The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-07
ASTOR NAME
POPULAR
i G9.F7 TT fsvIE
Was Made SO by the
Present John Jacob.
WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR
Not Regarded With Much Favor on
This Side Of the Ocean.
WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR
MEN OF ACTION ARE WINNERS.

NEW lohk, June q. -lSpcclal. IL ne
present John Jacob Astor has done what
no other living member Of this opulent
family has ever succeeded In doing-he
has made himself popular with the plain
people of this town.
This sentence is penned adviscdly. 1t Is
fact that for the first time, at least with
in the memory of the present generation,
an Astor Is receiving the plaudits of tho
work folk of New York and their words Of
praise are quite as hearty as the words of
contempt which are the oHy portion of
his self exiled cousin, William Waldorf.
But 1t isn't the mere enlistment I'm Uncle
Sans army that has made John Jacob
Astor n favorite with wage earning New
Workers. To tell the truth, his stock,
vSiich had never been high in the popular
mind here, fell away rapidly Immediately
after he offered his services to the govern
ment and declined still further when he
was appointed inspector with the rank of
lieutenant colonel.
That was because he was accredited
with no higher motive than a desire to get
his name before the world as patriot by
securing appointment to a place with sup
posedly nominal duties only. And so
promo Is humanity to take only selfish
motives into consideration that the offer
of his yacht, free use of his railroads and
the equipment of battery without ex-
pense to the nation were looked upon as
nothing more nor less than open bribes
for military rank.
Fears Neither Dirt Nor Work.
One of the papers sometimes termed
yellow egged on this sentiment by print
ing his name at the head of list Of mil
lionaire soldiers" together with sarcastic
comments, and the resulting sneers that
fell from the lips of the workers in this
town were so bitter that John Jacobs ears
must surely have burned were the old SUI
perstition true one.
Now, 1t may be that the New York
workingman's former estimate of John
jacob Astor's character was fully justified
by the facts. He may be person Of no
force at all, one who without his great
wealth could never>make himself known
to the world In any capacity. But the av-
erage New York workingman roes not
think so today In his opinion John Jacob
Astor has redeemed himself, and he has
done 1t solely by showing that he is afraid
Of neither hard work nor dust and dirt.
Every printed dispatch from Chickamauga
relating how the millionaire has bcen hus-
tling, how he was seen on one occasion all
covered with sweat and CRIME, how on an
other he rode in common day coach and
disdained not to talk with whoever ad-
dressed him, how he has been sleeping in
a tent the same as everybody else--all
these things have markedly changed his
status with the men who work for wages
here.
1t is unfortunately true that they cannot
understand 1t, since examples of rich young
Americans doing disagreeable things be-
cause they think 1t their duty are all too
rare, and an explanation Of his course on
these lines would not be received for a mo-
ment. Neither would the notion that he
finds plenty Of action and continuous mem
tai occupation relief from the ,nonotony
Of his ordinary easeful pleasure seeking
life be credited. But that his motives are
neither sinister nor trivial seems to be ac-
ceptcd by all hands. Here is the way he
was sized up this morning by an intclli-
gent "man In his shirt Sleeves
John Jacob Astor Is so rich that he
can't be doing this thing for Doodle. His
social position Is SO well assured that be
his standing with tho swells. As to pure
patriotism--that chnt be it, for he could
hire man to be army inspector who
would do the work as we'll as no can. My
opinion is that his main object is family
pride William Waldorf Astor has been
jumped on so hard by the papers and the
people that John Jacob wants to show ev-
erybody that there's something of real
value In the Astor blood after all. And
that's the kind of thing wo like to see.
Men in his own class may snecr at him all
they like In the future; we who have to
sweat and put up with dust and dirt every
day of our lives arc for Jack Astor every
time after this.
jack Aster ~ q Man.
There Is no doubt that the working
mans feeling Of admiration for Mr.. As
tors policy Of personal action Is largely
shared by those "of his own class" also.
II Is no secret that he has been regarded
by them In a somewhat humorous light
hitherto. His book, descriptive of advcn-
lures In the inter stellar ether, produced
at considerable expense and widely herald
cd by the newspapers as n millionairo's
literary effort, fell fiat so far rs sales go.
His laboratory, fitted mp with every con-
ceivablc appliance Tor scientific investiga-
tion, has been barren of results. He has
never displayed political ability. His term
as an officer OF the state national guard
was noted by nothing more important than
the clothing of his lank figure I'm most
gorgeous uniform. In social life he has
lived up TO his level perhaps, but he has
never signalizcd himself by any notable
splurgcs, and his morals have always been
unintercstlngly good. About tho only
thing hc ever has donc to raise his name
above the deadly commonplace has been
TO make one trip as an engineer on loco
motive OF ono OF his own railroads, and
that wns generally held 20 be simply
freak, altogether too trivial and boyish for
any use.
Now, however he Is really doing some
thing, and, so far as the world knows, do
ing it well Tint he isn't attempting n
task of the very first grado Is held 20 be
crcditable 90 his good sense rnthcr than
otherwise, and IL would not be surprising
II his place I'm the estimation Of oil men
werc 20 bc completely changed before tho
present war Is over.
Men Of Action Win Their Way.
All this simply shows that New York,
like the rest of the world, admircs men
who do thinCs.