The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-08-21

sired appointment, and Vim. Alden,
when he refers 10 that incident OF
his life. says that Il is doubtful II
any OF his many later successes ever
lasted SO sweet.
AS a legislative page young Smith
acquired the political taste. and II
appears 10 have fingered with him
ever since.
BY a singular coincidence, John T.
Rich was member OF the legisla-
ture which elected VIM. Alden Smith
to the United States senate. Mr..
Rich is al present collector OF the
port at Port Huron.
Fulflls Promise 10 Become Lawyer.
Upon returning TO Grand Rapids
after the legislature adjourned. the
youthful Smith felt the call OF the
law again asserting itself He APP
piled 10 prominent legal firm for a
place in their office. They were not
In the habit OF paying salaries to
office students, and he could not get
along without IT, lie went TO an
uncle In Chicago who was a lawyer,
only TO md him gone away for an
indefinite period He returned TO
Grand Rapids and found the once
OF the legal firm 10 whom he had
first applied locked He knew the,
owner OF the building and, borrowing
the key, entered and took possession
OF the office. He cleaned the win
dows, mopped the floors, busted the
books, received the mail and visitors.
In short he had forcibly broken
into the legal profession. Upon the
return OF the partners. they were az
first surprised and somewhat indlg-
nant until he explained the adyant.
ages OF having the Office kept open
during their absence, He was re
tanned at small salary, and four
years later admitted 20 the bar at
the age OF "a The prominence he
attained Is well known history.
The recital OF his ambitions,
struggles and successes might be
strung out TO cover many columns.
Many OF his critics would attribute
his success In life TO what they term
his "proverbial good luck: 10 the
hypnotic influence which goes with
iollying nature: 70 his remarkable
memory for names and faces: in fact,
70 almost anything and everything
except the real reasons.
His good -natured traits have been
OF his friends has said.
AS matter OF fact Senator VIM.
Alden Smith is an aggressive. hard.
headed. ambitious man, sagacious In
business and in politics.
His astuteness as clever player
OF the great game OF life must be con.
ceded. He knows how 20 handle mca.
Perhaps this Is the foundation stone
upon which be builds Senator Smith
never suppresses his personality II
has been said OF him that, In his
heart there seems 20 be n perpetual
springtime OF hopes" and that. Ills
buoyant Imagination paints a rainbow
In darkest skies
He is not easily convinced and
avoids traps through his native sa.
gaoity. He IL bold--it Is one OF his
axioms-and not afraid to ask for
what he wants. and admits Il. Asked
how he came to be appointed on the
Ways and Means committee when he
first entered congress. he will tell you
frankly that he went directly 10
Speaker Reed and asked for the place
--and got H.
The touching human side OF Sena-
tor Smiths character was sweetly re.
vealed In the tender remembrance OF
his father and mother. for whom he
has provided comfortable home in
their old age among the flower
gardens OF California, when he said,
In the closing words or his speech
OF acceptance and at the moment OF
achieving glory OF his life:
Looking into the faces OF my wife
and child and over your heads see
in the window or an humble cottage.
5000 miles away. the sweet faces OF
my father and mother, made happier
by this triumph OF mine"
That Senator Smith should have
found time IN HIS busy political ca.
reer 20 wrost success In the business
world Is a matter OF small wonder.
Aside from the earnings from his
legal profession. his first big business
venture was IN the nature OF railroad
building az a speculation. In 1897 he
began the work OF constructing short
stretches OF railroads connecting
Grand Rapids and Kalkaska IA 1899
he built the Grand Rapids a. Saginaw,
which later consolidated with the
Lowell & Hastings His profits were
represented In bonds. which, with ex-
traordlnary confidence and bold judg-
ment he labeled 100000 II was only
few years later that the Pore Mar.
quette was glad 10 give him real.
good money for the full face value OF
his bonds
Since then he has gone on prosper.
ing He IS shrewd investor and
makes his money work for him
In his boyhood he had sold the
Grand Rapids Herald on the streets.
II was from sentimental reasons, per-
haps. that he first became stock.
holder. then president, and Is now
principal owner OF one OF the best
paying and influential papers In Mich
igan or the Middle West.
In HIS home life William Alden
Smith il again exceptionally forum
ate. He married. In 1885, Miss Mana
Osterhout. OF Grand Rapids. whose
similar tastes and brilliant compan-
Ionship IS the fulillment OF hts cup OF
happiness.
Mrs. Smith takes a deep interest IN