The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-08-06
HOW elliott
WON SUCCESS
THE RETIRING PRESIDENT OF.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC. ONCE
A $40 A MONTH CLERK IN IOWA,
Is NOW A 100000 RAILROAD
PRESIDENT. -

Minneapolis Tribune: Howard Ell
lott, who goes from the presidency Of
the Northern Pacific on Sept. /, to take
control of the New Haven Railroad
system, is the antithesis of Charles
Sanger Mellen, the retiring president.
Mellen is a disciple of the old school.
Elliott. Is a man of simple, frank per-
sonality, taking from the west a. pro-
gressive idea. of public service-to
Wall street a new thought. His first
announcement was that he regarded
himself a quasi-public servant and de-
clared his duty to be equally divided
between the public his railroad serves
and the owners of the property.
New Yorker Who Has Become Great.
Howard Elliott is one of the very
limited number of born. New Workers
who have become great. He went west,
following the dictate of Horace Gree
ley, to make name and fame. Thirty
years ago he went to Burlington, Ia,
and became a $40-a-month clerk. Now
he returns to the east a 500, 000-a-
year railroad president. He was born
in Twentieths street, New York city.
His parents We're Hi6t wealthy, n the
young man had a real struggle to get
through Harvard, where he graduated
from the Lawrence Scientific school.
President Elliott's explanation OF his
rise in life is simple. He followed the
rules commonly laid down for the
guidance of youth. $685.
Il don't know of any particular rea-
son for my success" he said, unless
it was hard work and the fact that
some opportunity happened to come
when I was around. I was always at
tentive to my particular business. II
was partly luck and a we'll grounded
education which I was fortunate
enough to get.
Hard; Work Brings Success.
1.-THE only rule of success that
know of is hard work, honesty, sin,
habits. TheseSare, platitudes, but they
eVer, you do, do as well as o car
and do a little more than is expected
of you if possible.
"By good habits I mean moderation
It Is just as important to eat moder'
ately as it is to be temperate in drink
ing and smoking"
Mr.. Elliott is a nan of remarkable
physique. He is five feet eight inches
tall and weighs EOS pounds. all muscle
He smokes a few cigars a day, occa
sfonally drinks a cocktail, and a glas
of wine with his dinner.
What was the particular program
me which made you, so successful II
the Northern Pacific?" was asked.
1.-THE country helped to build UP tn
Northern Pacific" said Mr.. Elliott, :
did all I could to gain the confdenc'
of the people we served and help pro
mote a friendly feeling between tn
company and the community. We CO
operated with the farmers and bust
ness men. They helped us and "
helped them"
Married a. Western Girl.
j. Mr.. Elliott marriedsa western CIR
and they have three children-tw
girls and a boy. They are Janet, IS
Edith, II, and Howard Is.
The first American ancestor of How
ard Elliott was John Elliott, known I
fame as the translator of Elliott
Bible. He vas an Indian apostle an
spent his life preaching among th
Indians. He was the first to translat
the Bible into. the Indian tongue. job
Elliott was buried in Roxbury, Mass.
To newspaper men who have dea
with railroad presidents and big finan
ciers, Howard Elliott is. a revelation
Charles S. Mellen a never granite
an interview or. received reporters !
his office since he became president (
the New Haven, Mr.. Elliott, onfttf
other hand, liz, always accessible.
After he had been called before tt
board Of directors and had formal
accepted their offer, Mr.. Elliott SCI
word to the newspaper reporters tn;
he would meet them at his hote
When they arrived at his room, Mr.
Elliott was there and joined In the n
ception with true western hospitaIit