The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-29

some of the biggest financial institu-
tions in the United States. He is the
advisor of one of the largest copper
mining companies IN the world, and
of one of the greatest hydro-electric
undertakings on this continent, coun-
sellor of transcontinental railway
system, and man Of affairs in a
state where undertakings involving
large expenditure are common.
He Kept the Spoken Word.
This is the story of Sam Stephen
son of Great Falls, president of the
First National bank, president of the
Great Falls Townsite company, guide,
philosopher, friend and hacker of one
of the most rapidly developing areas
In all the United States-northern
and eastern Montana. His achieve
ments are the achievements of a man
of parts. What is the secret of his
remarkable success. and how may the
youth who comes after him profit by
his example? In big things and lit
tie things, he always kept his word
He never made man promise he
did not keep. Seems an easy way
to tread the primrose path of success,
doesn't it? Combined with talents
that were native to him, making his
word good to the last letter attracted
the attention of men who figure larg-
est on Montana's financial horizon
They put great trusts in his keeping
and made him steward of millions
Now he is spokesman in these parts
for interests that figure largely in
Montana's ultimate destiny, and all
because he never went back of his
spoken word.
He did not move mountains. He
did not send thousands of men into
the bowels of the earth to extract
therefrom the precious metals. He
did not turn rivers from their courses
and make the arid desert blossom as
the rose. He built no railroads
across continents and sent no ships
down to the sea. He did not finance
great undertakings or do the things
which captains of finance do. He
simply kept faith with himself and
his fellows, and made his word good.
N1orony Picked Stephenson.
How Sam Stephenson began he
practice of law in Great Falls when he
arrived there, his success in the legal
field, business ventures that material
lied, are just incidents to his career
The coming of John Morony, Mon
tana's first native son, to Great Falls,
figures largely in Stephenson's later
successes. Morony took over the
First National for himself and his
associates. His judgment of men was
good and he picked Sam Stephenson,
He was made attorney of the bank
and in this capacity became an intim.
ate of the man, who, with John D.
Ryan, created the Montana Power
company. Before Morony's death he
had planned to retire from the man.
agement of the bank and he selected
Stephenson as the man to succeed
him. On the occasion of the first
meeting of the banks directors after
Morony's death, the directors, who
knew of Morony's intent, elected
Stephenson to the banks presidency
How He Can Help Montana.
Because of the interests with which
he is allied, and the confidence which
those interests repOse in him Sam
Stephenson is an asset to northern
and eastern Montana. This section
of the state is expanding with phen
ominal rapidity. Thousands of set
tiers are pouring into it. Towns are
springing up in every direction. Fol
instance: Ten years ago not a single
grain of wheat was grown in Sheri
dan county. Now, over 100 elevators
are insufficient to take care of the
grain harvest. Thirty or forty robus
towns and villages dot the prairies
where few years ago coyotes howlet
at the wilderness. Thousands of peo