The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-18

property and the water power of the
Falls of St Anthony. In connection with
the milling business Mr.. Pilisbury be-
came widely prominent in benevolent and
economic circles by his early introduce
ton of and persistent adherence in sys-
tenn of profit-sharing with his employees.
Under this system as much as $4,000 has
been distributed among the employees of
the firm in single year. while at the
same time they received liberal wages.
Mr.. Pillsbury never claimed that this
had been done through a spirit of benev-
olence; he says it was wise business pru-
dence, like insurance and kindred other
safeguards. Strikes and lockouts have
at times disturbed the course OF other
lines of business, but they never came to
vex the tranquility of Mr.. Pillsbury, the
whole working force having an interest
in the success of the business.
So busy man as Mr.. Pillsbury has
naturally declined political honors and
office, though they were repeatedly Of
fered him. A unanimous nomination or
his party as candidate for mayor was de-
clined The only exception during his
residence in Minneapolis was the office
of state senator, which he held for the
ten years succeeding Jan. l, 1871. The
term of service. occurring in the winter
and occupying but sixty days each year,
was not serious interference with bust
ness engagements. During most of his
legislative life he served as chairman OF
the finance committee, and had charge
of the bill which his uncle, Gov. Pills
bury, had recommended for the ADJUST
ment of state bonds.
Until recent years Mr.. Pillsbury was
robust in health. He was popular with
all classes, easily accessible and demo-
cratic in his associations. For many
years Mr.. Pillsbury was trustee OF Ply
mouth Congregational church, was
constant attendant upon its public wor-
ship, and d liberal supporter of its m s.
sion enterprises Until about a year aso
Mr. Pillsbury continued as active n
eral manager of the Pillsbury- Was. bur
mills Until that time he was at his Of
flee early and late and every q tau OF
the affairs of the milling G. nc Tn was
carefully attended to by him. His ply
sicians told him he was owe. w rkinsS him
self and should take rest. At tn, next
meeting of the directors of the coLc2rri-
held in London-Mr. Pillsbu Y had before
them a request that he be relieved o. the
detail of the business and n t enry G..
Little be made a managiny di &c or. This
was done, Mr.. Piilsbury m ice man
aging director and still at III II OF
the business, but not tied down to his
desk as he had been thei etofo4e.
LIBERAL WITH WEALTH.
1t is not generally known perhaps that
Mr.. Piilsbury was one OF the most liberal
of the wealthy men Minneapolis claims
or has claimed as residents. He was
everybodys friend and nearly everyone
was his friend. He has, without doubt,
I1-i+, hi Z "a CT POntr: bIltHd more
for religious and benevolent purposes
than any other person in Minneapolis.
His charities were by no means, however,
confined to his own neighborh3od or state,
as the letter below will show 1t was
found copied in the Lynn, Mass, pape4
Immediately after the great fire IN that
city, and affords a good Illustration OF
the nature and disposition of the man
| who wrote II. The circumstances were
these: Late in November, 1889, there oc-
Cured in Lynn a most destructive conf1a-
grafton, which by burning up their home
as we'll as the shoe factories in winch
they earned their living, in a few hours
reduced thousands of people to absolute
destitution Charles A. Pillsbury was at
the time on a visit to friends In New
Hampshire, but such a thing as person
al appeal to a man who was not, ana
never had been. resident of the city
nor even of the state in which the lre oc-
Cured, was not of course thought OF. Inc
cry of distress, however, soon reached
his ears. and the letter to his agent was
at once written: o
"Goffstown, n. H. Nov u, 1So9-
Breed g. Co, Wholesale Flour Merchants:
Please supply the mayor at our expense
with all the Pillsbtrys 3 st h may re-
the POOR people buried o;;t in the lale
IRE. Have telegra phod him to call up;
you for 1t. CnafleS a. AZ 7put
OF this act on the part of Mr.. Pillshury,
a Lynn gentleman afterwards wrote: IN
one can tell how timely was the gilt nor
how thankfully it was received, any pet
ter than the writer of this, a Lynn resi-
lent and one who, in behalf Of some Of
the sufferers, had occasion more than
once to visit the relief committees rooms.
1t was pitiable to see there the throng OF
respectable looking persons waiting, oil
numbered in rows, till each one as his
number was called passed eagerly up 10
the desk to receive there TIE order Tor
his weekly bag of flour or other proVls-
ions But this was after some system IN
the distribution of supplies OF food was
introduced. At first tie Lynn authorities
entirely inexperienced in dealing with a
calamity of such magnitude, and utterly
confused and oVerpowered by the I'M
mense number of calls for immediate
help, and failed to attend properly to the
distribution of the flour and as a result,
many persons had been allowed whole
barrel each, while many more had re-
ceived none, thus defeating the purpose
of the doncr, to supply the immediate
wants of as many people as possible
Some men would have found in this, per-
haps, an excuse for withdrawing any
further aid. Such, however, was not the
case with Mr.. PillsbuTy How much -four
in all was given the writer does not know.
This, however, is known, that when the
immense quantity of 500 barrels had been
given away the agent wrote to Mr.. Pills
bury asking further instructions, and re-
ceived the order to let the authorities
have more f1Oul-as much as they re-
uircd-recommending at the same time,
however, that equality i'll the division Of
it which they had by this time them
selves learned the need Of
ESCAPE A MIRACLE.