Evening star., 1929-12-01
Continued From First Page.>

gency existed. Clocks mean little in
their workdays. President Hoover likes
to read books on history, biography and
economicS-and detective yarns. So
does Mr.. Barnes, albeit he thinks Mr..
Hoover and the late President Wilson
have read more detective stories than
he's perused late at night.
Both Hoover and Barnes are self
made men. The former worked his way
through college and was an orphan.
Mr.. Barnes became Self-reliant in his
early teens and did not even get
through his schools. In later years he
builded upon a public school education
and became well read man. Since he
rose to eminence in the business world
half dozen colleges and universities
have bestowed honorary degrees upon
Mr.. Barnes, and he is proud Of them.
In his everyday routine vof handling
big things, Mr.. Barnes has the unusual
faculty of putting behind him each
days ups and downs. He never carries
to bed thoughts Of what has gone be-
fore. Ever since he was newsboy to
morrow has been the thing" with Julius
H. Barnes, and the triumphS or tribu-
lations Of a yesterday are wiped from
the slate of his memory.
Each Day Unto Itself.
AS the country's largest exporter of
wheat, Mr.. Barnes for many years has
necessarily functioned as one of quick
Judgment and decision, with the world
markets as his field of operations. He
has dealt in millions Of bushels and
dollars. Sometimes he has erred, some
times executed great business coupes
and trades; but his associates assert that
never has he whimpered and never has
he gloated. It's all in a days business,
and the Barnes happy creed is that the
balance sheet for each day stands for
itself and is apart.
With all his nervous energy and alert
mind, Mr.. Barnes is an affable, ap-
proachable, tolerant sort of fellow. Yet
even his intimates know few anecdotes
about him and he's never been heard
to boost himself. He says he's been too
busy to tell stories, but he likes a clean
joke and has an excellent sense of humor.
What reserve he exhibits is not affecta-
tion. Nearly every minute Of his time
is sketched out in advance and he gen.
orally allows himself Just 10 to II min
utes to catch train.
Barnes is tall. but not too thin; blue
eyed, OF animated expression, quick in
speech and reaction, willing to give as
well as take council with all sorts of
folks; the embodiment of a rather rest
less energy that goes with the accom-
pliShment OF big jobs, although he set
out in life with no special career in
view.
Then how did you happen to drift
into the wheat business" he was asked
by this interviewer
We'll. it just so happened" Mr.
Barnes blandly replied. I see that you
know that sold newspapers. was
born at Little Rock. Ark, in 1873, but
70 Woe hi ne4n
AS a youngster started out selling
papers about the time President Gar
field was shot. You will recall that he
fingered for many days before death
and there was intense daily and hourly
interest in his condition not only on
the streets Of Washington but through
out the Nation. was lust a boy, and
not an oppcrtunist, but I learned about
money-making during that anxious
period and sold many papers.
Soon afterward my father. because
OF ill health, moved to the climate of
Minnesota. My mother is still living
at quite advanced age. Out there I
stayed in the newspaper business, get
ting to the extent of a delivery route
for a morning paper. AS a side job
went with the wheat brokerage house
OF Ward AmeS.. ST., as an Office boy
and then as clerk; and so ! rather
drifted into the wheat exporting busi-
ness and I've been in it since It was
the first job that came to hand and
took it at very small salary; forget
just what, maybe five or seven dollars
a week"
Parenthetically, that greatly de-
veloped wheat concern today is known
as the BarneS-Ames Company, operat-
ing grain elevators and ships and with
branches in many cities and doing a
world business, as before the war, Mr..
Barnes is not only the directing genius
OF this far-flung organization, but his
activities include the manufacturing of
paper. rugs, flber-board and letter
stamping machines and membership on
the directorate Of large bank.
Suppose you had started in the
Office of steel company, or a railroad
company, for instance, instead of a
wheat export firm, do you think you
would or could have done so well?"
Mr.. Barnes was asked
Il should hope so," smilingly re-
Sponded Mr.. Barnes. "I think that
very few Of us may map out our careers
in advance. I know I had no such
chart. Nature has not so made the
average man. He comes into a Job or
a situation and develops into a success
or failure. took the first thing that
came along in Duluth and happened
successfully to cross the threshold of
the great wheat industry. Maybe I
might have fitted in as well somewhere
else"
Other Public Service.
Despite the exactions of many COM
mercial affiliations, Mr.. Barnes some
how has found time to participate In
the work Of national and international
organizations of q Semi-public char
acter. He served two terms as presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States and is now chairman
Of its board of directors. 1t was while
president of the national chamber that
Mr.. Barnes. with delegation of sew
eral hundred other American business
men, went to Rome, Italy in 1922, to
attend the Congress of the Interna-