Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-07-21

accepted without reservation and that
his early home and business training
were upon the safe foundation OF strict
puritanical principles. The venture into
the west proved no disappointment
either TO the new employer nor to the
youth who journeyed from home to
make way for himself.
In the Lexington store the Vermont
boy started almost at the bottom rung
or the ladder Later he became Eastern
buyer for the firm and finally general
manager. AT that time IL was one of
the largest mercantile establishments
In the Thumb In the meantime ne
hoops. slaves. hay and wool for tho
firm and many older business men in
When yde o11y9g sllSses can rhsmemeer
load OF wool would get into the high
baling press and tramp down the
greasy stun to make IL compact for
shipment.
becomes Travelling Man.
Another advance before becoming
manager was when he became travel
ing man for the concern, covering
Eastern Michigan, as far north as the
500" selling merchandise, hay and
grain and buying lumber and shingles
for shipment to Lexington.
Knows the Trial. OF the Farmers and
ToiIers.
Though not a rich man in the gem
eral acceptation OF the term Mr. Sleep
er is in comfortable circumstances. He
knows, however, what 1t means to be
scant clothing. few amusements and no
luxur1es. He knows from contact and
experience what small farmers have to
contend with, what II means to man
with forty acres to have a bad year
| from weather and crop failures and in
the midst Of 1T big taxes to pay. He
| knows how to sympathize. His first
wages in the Brock store was three
! dollars per week and board himself.
| but there he not only learned the prin-
| cples OF sound business but how to
| eCOnOmlZe. 4
| for these experiences largely IL may be
that success has not turned him. He
| always has both feet on the earth and
men at the pillow and with the dinner
| pail are just as near to him, and in
fact little closer. than the capitalist
Never n specuIator.
! In his later business career IL Is
stated that Mr.. Sleeper never borrowed
any money. never speculated in stocks
and bonds or used funds entrusted to
his care for personal gain. And after
real estate loans II Is also asserted that
he never foreclosed mortgage.
In politics s i has always been said
was his personal popularity. This is
not only accounted for by his genial
manner and kindly personality, but by
unselfsh way of doing things for
others, things both little and big. He
is always thinking of something that
will make some one more happy or
ties he finds to do such things the more
enjoyment he gets out OF Ire. ana
| quite as much so whether or not the
recipient OF his favor is friend or
Character Traits.
This char cter trait is illustrated by
| another gentleman who travels the
state a great deal who is now an en-
thusastic worker for Sleeper for Gov
ernoP This man said he was so; coming ang
stormy night. He was relating how he
was compelled TO drive Is miles in the
country after reaching town. fellow
passenger who heard the statement
insisted that the night was not MT Tor
the drive without warmer clothing and
rendered his, 5000 fur coat. u 1t was
| accepted and the man said. II after
wards learned that the owner OF the
coat was state treasurer, "A. r.. sleeper:
He did not know whether he would
ever see me or the coat again or not.
Sleeper has wonderful faith in man
kind and an acute knowledge OF human
nature and | have been his friend ana
for him ever since that stormy night;
Another instance is that or an Elk
township farmer who was asked for
whom he was going to vote for COVER
nor Quick as a fash came this reply:
Bert" Sleeper sold wool to him 80
years ago in Lexington and a sauarer
man never lived" Incidents like these
are common in Sanilac and Huron
Not n speechmaker.
Mr.. Sleeper has been referred 20 In
the "loauacious" kind. He is very
keenly sensible about his limitations
in this respect. He talks little but IS
splendid listener. In one OF the long
est speeches he was ever known TO
make about three minutes long, oc-
Cured this statement; you have had
one now / won't be a speechmaking
governor and this is one promise j VIII
surely make good on He has further
averred that the average voter in Mich
gan this year Is more Interested in
taxes than he IL In speeches.
Another one OF his average length
public speeches was practically en-
braced in this sentence: IF / am elect
ed governor, | will try To see that a
dollars worth of service goes out for
; every dollar Of taxes that comes in