Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-11-12

opening for him.
Instead he sa t
down and wrote a letter applying
for a job. He directed the Envelope
to the Western Electric company by
mistake. He received an application
blank from that company In reply.
While embarrassed by his error in
writing q letter TO General Electric,
and then sending 1t In an envelope ad-
dressed to Western Electric. he for
got about It when he was hired as q
clerk by the latter company. His pay
was $40 week.
His letter Of application might we'll
serve as a model to young men today
who are seeking to get their start in
the business world. He wrote. In part !:
ut Is my wish to enter some good
business as soon as possible after
leave here. Now II there Is only some
position (no matter what. provided
there will be fair chance for rise
IL 1t is deserved) In the General Elec-
trio company, | should like to try 1t
and would endeavor to suit.
1.-The fact that for two years out
here, | studied great deal on the
mechanical side mathematics. chem
istry. etc. may help as to the kind
of position could FILL began
with the intention OF becoming min
Ing engineer but for several reasons
have abandoned 1t.
If you wish any references, ETC..
think could get them, for. of course,
you know nothing about what sort of
4 fellow | am
Walter S. Clifford was born in Salem.
Mass, In 1885. He wrote his letter of
application in 1904. the year he was
graduated from Harvard. His early
education was received In the public
schools of his native city. He was a
brigh, student and WIS able to enter
high school when he was eleven years
old. He completed his course at Har-
ward In three years.
The future head of the American
Telephone and Telegraph company
was not very husky and robust lad.
When his companions were playing
baseball. football and other games he
was generally off getting his exercise
and recreation by collecting butterflies
and other insects. He had notable
collection when he was a high school
pupil. They were all catalogued I'M
der their Latin names.
His mother had been a school teach
er before her marriage. While she
had other children. she was able 10
devote much time to teaching her son
Walter. The lads memory was not Of
the best when he was a schoolboy and
as result he learned early to dig out
the facts He was able to remember
them by not attempting to clutter his
mind with non essential details.
1t was an excellent lesson for the
youngster 10 learn. Perhaps much Of
his success in the business world can
be laid to his ability 70 eliminate UNI
important details and get down 70 the
bed rock Of proposition.
His college course was success.
1t didn't give him an inflated idea Of
his knowledge or ability, as his letter
of application for his first job shows.
He had learned that man has to be
gin at the bottom to be Of real value
to himself or to business. He was
willing, as he wrote, to take anything,
as long as 1t offered an opportunity
for advancement II he made good.
He could have gone to work in =
Salem bank when he WAS graduated.
His father would have obtained him a
position but the youngster had other
Ideas. He wanted to stand on his own
feet. He did so when he took the $40
a week Job with the Western Electric
company.
His first job called for him to make
the trip to Chicago. He borrowed
money to pay his fare rather than to
accept Il from his father. He was
determined to make his own way from
the very outset of his business career.
Wages of $40 week didn't go very
far even in 1904. Young Clifford man.
aged 10 make 1t do somehow. He lived
at Hull House In Chicago, where he
had comfortable and congenlal sur
roundings at little expense. Needless
to say, on his meager wages, he had
little chance to do anything but work,
He rose from a pay roll clerk to a
position as assistant treasurer In O
/, short time with good increase In
salary. 1t wasn't long before he was
| chief statistician of the American
| Telephone and Telegraph company
In that position he attracted the at
| tention OF Theodore N. VAIL then head
| of the concern. and gained further
promotion.
When Mr.. Vail retired, the man, wht
as college boy had made the mistake
of misdlrecting his letter Of applica
| ton for a job, was made the head Of
one of the worlds greatest utility or
| ganIzations.
! 00, by The. North American Newspaper Allance.)