The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-17
QUICK MILLIONS.
Patten Makes Fortune i'm Whate
in Night.
1t Came With Announcement of
U. s. Crop Report.
A LONG LOOK AHEAD.
Six Months Ago He Said There
Would Be a Shortage.
People Laughed at Him, But
Now They Know.

Chicago, April 17.-No more dra-
matte scene has been witnessed on the
Chicago exchange than when the gov
eminent report on wheat was chalked
up. 1t sent May wheat to $1.30 within
few hours. 1t occurred at precisely
Z O'Clock in the morning. A bit of
yellow paper was hurriedly handed up
| to the man on the ladder. The strain
was now intense. Millions were at
stake. The man at the board traced
a figure eight in the black space.
Bears hearts sank: they had hoped
for nine. Then the chalk started to
trace the curving lines of a figure two.
The traders waited for no more. One
concentrated yell arose from the floor
with the sharpness and suddenness of
a thunder clap. They had read 80 per
cent. What it meant was that the
world is short of wheat
Meanwhile James A. Patton, the
wheat king of the world. sat smiling
across the street in his office. 1t was
prophet, who for years has been
studying the wheat situation, walked
into the board of trade when May
wheat was selling at $1.05 and told
them that wheat would go to S1.25.
| Some of them laughed at him; others
followed his advice and bought. Those
| who were wise enough to buv are to-
! day weather. by many million dol
| lars.
This prophecy is no guess work with
James A. Patton. He merely antici-
pated the government report and the
reports from foreign countries. The
world is short of wheat this year and
Patton knew 1t. Now that it is veri-
fed those who laughed at him are
wondering how they could have been
such fools
Mr.. Patton. this wheat king, really is
very ordinary looking man. He is
quiet Of nature and spends his even
ings at home with his family, reading
and smoking. Mr.. Patton is a model
husband and business man. His work.
ing day is devoted to his business oh
solutely and his evenings are just as
devoted to his family circle and to rest.
He does not drink, does not gamble or
dissipate in any form. He retireS to
bed early in the evening. usually about
8 O'Clock. and is up early the following
morning, wide awake and ready for
his work. He never carries his bust
ness troubles or cares home with him,
leaving 1t all at the Office to be attack
ed with renewed vigor the next morn
ing. This is why he is able to grasp
situations better than some of the 9TH
ers who have been "out with the boys
the night before.
| Mrs. Patton possesses a very charm
| ing personality and is a great adnirer
! OF her husband. Mr.. Patton seldom
talks over business affairs with her be-
cause he leaves them all at the office.
| With all his work and business Mr..
Patton is intensely human. He takes
a great interest in the affairs of the
| people around him. He gives much to
charity in quiet way and has aided
| education by his handsome donations
to the Northwestern university.
! Mr.. Patton has been identified with
the Chicago Board of Trade for many
years. He very seldom appears on the
| floor, but he is in close touch with 1t
! through his representatives. It was
only few years ago that he was able
| tC make a like fortune out of corn,
when he became known as the corn
ling"
The price of s13O on May wheat is
the highest attained by that product
] since Joe Letter sent wheat skyward
| by the corner which broke him in 1908,
when it reached S1.S5. Only once be-
fore that since the civil war has wheat
been up to $3.50 and that was in 1888,
WREN the so-called Hutchinson corner
sent September wheat to 81.
1t is estimated that Mr.. Patton has