The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-01


meet a susve. disnified captain Of in
dustry who looks you srsvely in the
face as he DOTS his stiff derby hat. II,
however. you should come upon him
Unexpectedly In the clamorous con-
fines OF the Baldwin Locomotive
Works at Broad and Spring Garden
streets in Philadelphia. where he
swings on a swivel chair behind a
glass door bearing the legend "Presi-
dent" you ind him q smiling, genial,
democratic captain Of industry who Is
just like zone OF the boys"-and wear
ing a shop straw hat very likely Of
last years vintage.
'Sammie" Vauclain-as millionaire
bankers. merchants, manufacturers
and steel magnates know him--very
much prefers the old straw hat to the
derby. For the man who startled the
world OF iron and steel by building
more locomotives than had ever been
produced before in a given time. when
France and Great Britain needed them
most and when other engine builders
said ''It can't be done; the man who
not only made the allied nations but
all his own United States "sit up and
take notice" when he built the giant
ammunition branch of the Baldwin
Locomotive Works at Eddystone that
turned out $1,000 shells and 5000
Enfield rifles every twenty-four hours;
the man who built the huge mounted
Vesuviuses that out-Berthaed the
Huns greatest guns, Is the soul Of
democracy who very much prefers the
old-fashioned straw hat Of the work.
ing man to the derby hat Of the diner
out or public speaker.
Bears His Honors ModestIy.
But did very little," says the new
president Of the Baldwin Locomotive
Works when pressed for a bit Of COM
ment concerning his activities as a
member Of the Council Of National De-
fence that eliminated In the award to
him OF the Distinguished Service
Medal. pinned upon his breast by AS
sistant Secretary OF War Benedict
CroweIl at a great dinner IN Philadel-
phia where representatives Of wealth
totaling more than $4,000. o00. 900 were
gathered to do him honor after his ap-
pointment to the head Of the Baldwin
Works few days ago.
But I did very little," he replied la
oonically. too. when the French nation
bestowed upon him the honorary title
Of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor
for his war work.
TT Is true that I have done some
thing In the great war;" says Mr.. vau-
CLAIM. "but only tried. and I hope sue
cessfully. to do a pro rata part OF the
tremendous effort put forth by the
American people. I can take credit for
only one-tenth Of one per cent. of that
with which they credit me. Mine was
a very easy task. pulled the strings
and the many men who assisted me did
the work"
Thereby lies the secret OF sam"
vauclain's phenomenal rise from me-
chanic's assistant in the Pennsylvania
railroad shops at Altoona atop the AL
leghany mountains near the famous
Horseshoe Curve to the commanding
position of president of one of Amer
ica's greatest industrial concerns.
For while Mr.. Vauclain epitomizes
modesty he has the remarkable faculty
o. attracting his fellow-workers TO him
as the steel draws the magnet. Among
al the more than 10000 employees in
tao Spring Garden plant there Is
hardly a man but knows 'Mr. Vau-
claim" for he circulates constantly
among them.
When It comes to teamwork" John
Mack Of the Athletics. past masters
a. welding a machine by harmonizing
several score ball players. operate on
a small scale compared to this giant
gan and engine builder who has moved
70 a high pinnacle in the world OF
Industry and commerce because the
thousands OF riveters and sledge
hammer artists in overalls under his
direction are working for the big
boss"
Attending to my own business IT.
respective of the clock is probably the
keynote to the way got along" said
Mr.. Vauclain when asked for some
significant statement apropos OF his
success II have never allowed any
thing to interfere with my business.
Big Ideas and Few Words.
Tsrsely put il Mr.. vauclain's state
nsent; but it only family discloses the
zeal story of his success. Here Is
man OF big ideas and massive achieve
ments-but a man OF few words. 1t Is
a far cry back to the Juniata shops In
Altoona, Pa. where Mr.. VAUGHAN
started life as a wageearner ana
producer for the marts OF the world
with the Pennsylvania Railroad. But
II there Is anywhere in America a
stray Bolshevlst OF the rapid Russian
type who claims "he hasn't got a
chance at all" but must turn the
world topsy-turvey in order to get
square deaI' for the callous handed
proletariat let him gaze a bit on the
career of Samuel Matthews Vauclain--
and then ponder a bit.
No silver spoon adorned his baby
mouth. His parents. his mother OF
Scotch Irish descent ana his father
OF French extraction, worked hard for
what they got-and 30 did the boy
"Sammie."
At sixteen, when boys Of the same
age to-day are for the most part alter
mating between high school textbooks
and baseball bats, Sam Vauclain was
cleaning fiues and polishing up the
engines In the roundhouse at Altoona
preparatory to their long lift through
the Gallitzin tunnel on the long steel
road to Pittsburs. Most boys who
work as hard to-day spark" around
in the evenings at the movies or. out
in the parks with sweet sixteen"
Rut mot an .Qa m rnie" Vauclain Work.