he men who made the plows, his regard was as great as for those who
used them. He moved among the men as one of them, and while his
discipline never relaxed, he was always approachable and ready to advise
even with the most lowly. His sense of justice and his consideration are
shown in the fact that in all the long years that the Oliver Plow Works
existed, it has never once been defendant in a lawsuit in its home
county, damage or otherwise.

Thousands of men have been employed and accidents have occasionally
happened, but the unfortunate man and his family have always been cared
for. Indeed, the Olivers carry a pension-roll for the benefit of
widows, orphans and old people, the extent of which is known only to the
confidential cashier. They do not proclaim their charities with a brass
band.

James Oliver thought that a man should live so as to be useful all of
his days. Getting old was to him a bad habit. He did not believe in
retiring from business, either to have a good time or because you were
old and bughouse. "Use your faculties and you will keep them," he used
to repeat again and again. He agreed with Herbert Spencer that men have
softening of the brain because they have failed to use that organ.

And certainly he proved his theories, for he, himself, was sane and
sensible to the day of his death. Yet when certain of his helpers, bowed
beneath the weight of years and life's vicissitudes, would become weak
and needful of care, he would say, "Well, old John has done us good
work, and we must look after him." And he did.

He would have denied that he was either charitable or philanthropic; but
the fact was that the Golden Rule was a part of his business policy, and
beneath his brusk outside, there beat a very warm and generous heart.

When the financial panic of Eighteen Hundred Ninety-three struck the
country, and dealers were canceling their orders and everybody was
shortening sail, the Olivers kept right along manufacturing, and stored
their product.

Never have they laid off labor on account of hard times. Never have
they even shortened hours or pay. This is a record, I believe, equaled
by no big manufacturing concern in America.

In October, Nineteen Hundred Seven, when workmen were being laid off on
every hand, the Olivers simply started in and increased their area for
the storage of surplus product. They had faith that the tide would turn,
and this faith was founded on the experience of forty years and