishes not to allude to any of its con-
troversial topics, but to call attention
Of the rising youth of Minnesota to this
document as a whole and to the man
who produced it.
The facts surrounding the life Of
John A. johnson are full Of encour-
agement to poor boys in Minnesota.
He was the son of poor parents, he
never had more regular schooling than
could be crowded into the first ten
years of his life. After that he was
always busy with the struggle of exist
ence. Beginning as a helper in a gro
Gerry store at few cents day, proceed
ing from that to more important po-
sition in a drug store, and finally find
ing his life work in the ownership of a
vigorous country paper, he is at length
ship, and is able to produce out Of his
own experience and observation state
paper that men Of all parties unite in
praising.
The suggestion of Governor johnson 3
career to young men is that hard work
and ambition will cure many Of the de-
fects Of opportunity. There are just
as many chances for boys in Minnesota
today as there were thirty years ago,
but they do not come to the boys who
have learned only to play cards or shove
pool cue. These things are not nee.
essarily evil in themselves, but they
are almost universally taken as the evil
dence Of departing ambition.
| A good many young men do not know
| what their elders mean by hard work
The phrase is hard to define. But it
may be illustrated. Recently J. P
Morgan sent for one of the managers
Of his banking house, and said he
wanted q, certain young man in the
] bank to take tho Management ef an out
side enterprise he was starting. The
manager demurred. "That young MAJ
can't very well be spared,' he said
"WeN," replied Mr.. Morgan, II didn't
want a man who could very we'll be
spared" The young man who is i'm
bued with the spirit of work will soon
without realizing it, find himself one Of
those who cannot well be spared anG
then if he does not change his. habits
| his futnr, ia well assured.
The true value to the young man OF
being in this class is not, however, il
his worth to his employer but in his
value to himself. It is the conscious
ness of power, Of competency, of adap
liability, which makes the man, not thu
fact that he knows his present employ
er cannot very we'll dispense with him
lit is this which gives the American
youth that flexibility which enables hin
to change his employment and make {
success Of an entirely new line. 1t il
all dependent on learning to do and tt
be. .<:
In one Of the large factories Of thu
country, one in which the proprietor
take great care of the employees, Civ
ing them a dining hall, a, gymnasium, :
library and an amusement hall entirel.
free, there is postbox, put up int
\ which employees may drop written sug
gestions on how to improve the bust
ness. The proprietors have testified
that some of the most valuable i'm
provements in their methods were oh
} tanned thru following these suggestion
and some Of the employees, thru tax
ing an interest in the postbox, hav
risen from messengers to managers
This is a phase Of the adaptability an,
willingness which was spoken of above
It is still characteristic of America an
should always remain so.
John A. johnson might have re
manned in the grocery store, made a,
honest living and become substantial
business man in his town, but he ha
ambitions, and by watchfulness owe
his opportunities he achieved much
The door is still open. No boy in Mir
nesota who is in good health nee
despair Of his future, however meage
, may be his present.
The experience of all who have tried I
= n h1rci tn, tJ,1 /