Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-03

Eoetejsruc Deet5H<s-
A Pittsburgh lps.) special says: A
sensation will be caused BY the publica-
ton tomorrow OF an interview with
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie, Of tho Edgar
Thomson Steel Works and many other
industrial establishments. in which he
pvoclains himself Socialist and an al
vocate Of socialistic principles. Mr..
Carnegie Is millionaire, the author Of
several works, and has been referred TO
by William Black, novelist, as the
9 star-spangIed Yankee Mr.. Carne-
gle recently spoke in favor Of Socialism
at meeting Of the Nincteenth-centur
Club in New York, at which John
Swinton was present. Mr.. SWIM
ton IN his paper proclaimed Mr.. Car
negie Socialist, and when Mr.. SWIM
tom s remarks were shown to Mr.. Car
negie while here, he said " Yes, Mr..
Swinton was present at that meeting,
but he draws things out. But come,
walk with me to the station and we
can talk. / did speak, as he says, of the
snobs of this country and the lords OF
the other. for the time is coming when
there will be change to all this. To
an eyolutionist and student of history
Il is plain that workingmen must rise IN
the future as they have in the past.
Once they were all serfs, and just as
sure as they have obtained the advan-
tages they possess to-day just SO sure
are they to improve still further
but are you Socialisty" was
asked. II believe Socialism IS the
grandest theory ever presented, and l
am sure some day it will rule the
world. Then we will have obtained
the millennium. said Mr.. Carnegie.
"You hope that the lion and the
lamb will lie down side by side, all
things be equal. and that profits will
share and share alikc?" That is the
state we are drifting into. Then men
will be content to work for the general
welfare and share their riches with
their neighbours" answered Mr.. Carne-
gle.
Are YOU prepared now to divide
your wealth." was asked, and Mr..
Carnegie smiled. Z" No, not at present.
but / do not spend much on myself.
give away every year seven or eight
times as much as ! spend for personal
comforts and pleasures. Working
people have my full sympathy, and /
always extend helping hand. | am
workingman. and in my young days
worked in cotton-mill and ran an en-
CINE. In all my life suppose | have
done more work than any employe j
have ever had. believe in advancing
worthy employees. and carry out those
ideas on all occasions. as is witnessed
by the young men ] have gathered
about me. Speaking of the present po-
sition of the workingman, believe CO.
operation is his hope"
"Still, Mr.. Carnegie. you have closed
down the Edgar Thomson works. and
some people will wonder how you can
hold such principles and throw your
employees into idleness," was said.
The workmen are to blame for that"
- In what respect!' They allow
other Bessemer mills to work at less
wages than we pay. There is the
Pennsylvania steel-mill at Harrisburg,
where they can make and sell steel rails
at s27 ton. We cannot do it. and
must close rather than manufacture
rails to sell at less than cost. | am a
firm friend of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation. and no one ever heard OF my
having trouble with them"
The Pittsburgh Bessemer Steel
Works at Homestead, in which Mr..
Carnegie is interested, has posted re-
duction of wages running from 3 to 10
per cent. The works at present are
Shut down. About ! 200 men are in
terested.