The Washington times., 1921-04-01
BDaUEArHING MILLIONS.

BDoUEATHING MILLIONS
Rich fathers can beaueath millions
70 their sons. They can also pitch
fork them into high positions.
But they can't bequeath brains to
their sons nor can they make sure
that their sons will permanently re-
tain high positions they never mer-
tied.
Money may tell for a while. but
merit tells In the end.
The late James Stillman well knew
that his son was not big enough to
NIL the presidential chair of the Ma
tional City Bank.
He onoo told me as much himself.
1t was only shortly before his death
that he lot pride Of family get the
better Of his judgment, and decided
to place the reins of power In his
sons handa
Even had DO scandal arisen. 1t IL
unthinkabie that James A. Stillman
could have lasted very long as presi-
dent of the City Bank. He was moro
Interested In golf than he was in
business. Moreover, conscious of his
own Indifferent ability as banker.
he constantly hesitated to give de-
eisions on Watters of importance. In
short. he was not the man for the
lob.
Some Of the directors Of tho City
Bank contemplate selecting q man
outside OF their own institution for
The presidency. not because there
are not two or three unusually able
executives In tho bank. but because
II 10 figured 1t would probably be
more conductive to harmony IL an
Acknowledged banking giant were
heoueht In - commander-in-chief.
xuU1e MEM HAVE CHANCES.
NE point I want to bring out Is
0ln4 any and every young man in
ADogtca has . chance to rise to the
vogy top evsn should he start with
1setAsr money nor Influence. for
Dotthef money nor influence can re-
0on1 or relatives Of millionaires.
True there are quite . few cor
DsEations headed by sons who suc-
oseAsd their brainy fathers, but at
laast nine In every ten gigantic en-
tAEp93se In America are headed by
man who rose from the ranks by
their own unaided efforts. Where
sxoeptions are In evidence, the sons
usualfy arc men of moro than
mediocre ability.
Perhaps tho most Conspicuous
cases Of sons succeeding fathers a.
heads Of vary important concerns are |
70 be found In the packing industry. |
j. Ogden Armour. Louis +. Swift |
and Edward Morris all have succeeded
their fathers, but anyone who knows |
these three men can tell you that
they are all men of very much more |
than average calibre.
Incidentally each one Of the three |
denied himself a college education In |
order to get into grips with the pack |
ing business at the earliest age DOS
sible. Each was more interested in
the packing business than anything |
else in the world Hence they have |
aualihed for the responsible positions
they now hll
Ex-FARM BOT AT HEAD.
The largest enterprise in America |
Is headed by an ex-farm boy who had |
TO make his own way in the World.
e H Gary.
Our second largest Industrial enter |
prise 10 probably tho American Tele- |
phone Company: it's president. Harry |
b. ThAyer. was q poor lad and started |
~ an office boy. but quickly found |
opportunity to learn his way about |
the factory.
Schwab started In q steel plant at |
. dollar . day as an unskilled work. |
man.
President Farrell. Of the o. s. Steel
Corporation. began rs . laborer in a |
steel plant
President R4a Of tie Pennsylvania
Railroad underwent severe hardships
- . struggling youth.
President Smith Of the New York |
Central switched from an office stool |
70 pick and ahovei as . gang laborer
when nineteen.
Prssident willard OF the Baltimore |
d Ohio was fireman and used to
kAve to sleep all night during Winter |
months In a roundhouse in order to |
Be At hand to get up several times |
during tho night to prevent tho place |
AID everything In 1t from freezing.
In fact with only two or three ex-
eaotionA every large railroad today |
has a. president q man who fought |
his way up through tho ranks step
by step.
no GHDED SONS RUN AUTO
PLANTA
Take our newest mammoth In
dostry. automobile manufacturing.
The mon at the top are not gilded
sens OF multi i-millionaires, but fell
lows who started firm scratch and
By sheer industry. application and
intslligencs made progress
Ford. a. all tho world knows, was
. farm boy who turned mechanic.
w. c. Durant had to do his own
climbing.
John N. WiIlys' rfrst venture was
- . lasmdryman. but he switched
from that into repairing and selling
bicycles,
President A R Erskfne, of the
Btudebaker Company. had to make his
own way. So had practically all our
present-day motor magnates.