Live Oak daily Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 190?-190?, 1907-05-22
psoR Hors AND M1LnroNaIREs


poor boys of yesterday, and many
of the poor boys of today will in a
few years be millionaires- Many Of
Americas greatest statesmen were
originally poor boys. These facts are
pictured very truly in recent is
sue of the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat-
II says: = a4j
"Wisconsin's new senator is its
richest man. Before an outcry is
raised about another addition to the
-millionaires' club" in the legisla-
tive department of the government,
it is well TO consider the record OF
the new senator throughout its
whole range. Isaac Stephenson is
one of the innumerable instances Of
the poor boys who make their way
upward in this country. He came to
tie United States as an immigrant
from Canada at TIE age of II, and a
year later found work on a Wiscon-
sin farm. In his case there was no
chance for schooling, and such book
knowledge as he gained was picked
up at odd times by native wit. At
length he went into lake navigation
and invested his savings in timber
lands, an operation whose profits
may be judged by the present price
of lumber After becoming a capt.
tahst Mr.. Stephenson engaged in
banking. and he is now a multimil-
lionaire. He has long been known
as liberal citizen with philanthropy
ic ideas, and no one who knows his
career could believe that he has en-
ployed any -disereditable means 20
reach a senatorShip. or that he will
be other than an honest, conscien-
tious member
A large majority of American mil
lionaires were originally poor boys,
and the only sure way TO cut down
the list is to place limitations on
American opportunities and enter
prise A poor boy necessarily starts
into business at the bottom, and COM
prehends at the start the power of
Self-reliance, backed by industry and
sound observation He learns TO make
the most of a little, and bow by the
exercise of judgment and energy he
can take tie next step forward. A
| basis is thus laid that can be obtain
ed in no other way Having MASTER
ed the art of depending on his own
work and qualities, he acquires a
capacity for larger combinations.
Leaning on nobody, and knowing the
possibilities of what he can do for
himself, an individuality is devel-
Oped that deals with actual facts,
avoids mistakes, and commands con-
fidenee- Money begets money. Moth
ing is easier than for a multimillion-
aire TO add to his riches. Rates of
interest work increasingly and a sill
ent increment is certain in a grow
ing country like this.
How far an intense pursuit of
wealth is worth while is another
question. 1t is not unknown in
other parts of the world by any
means, but proceeds elsewhere I'M
der far greater difficulties. Low
birth and iron fortune are no bar to
advancement in the United States.
where many poor boys grow into the
circle of great wealth and Industrial
responsibility. They have the i'm
mense advantage of knowing how
the world is made for those who
start at the bottom. They are fam
illiar with the elements of poverty.
but the poverty that is hopeful and
ambitious. Mr.. Stephenson is no
amateur on the subject, and a man
with his training should be a wise
legislator at a time when business
and social problems are numerous.
or, in fact, at any time. Though
nearly rs, he is younger by ten
years than Alabama's two capable
senators, who were also poor boys,
and are comparatively poor yet,
though none the less estimable and
useful. They will testify that the
United States senate is not a million
aires club in the offensive sense at
tached to the term.