The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-06
From the New York Times.

N NEWSPAPER page of biographies \PV of millionaires, Pittsburg million
 aires at that, ought to be a sor- did and disheartening exhibit of the re- suits of the capitalistic system, if indeed that system is such as the socialist propa- ganda describes 1t. Yet any fair-mlnoed person may be challenged to deduce that lesson from the score of examples in last Sundays Times of what capitalism may do for the individual, and what the indi- yidual may do in turn for society The lesson we deduce is one of hope and promise for every poor struggler in any walk of life Many of them are entieed, perhaps, by the indictments of the mis- sionaries of the doctrines of discontent, and by their promises of what collectiy- ism will, or rather aims to, substitute for the acknowledged imperfections@ of our existing institutions. To each of such may be put the question whether they are willing to accept bare suffciency and levelng of all ranks to an average, for the brilliant furtures which they may achieve under the present attitude of so- ciety toward property
 It would be an absurd question to ask these twenty examples whether they would submit to such redutions in their services to themselves, and in their ca- pacty of good to their fellows. But 1t is a fair question to ask socialists how they would stimulate personal efforts to such results, if such rewards were impossible. How would socialism peer into the indi- vidual heart and mind and discern am- bition, character, capacity, energy, such as slumbered all unsuspected in these mill lonaires? And if socialism failed to per form this impossibility would not the loss to society offset, and more than offset, all the other claims of socialism, even If they were to be admitted? Society could not have afforded to lose these men, and so- cialism could not have produced them, and the indictment of socialism as the discourager of whatever is of exceptional quality can be duplicated in any com munity.
 Take, for example, Alexander Peacock, but little while ago a hubble employe of Broadway shop, a "counter jumper in short. He sold Mrs. Carnegie a gown so skillfully that her husband set him to selling steel rails, and he sold 600, GOO tons to one customer, the worlds record for salesmanship, 1t is said. William Finn was "as poor boy as any in Pitts burg He sold papers and blacked boots, and it is a credit to him, and a source of joyful recollection worth all the effort It cost to extricate himself. Mir. Goggs' start was equally humble, and MT Don ner, the tinplate magnate was a mill boy. MT. Barnsdall, who was to become an oilwell owner, could hardly be imag- ined as such when he was dressing tools. MT. Heinz of "57 varieties" fame, began by peddling his mothers make of the same goods, his first factory being her kitchen. Mir Davis who owns skys- crapers, and is real estate crazy, used to sell shoestrings and near-gold jewelry. Of MT. Prick it is unnecessary to say any more than that he was as poor as Mir. Carnegie. MT. Phpps was a bench shoe makers son, and used to drink borrowed coffee, or go without when it could not be borrowed. MT. U Neill, who owns houses enough to make town, was an Irish K. MT. Corey worked for $10 a week, and is worth $lo,O0o,Oco made by his own efforts. Mir. Barnes drove cart fourteen years ago. and has made million for each year since he began to make money MT. Guffey, the oil king, started as a we'll driller. and MT. Snyder, who may succeed Mir. Corey as president, was a minister's son. MT. Lovejoy was telegrapher. In all the list MT. Jones of Jones & Laugh lin was the only one born to wealth and trained to the business to which he sue ceeded.
 Some of these men have been rich and poor by frequent turns, and have expe- rienced the bitterness of reverses as well as the joy of triumph. They have been strenuous men, and their wealth is justi- fled by their services. All but one began at the bottom, but all without exception of a business man as one who gives moneys worth for money. Not one of them is characteristically an operator or trader, or speculator. They are dealers in sure things, providers of real wants, and. 1t will be admitted, for real rewards. Society could not have spared these men.