Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-21
Dea,h q q Great Industrial Captain.

years ago he probably would have
been credited with good deal OF
philanthropy. This is not done now
because certain popular delusions re-
specting the town OF Pullman
are not now generally entertained.
He was type Of the man
VINO has done so much to help along
the remarkable development of this
country in the last half century, and
however kind of heart by nature his
philanthropy has been rather of the
incidental sort. BY this it is not meant
that he had no philanthropic impulses
or desires. On the contrary he seems
to have been more generously endowed
in that respect than most makers Of
colossal fortunes. He attained his
phenomenal success in about IS years
and vet found time to identify himself
with quite a number of philanthropic
enterprises, especially in and about
Chicago, but he hardly seems entitled
to the distinction "philanthropist" in
it's strict significance.
Beginning with only little educa-
ton at the common school and with
work in a country store at $40 year he
became a multi-millionaire. He recog-
nized the opportunities and he had the
energy and ability to take advantage
of them. He established a town with
modern dwellings, excellent streets,
with light and water service, model
town some have termed it. This he
owned, or the company he represented
did, absolutely. He looked upon it
much as a duke might regard his
duchy. Possibly he hoped that the
town would afford his employees such
benefits as they had not known. Very
likely there was an admixture of phil
anthropy attending the planning of
that town of Pullman, but it appears
to have had little part in it's operation Or
effects. The town is regarded today as
a business venture pure and simple and
as an innovation not particularly de-
sirable in America.
BUT the death of this man is one to
occasion general regret. Doubtless
those who obtain their living in the in
dustry .his sagacity and enterprise built
up will miss him more than they would
the loss of the greatest philanthropist
that ever lived. He was a hard headed
business man, but he opened to them,
not as philanthropist, but
as an industrial captain, oppor-
tunities they otherwise would not
have possessed. In helping himself ne
helped others. In accomplishing what
he did, Notwithstanding his humble
origin, he has set up standard of
worldly success, which encourages
thrift, incites energy and compels re-
spect for the poor boy became it shows
the possibilities of his after life.
1t may be that Mr.. Pullman should
have consented to arbitration at the
time of the Debs revolution but it is
not surprising he did not. The sue
cessful man, who has arrived at sue
cess by overcoming obstacles, is likely
to have grown somewhat dictatOrial,
egotistical and hard hearted. 1t is not
uncommon in such a career that when
trampling down the barriers there is
heard the cry of anguish from one so
unfortunate or careless as to have
fallen under them. But he did not
trample from the love of it, he did not
make his success out of Others failure.
He saw a legitimate need of better
travelling accommodations and set
about to provide them, rsking good
part of his small and laboriously ac-
quired fortune in the attempt. His
career has been constructive rather
than destructive like that of Jay Gould,
for instance. The abundant success
which crown their efforts probably is
the reward such as George M. Pullman
seek and perhaps the public need not
bother about contributing another but
it is we'll to think of the benefits which
civilization has received, indirectly
though it be, from leaders of that
class. We may not feel greatly in
their debt but we find them very bene-
fetal in the world. --...-