The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-02

Rev. DR.. John Hall, until his death
last September, was the pastor Of one
of the Wealthiest churches in the world
the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian of New
York City. His son, Rev. Thomas A.
Hall, was until recently the pastor of
the Fourth Presbyterian church of Chi
cago, OF whose membership it was aid
a few years ago, and the saying proba-
bly, still holds good, that it comprised
more %millionaires thar any other
church in the city.
By the will of his father, recently I'LL
ed for probate in New York City, one
of the sons. Bolton, is Disseminated
against, apparently because he has ar
rayed himself with labor unions instead
of capitalists, and has also become a
follower Of Henry Georges tax theories.
TO Bolton the father willed only a life
interest-the income from a certain part
OF the personal property on the death
of the widow, who received all the per-
sonal property. The executors have
power, after her death, to advance him
at any time, should they deem advisa-
BILE and for his best interests, the whole
or any part Of his share. At his death
the remainder goes to his wife or chill
dren. These conditions apply to none
of the other children or heirs.
But Bolton Hall will not suffer n
Inconvenience, for he is a prosperous
lawyer in New York City, with an Of
flee overlooking Old Trinity church
yard, and he Is beloved and respected
by his fellow men in a manner that
falls to the lot Of few lawyers. Not
the most lightly priced Of the honors
that have come to him Is the treas
urership of the Longshoremen's union,
with a membership in New York City
Of 5000 men, to all Of whom Bolton Hal
has long been counselor and friend.
His views on labor unions and the
condition of the w~orkingman are thus
expressed:
II would have more opportunity for
men-their sphere enlarged, Their
minds enlightened. I am opposed to
making the poor more dependent by
giving them money l do not favor
promiscuous charities. l ever oppose
oISdAlLcu / 10 lin ""J
to begin-making a man helpless at the
outset"
Bolton Hall is q young ,man-youna
appearing for his age, 43-eXtremely at
fable, with a pleasant, honest smile
the smile OF his father-indicating goot
health and a well-dispOsed, genial liver
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
--l - r&o, nv, ,o1,,1{oy,,
DR.. John Halls son gave to the New
York Herald this sketch of his life:
Il am the second of foul
brothers and a sister-and was born il
Ireland in 1865; came hither with ouI
family in 1868 at the age of 13 and wa:
graduated from Princeton in 1875.
"At that time I had no idea Of goins
into social questions or political econ
omy. My ambition was to have a goot
time. The bent of my mine was to-
ward athletic sports and enjoyment-al
l could get of it. If any FRANKS were
to be played I was one of the boys first
in the plot. When the bell was stoler
who carried it away. We were the
worst barbarians in the state. OF course
I studied, and had read Darwin and
Huxley, but that was about all I knew
of sociology and kindred subjects.
ION leaving college / engaged as a
clerk in the, military firm Of Schuyler,
Hartley & Graham. Later / went into
the same business, largely on my W
account, in connection with the same
firm, conducting their importing de-
partment, known as the John street
branch. My firm was Hall, Nicoll and
Cranberry.
DRIFTING TOWARD REFORMS.
while in his firm I saw the need of
association, land finally we tried CO.
operation for the benefit of our en-
ployes as we'll as the firm.
''Our plan was to distribute 10 per
cent Of the profits, dividing the amount
pro rata among clerks and all others
working on salary. They liked it, and
the system seemed to give great salts
teal.
II found that the employees were will
ing to work for a corresponding reduc-
ton so as to increase profits. while the
firm received no added benefit from the
plan. Then cooperation was aban-
doned.
Later we found that we, as a firm.
were only doing business as middlemen,
and I resolved to make law my profess
sion. So I went opt of the business
and entered Columbia Law School and
was graduated in 1887. I opened an Of