Newspapers / The News-Herald (Morganton, N.C.) / Aug. 11, 1921, edition 1 / Page 4
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THE NEWS-HERALD, MORGANTON, N. C. AUGUST llTH 1921. ED SIMPSON, WATER BOY r z 8 R. R. Clark, in The Uplift. Passing through the village of Glen Alpine a few days ago, it was noticea insyt we iuc cut hard by the passenger station was covered with grass, flowers and shrubbery. The improvement, I was told, was due to the fact that Glen Alpine is the native place of E. K. Simpson, general manager of south ern railway lines east: and that a better station might be built at Glen Alpine as a compliment to the dis tinguished railroad man who began his career at Glen Alpine as a water boy for a section force.'. ) For the especial benefit of the boys in the training school and any other boys who may read The Up lift, I am talking today not about E. R. Simpson, general manager of the Southern railway, but about kd. Simpson, water boy. Up and down the old Western North Carolina rail road, where he spent his first years in the railroad service and showed his fitness for higher things, the pres ent general manager of the Southern is yet "Ed Simpson." That is a term of affection and admiration, especially among the older people, who .watched him climb upward with interest and auinira.nv". Ed Simpson-was born at Glen Al pine, October 20, 1869. His educa tion was limited to the common schools, and these schools were lim ited as to term and curriculum at that period. At the age of 14 years he be gan work as water boy for a section force, of which his father was fore man, at the wage of 40 cents a day. As a water boy he attracted atten tion. -He didn't have to be urged to get the water and he didn't seek the shade when he had done the work for which he was paid. He was interest ed in te section work, he picked up spikes and made himself useful to the force. Presently when he was od enough and strong enough to swing a pick and shovel, he went to work as a section hand. The qualities he dis played as water boy remained with him. He made such a good section hand that presently he was made a section foreman. His capacity to manage men and accomplish work soon placed him in charge of a work train, in command of wrecking crews. 'His success as the superintendent of wrecking forces was such that by and by he was made superintendent of the Asheville division of the Southern. He was division superintendent on three different divisions until 1914, when he was made general superintendent. Re cently he was moved a step higher to general manager. That is an inspiring story of a climb from the bottom of the ladder to near, the top; and its greatest in spiration is in the fact that Ed Simp son's success is due to industry and native ability. It is not a case of pont fnrtnnp. or simnlv lnrl TTp O J " - - - - -1" - 7 had no influential connection or friends, so far as known, to push him up. But he had that in him of which men are made and he won suc cess on merit. Less than 38 years af ter he began work as water boy for a section force he is the general man ager of a great railway system. I want the boys to notice first that Ed Simpson wasn't afraid of work nor ashamed of work in any humble ca pacity. He was not only willing to carry water for a section gang but he was not content simply to carry "as few buckets of water as he could get by on. When he had supplied the wa ter he didn't stop and wait until they called for more water. He made him self useful. When he was big enough to do a man's work he didn't leave home to look for a better job for easier and more dignified employment in the towns. He didn't feel above the work of a section hand. He took the job at hand, the rudiments of which he had learned while toting water for the section force and with such intelligence and industry did he apply himself to the job that when a section foreman was wanted he got the job. When made section foreman he didrrt feel that he had reached the top. He wasn't content to rest on his oars and let things drift. Having shown himself a first-class section hand he demonstrated his capacity to direct work. There are many pri vates in the rank but few capable commanders; many good workers who haven't the capacity to direct work intelligently, to command men so as to secure the best results and to maintain .the respect and good will of those under them. That talent is not common. Ed Simpson was not only a worker himself; he could work oth ers, and work with them if need be. igryc iBiioi me sort tnat is puff ed up by promotion, not the sort that becomes tyrants when given a little authority. Ed Simpson went on up. When he was general superintendent S j i111 alon cam the big flood of 1916, that washed away many miles of Southern railway track and put many lines out of commission. General Superintendent Simpson took toe line from Winston - Salem to Wilkseboro as his job. He walked and rode horseback or muleback over the right of way pf the badly wrecked road from Winston-Salem to North Wilkesboro, got the lay of the land, saw the size of the job, assembled a force and went to it. He could have stayed in Greensboro or Winston-Salem, probably, and issued orders to subordinates. But that wasn't Ed Simpson s way because he was not trained that way. He could say come on to workmen, and take a hand him self, if necessary, as well as he could say go on. And that sort of general whether on the battlefield; or in pri- "Why I Put Up With Rats For Years," Writes N Windsor, Farmer. "Years ago I bought some rat poison, which nearly killed our fine watch dog. It so scared us that we suffered a long time with rats until my neighbor told me about RAT SNAP. That's the sure rat killer and a safe one." Three sizes, 35c, 65c, $1.25. Sold and guaranteed by Davis Drug Store and Morganton Hardware Company. Adv. vate industry, gets the best and the quickest results. It is human nature to follow, with a loyalty that never quails, the man who can lead the way, who can do things himself. My recol lection is that the. line taken over by General Superintendent Simpson was the first of the wrecked lines put in commission. I have no personal acquaintance with Mr. Simpson. I met him once, 20 years ago or more, when he had just been promoted to superintend ent of the Asheville division. A Statesville shipper complained to me that the Southern was negligent in furnishing him cars. I passed the crit icism along in The Landmark, of which I was editor. A little later a modest young man appeared in my office and quietly and courteously ex plained that there was a mistake about the cars. He had just taken over the superintendent's job, he said, and he didn't want to get a call down on account of a misunderstanding. There was nothing about him. so of ten found even in clerks in the rail road ticket offices. The new division superintendent quietly explained to me how it was and it gave me real pleasure to set him, straight. I have never seen Mr. Simpson since nor communicated with him, and wouldn't know him if I were to meet him intthe road. But a man who makes good as he has, has my unbounded admira tion and respect. Not only is it evident that Mr. Simpson's success didn't give him the "big head" and make him feel above his old associates, his old friends and neighbors at Glen Alpine or ashamed to call Glen Alpine home, but I am satisfied in my own mind that he didn't work solely with promotion in view. The fellow who works solely for the purpose of climbing will soon give himself away. It is the sort who go on and do their best, no matter how humble nor insignificant the job, because they believe it. is their duty to give the best that is in them, who make the success Simpson has made. Promotion comes to that kind because there are so few of them without the asking because they command it. They don't watch the clock, afraid of doing a minute's work overtime; they are n6t afraid they may do a hand's turn htat some other could do. They not only work, but they are loyal to the business, and to the interest of their employers because they feel that they are employed for that., Today there are hundreds of chances for bo'ys to one for the boys of Ed Simpson's water boy days. A liberal education is easily obtained now; then educational opportunities except for the bare rudiments, were far removed from the poor boy. Now there are jobs in plenty at good wages for the fellow who is willing to work as Ed Simpson worked; all thp time there are openings for earn est, willing workers. In Ed Simp son's boy days jobs were scarce, and. yet many poor boys, taking the oppor tunities at hand, made good. The Simpson success was more notable than rare. His example was conspic uous. Some of his boyhood associ ates, many of them probably, have made a success in life, with little or no better opportunities than he hacL but their success is not so spectacu lar. I am saying this not to detract from Mr. Simpson, but to show pres ent day boys that his was not such a rare case; and to show the boys of this day that if they do not succeed it will be because they don't try, be cause they haven't got the root of the matter in them. They can't all go from water boy to general manager of railroads, but they can all attain some degree of success if - they are willing to begin at the foot of the lad der and climb by their own exertions. They can't begin at the top, or even half way up, as so many of them want to do. They can't command full war ges on a job until they can show that they can make good. Too many of them consider the amount of the pay first, the quantity and quality of the work last. In short, they want a big salary for doing as little work as pos sible and doing that indifferently. Many of them have been getting by with that the past few years, while workers were scarce; and many of this type are now looking for jobs and will continue to look for them. The Ed Simpson will get the jobs as soon as they show they are of the Simp son type. In conclusion I am making my manner to Mr. E. R. Simpson, gen eral manager of Southern -Railway lines east; and I am standing uncov ered before ED SIMPSON, WATER BOY, OF GLEN ALPINE. MAY HIS TRIBE INCREASE. WHEAT-HEARTS: Superior Break fast Food Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy. This is unquestionably one of the most successful medicines in use for bowel complaints. A few doses of it will cure an ordinary attack of diar rhoea. It has been used in nine epi demics of dysentery with perfect suc cses. It can always be depended upon to give prompt relief in cases of col ic and cholera morbus. When reduc ed with water and sweetened it is pleasant to take. Every family should keep this remedy at hand. Ad FELT SHE WOULD ; SOOJLCOLLAPSE Richmond Woman Avoided a Breakdown in Health By Taking Tanlac, She Says "My health v was so completely broken down I was on the verge of a collapse, but Tanlac has restored me just perfectly and I am simply over joyed to be feeling so strong and well again," said Mrs. M. . Harlow, 812 West Main St., Richmond, Va. "I had been in poor health for six years,'.' she stated, "and , had grown so weak I just felt that I wold break down any time and have iff give up. To do the least thing simply ' ex hausted me, and often I gave out completely. I was nervous and .trem bly andhardly knew what sleep was, for I was restless night and day. My appetite was gone, nothing tasted right to me and I was getting weaker every day. I tried to get something to help me but was discoraged, for nothing seemed to do me any good. "But there is no need now for any one to give up hope if they can only get Tanlac. In just a few weeks it restored me to health and strength, and I have felt splendid in every way since. My appetite is just fine, and Tanlac has tjuilt me "up so wonder fully I feel like a different person al together. I am not a bit nervous and can do jny housework with ease I recommend Tanlac from the bottom of my heart. I just can't praise it enough." Tanlac is sold in Morganton by The Davis Drug Co., and by leading druggists everywhere. Adv. Whose Careful Druggist Ami? SLOW DEATH Aches, pains, nervousness, diffi. culty in urinating, often mean serious disorders. The world's standard remedy for kidney, liver ttadder and uric acid troubles COLD MEDAL bring quick relief and often ward off deadly diseases. Known as the national remedy of Holland for more than 200 years. All druggists, in three sizes. Leek for tk Bans Gold Medal on box and accept no Imitation r 1 ; jJlp if i J j rV ' : If - 1-T.i-. . -.33 1 iff . -wmr , . lir'l&! r- 'QEakMH&'hAh - . 2S ' .a M- n TT7' HP 0 O U .tor Jhincieiiey vs. ' (basoJliirie fjilli' ill I " " Pffl- ! " " i - Why the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) Maintains a Great Experimental Department x THERE, is a point beyond which the efficiency of a motor car or truck cannot be guaranteed by its manufac turer. Thousand dollar cars have been known to render longer and more satisfactory service than others which were valued cl two or three times as much. Mechanically your "job" was per-" feet when it came to you from the factory. The. best of materials, com mensurate with the price of the car, w ere used, in its construction. The car was as nearly ready for efficient service as the manufacturers could make it. How do you select Motor Fuel? From this point the responsibility for efficient operation of your motor lies largely with you (who must select and purchase fuel and lubricants) and ivith the refiners. Your task is to find a consistently good gasoline, adjust your carburetor to it, and use no other. Our work is to see that this gasoline is constantly up to standard; to make sure that you ean get it wherever your business or pleasure takes yoif in the field served by the Standard Oil Co. (N. J.) ; to improve it when possible through the efforts of specialists in our Develop ment Department. - Follow Expert Guidance Our development men are at work seeking still further to improve our products. These expertsjhaye devoted their lives to study of the refining bus iness and the relation between the properties of the oils and the service which they render. They deal only in facts. You can't go wrong in following their guidance. A STANDARD OIL COMPANY (New Jersey) : Refiners of the best gasoline obtainable ' J r. v. i ' i ' 4- d av , r "v--"
The News-Herald (Morganton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 11, 1921, edition 1
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