The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-24
POLITICAL EXILE POUNDED GREAT
 U. s. SOAP FIRM
Romance Of Colgate Plant Started In Political
 Activities

Back of all successful businesses, no matter how unpretentious, lies a romance. Usually this romance, par ticularly in the case of large concerns, is lost; but at times it is preserved and it's telling makes an interesting story.
 Colgate and Company, known all over the world as soap and perfume man. ufacturers, has seen fit to keep this tale of the firms early life which dates to 11S years ago. In a monthly publication distributed among employees It has conveyed brief history of the company'sS close identification with national development without any idea of capitalizing the fact.
 The story, written by Jerry McQuade, goes back to pre-colonial days when Wings and Tories battled over the principal os American independence in England, then to New York and the modest start of William Colgate as soap maker down to the present time when the Colgate plant in New Jersey covers seven city blocks.
 Colgate Was Whig
 Robert Colgate, the direct forebear of the founder of Colgate and Company, was a Whig sympathizer during the years around 1775 when England was in turmoil regarding the nations policy toward her colonies. He lived in the town. of Seven Oaks, Kent, a center of English liberalism.
 Robert Colgate was a follower of Chatham, Charles G. Fox and Edmund Burke. The blood of his ancestors vibrated with a fierce love for free dom and in the new land he saw a hopeful sign in an evolution of civ- ilization foreshadowing a brighter day for the world.
 With other Wings, Colgate watched the progress of the war with Amreica with particular relish and after sup per kentish farmers gathered at his home to fight over with forks upon maps the battles from which news came.
 Founder Is Born
 On January 25, 17S3, William Col gate, the founder of Colgate and Com pany was born and with the thrill of fatherhood, Robert Colgate became more intensely Whiggish in his con- victions in realization that it would mean better days for his son.
 As a result, a movement started among the Tories to get rid of Colgate and other Whig sympathizers, Colgate, through a warning by his friend, Sir William Pitt, fled from England. In May, 1795, after GO stormy days at sea. he landed in Baltimore.
 Colgate purchased a farm in Hart ford, Md. where for several years he industriously titled the soil, reaping harvests that were more bountiful than he had ever known in England.
 Loses Farm
 Suddenly in the midst of their new found happiness came a bolt out of a blue sky. The title of Robert Col gates farm was challenged. An ex- animation proved it to be defective and the family was ordered to leave. Colgate's entire savings, together with the improvements he had made upon the farm, were lost. His heart was broken. Seeking a brighter day he had found darker one.
 A family crisis is the test of the spirit of it's members. William Col gate, at that time but 15 years of age, heard the call and jumped into the breach. He sought employment and gained a job with a candle maker in Baltimore.
 Meanwhile Robert Colgate took the rest of his family by stage coach to Delaware County, N. Y., where he found a farm he could work, presum- ably on lease.
 For two years or more William Col gate stuck to his Baltimore job, learning how to make soap. He was industrious and efficient. At the end of this time, in order to seek larger fields and to be of more tangible as- sistance to his father, he went to New York.
 Asked For Job
 On the morning following his arrival, William Colgate presented himself at the office of John Slidell and Com pany. 90 Broadway, the largest 1.ibw candlers of the city, and apR.el for work. There was no vocaiIj, but Slidell, impressed by Colgates pleasing personality, offered him a position as an assistant clerk. This was de- clined.
 Il desire, sir, to learn the business" he said firmly. T wish to work to earn a living for myself Anyone cS2 assist clerk, but I wish to work"
 line frankness, courage and ambition was so unusual to the head of the house that he sent for the foreman.
 Show him everything about the business" Slidell said. He will be of great service to you."
 At the end of a five-year period Colgate set up business of his own at No. 6 Dutch street in a two story brick building. Colgate was soap maker, buyer, salesman, bookkeeper and boss.
 On his first day in business he served but one customer, man who purchased a two pound bar of soap and who lived at a considerable distance from the store. Colgate insisted up- on delivery of the purchase no matter how great the distance, and in doing this the .-oung merchant made re- mark which was characteristic in his rise to success.
 Tt may have cost me double my profit on that first sale to make the delivery, Lut l won customer thereby and l have kept him ever since"
 In recognition of his character and ability, William Colgate was about this time offered the nomination for mayor of New York which he refused. The controversies of politics iarred up- on his nature, he told his supporters.
 He said he believed ke could do more constructive good out of office than in it.
 William Colgate died in 1857 and from here his industry passed into the hands of five grandSons who have with their combined efforts established one of the factory show-places of the coun- try.
 In closing his story of the history of this immense factory McQuade pays tribute to the dead founder:
 ''So here is the story of a political