The Washington herald., 1908-01-19


withdrawal from the race for delegate-at-
large from Michigan to tho Republican
national convention brings 10 notice
new figure in the political arena.
The contest for the position had be-
come quite lively in Detroit, and had at
tracted the attention OF those high IN
authority IN Washington. Fearing that
the struggle might lead TO disastrous re-
suits, these gentlemen induced Mr.. New
berry 20 take action.
This leaves the field clear 10 Edward
D. Stair. who. though a citizen OF De-
troit has his business headquarters IN
New York.
Mr.. Stair has made New York a cen
ter for the conduct OF large enterprises
Of national and international Importance.
He came quietly out Of the West, and
veterans in the same line OF activity
made light of the invasion. They had
cornered the commodity and had a grip
which was not to be broken by one re-
garded by them as a tyrO inspired by
chimeTical dreams How he came, saw.
and conquered like Caesar reincarnated,
is best made a part Of his interesting
life, story.
Has Seized His Opportunities.
Mr. Stair is distinctly an American
product. This IS not because his lineage
traces through pioneer days to colonial
times. but because such opportunities as
he seized 10 his own purposes do not
exist under foreign institutions with privi-
legged classes and hardened social tradi-
tlpuc vrac bDrv, T1ryy.- nFrys,4 ,roa~g crg,
in the pretty village Of Morenci. Mich.
his parents. Ike so many early settlers
Of that State. being from New York State.
As with a majority OF men who have
found success IN legitimate lines Of en-
deavor, he had the prompting and guild
ance Of a noble mother.
At the premature age Of thirteen the
boy Stair decided to go out and battle
single-handed with the world He did
the work of q man for the pay of a
boy, He endured hardshiDs. met disap-
pointments, and was beset by those
doubts that do not harass the children OF
wealth Not once did he waver In his
purposes. He endured, fought and fought
on He made It an infexible rule to
save a certain percentage Of what he
earned. and the sacrifices which he made
with his eventual prosperity
Two Overshadowing ambitions datermin-
cd and directed the efforts of the mere
youth. He would make enough to give
his parents a 3 COnteuted and happy an
old age as money could provide. He
would also find an honorable and re-
muneratiye place in the newspaper field.
BOY Editor.
This latter desire was born IN him by
a present from his father Of a toy print
ing press. With this fraH operating
plant he got out The Boys and Girls
Weekly. The owner. proprietor, man
aser. editorial STAFF solicitor. cIrculator.
and collector was E. D. stair, aged
thirteen. At seventeen he had the
Morenci Review IN the field, molding pub
lie opinion, loudly proclaiming the prin-
Ciples Of RepublIcanism and trying 10
avoid the village s0Ions who were curious
to know why THAT Eddie Stair" did so
much advising and no voting
For several years following this pre-
tsnuOus venture Mr.. Stair published the
Midland Review and the Maple Rapids
Dispatch, and on reaching his majority
was luTed by the breezy West He went
10 Dakota in the stormy days Of its
formative period. His training stood him
well in hand. He had learned much in
the school OF experience, working without
reference TO hours. obtaining a voluntary
advance in pay from a ''souiless corpora.
zion" and gaining that self-reliance which
counts for so much IN the rough-and-
tumble fight Of life.
He started IN with the Davenport Dis
patch It said things and hit from the
shoulder. Because OF this Editor Stair
was called TO father and direct the for
tunes Of the CQoDerstown Courier. It's
Initial and absorbing purpose was 10
make Cooperstown the winner in a fierce
county seat war.
Threat Failed to Make Him Quail.
When the records Of the county seat
were stolen by the rival aspirant ne de-
nouuced the act in terms that burned
Notice was served on him that if he
showed himself IN the other town he
would be shot on sight He lost no time
IN appearing and the very hardihood Of
the act created q, saving admiration.
In 1881 he bought the Livingston Re
publican which soon became a power in
Michigan politics
Here it was that Mr. Stair had the
tide Of fortune bring to him the psycho-
logical opportunity. Il came in the guise
or discouraglng misfortune A theatrical
company did not make enough at Howell
10 pay its advertising bin with the Re
publican The proprietor was n man who
paid 10 the last cent and was disDosed 10
exact like consideration on the nart OF
others He took the departing train with
the company saw the hopeless character
Of its management. took command and
by sheer force of native executive ability
put the organization on a paying basis
and incidentally was called uDon TO re-
ceipt the advertising bill in full
Wrote First Play.
He wrote a catchy little paylet, organ
ized and managed his own little company
and made old managers sneer. then won
der. when he went into Chicago and
played paying engagement It was a
daring venture, but the career Of the
man is full of these innovations that en-
countered skepticism only to win startled
admiration
c. J. Whitney one Of the old and lead
= Ing theatrical managers OF the United
States, knew what Mr.. Stair had been ac-
compllshing. Soon the two Joined some
or their interests. The younger man per-
sisted in his policy Of following his own
ideas, acquired the Whitney opera house,
which has been a mint from the day
that he opened 1t, gained control Of thea
ters In adjacent towns and laid the
foundation for the enormous business
structure since reared upon it.
In all the annals Of theatricals there
Is no such record of rapid, silent, and
brilliant acquisition. It was a rushing
and unparalleled conquest BY 1900 Mr..
Stair had eaotf~aa for,.r tern, oo,.,-,, n 3