The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-12-31
MOGODORE POTTER
ROSE TO HIGH EMMINENcE AS A
TRUST BUSTER.
History Of Milton o. Purdy Who Spent
Some Of His Childhood Days in
NeIahborlna Pottery.

/
Washington correspondent, in a syn
dicate letter published recently.
This man who has won name
| for himself In administration circles
for his anti-corporation work, es-
pecially in advancing the idea of a
receiver for all law-breaking corpora
tions, is Milton Dwight Purdy.
After setting forth Purdy's ideas on
trusts and corporations, Morrow ques-
toned of Purdy:
you are muscled like a foot ball
player. Where we're you trained?"
"1n my father pot shop. He had a
pottery at Mogadore, in Ohio and one
at whitehall. in Illinois"
"And you learned the potter's
trader"
Yes. We moved to Akron, not
| far from Mogadore, where my father
started match factory. he sold IL,
believe, to o. c. Barber, now presi-
dent OF the match trust, and then
went to Illinois, and there l was en-
ployed on Saturdays and during va
cations as ball maker. In those days
each potter had a boy to weigh his
clay and to work out the air bubbles
by cutting IL to pieces with wire and
then kneading It into a compact mass.
picked up the trade in that fashion,
and my father gave me n wheel and
journeyman' wages II l had jugs
or crooks, l. would make about 81 a
day. One Saturday l earned S5 with
tops for snuff Jars. That was so ex.
ceptional, however, that l have new.
er forgotten 1t"
You went to school?"
ALWAYS AT FOOT OF CLASS.
Surely, but study was distasterul
to me, and | was always at the foot
OF the class. When ! grew up l
tried to lessen the regret OF memory
and soften neighborhood tradition by
attributing my Incidence and back
wardness to poor vision. I did have
bad eyes, and didn't begin to wear
spectacles until was II years old. but
the plain truth is I was not btudious,
and school was hateful place for me.
Indeed, decided TO go into the pot
terry for good. My father gave his con-
sent because he thought I shou-L
never succeed at anything else. But
my mother-she was wise and de-
termlned woman and the real head OF
our family-said: you shall go
through the High school no matter
what happens or how long 1t takes
was then a junior. and about 16 years
OF age. Well, that was the first turn
in my life. But for my mother ]
should be potter this very minute.
orders and loafed as usual. One day
we had lesson in physical geography
on tides. ! took up my book, as a
matter OF routine and compulsion, anu
for some reason became interested. At
the recitation n girl and myself we're
the only pupils who understood the
subject. We we're praised by name
and permitted to go home. All OF the
others In the class were kept after
hours. Now, this little incident Is
worth mentioning only because OF its
possible bearing on the lives OF those
boys who are seeminly az hopeless as
I was. For the first time had recefv-
ed honorable mention from teacher.
Ana for once, at least, had thorough
ly known my lesson. ! could know It
again.
"As walked along I felt new I'm
pulses springing up In my mind. The
day, recollect, was dreary and the
sky overcast, but was the happiest
youth in town. From that time on /
fairly ate up everything that came
before me in the way OF lessons, The
next year l was graduated with hon
ors. When taught school myself
would relate my own experience and |
describe my own awakening to per-
picked and discouraged parents and to |
and idle pupils"
Where did you teach?"
MOST WRETCHED YEAR OF LIFE |
in the country for $50 month.
Then ! was given the principalship |
OF the Whitehall grammar schools.
/ purposed to make teaching my per-
manent occupation, but suddenly, al
though ! was 21 years old, again de-
cided to obey my mother and go to |
college. With about $1,000. which
had earned In the potshop and school
house. went 10 Minneapolis and en-
tered the University of Minnesota. !
suffered every year with hay fever and
my mother thought the climate of the,
northwest would benefit me. Minneapo-
lis. thus accidentally chosen, l might
say. has been my home ever since"
"Tell me about your first year at
the bar"
II became acquainted with Judge
Robert ID. Russell. brother Of Sol
smith Russell. the actor, and worked
in his office. The family lived with
went away for. the winter and left
ne in charge OF an empty house. My
wages were SIS a month. My board
.ost me S. week. walked morn
ng and evening, because I had no
money for car fare. had been en-
jagged to be married for FIVE years
md saw no prospect of ever being
bile to support a wife, and couldn't
or these and various other reasons,
understand what possible right | had
o live. 1t was the most wretched
ear OF my life. i don't want to say ,
more about it."
Then you were appointed assist
mt city attorney OF Minneapolis?"
|