Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-06
Once Pennies Boy, Ne2v
Secretary Of Agr1cuItnre
AkSO Farmer and Editor
BY ". z. BATTENFIELD,
Editor the Des n6oiues News

DIES MOlNES, 1a.-FrOm penni-
less boy of an Iowa farm to secre-
tary of agriculture in President Will
sons cabinet and millionaire farm
paper publisher. Such has been the
rise of Edwin T. Meredith, in his
life span Of forty-three years.
Born on a farm near Avoca. Ia,
December %, 1876, Meredith of ne
cessity early became interested in
the game of making money. His
first chance came when his father
gave him little runt of a pig and
told him that with proper care the
pig might be. raised and sold at a
profit.
Meredith thought it was the OPP
portunity of a lifetime. Boylike he
jumped at the chance and from
that minute the runt OF a pig was
handled, watched over, sheltered
and protected. 1t grew and waXed
fat and young Meredith soon SOLD
it nice profit.
Leaving the farm, Meredith en-
tered Highland Park college, at Des
Moines. He h2d no money from
home except a little he had saved.
so he paid his way through college
by tending furnaces and waiting Oh
tables. Mathematics was his favor
ite study.
His first job after leaving college
was as a printer with Des, Moines
firm. In 1899 mis- uncle, Thoma <
Meredith, started the famous TriD-
une here and young Ed became n"
assistant doing everything from
writing news and chasing ADVERTISE
ments to setting type.
The paper was started as a po-
litical organ to support the Green.
back party. Neitherf the paper nor
the party gained much strength in
Iowa and Meredith and his uncle
had a grim struggle to make eX-
penSes. In 1901 Meredith and Il
printer friend bought the paper. In
1902 Meredith founded "SuccessruI
Farming" now one Of the largest
and most prosperous farm publica
lions in the country.
At the start it was a little sheet
scanty in news and scantier in aG-
vertising, but it had certain primer
Piles and the young publisher was a
fighter.
The initial number carried the
announcement that only clean adj
vertising would be accepted. Tile
first few issues were refused by the
delivery wagons hired to take them
to the postoffice until payment was
made. The postofficc would not mait
them until the postage was paid.
Few beliebed in the ultimate success
of the magazine But Meredith "haG
way with, him" and it was but a
few years ttutil farm publishers OF
the country were forced to reckoN
with q "comer.'
His publication today has over
100000 circulation and the net prof
it from each monthly issue is est
mated to be $4,000. Meredith not
long ago summed up his rule for
success in three words: Integrity,
industry and imagination.
"Imagination spells the difference
between small success and big sue
cess" Meredith said.
Service to his readers is one Of
Meredith's hobbies. One of the big
gest things the farmer can do is to
keep the boys interested in the farm,
Meredith says.
I'm this way the drift to the cities
can be checked" he says. Il believe
the boy will be interested in the
farm if he has a stake in it. He
wants to make money"
SO Meredith will lend any boy
money to carry Oh farm work. y
boy can borrow $50 Or $50 or $1OO
to buy a pig or a COW or whatever
he may want. The note bears per
cent interest and natures in one
wear. If he has bad LUCK his note is