The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-20
ABOLISH WEALTH.
And Not Poverty says Carnegie in q
Speech in New York.

New York, Nov. 20.-The General
Society Of Mechanics Tradesmen gave
a dinner at Delmonico's in honor of
Andrew and Mrs. Carnegie. which ex-
pressed the gratitude of the society
to Mr.. and Mrs Carnegie for their
gift recently of $500, 900 to enlarge the
facilities of the institution.
Carnegie made what was for him
long speech. At every sentence he was
enthusiastically applauded- Mrs. Car
negie. sitting near the chrysanthemum
banked table of the speakers. received
generous measure of the applause.
THE bare recital of what the me-
ehanics and tradesmen's societies
stand for said Mr.. Carnegie, ''has
swept me with It. I have never
known a society with such a record.
Just think of It, The first free library
opened in New York city was the work
of this society. No wonder I'm here.
7 have had the pleasure of co-operat-
ing with the society as faithful
brother.
president Prichard Of the Franklin
Fund association walking with me IN
the grounds of Skibo castle, asked me
what would be the best thing to apply
the fund to. Franklin left $25 900.
The fund now amounts to $41S,000 1
can tell you said I. The APPRENTICE
ship system has gone forever. Go to
the mechanics and tradesmen school
in New York and study it. There you
will find the best possible use for
$413,00O. III give an equal amount if
the idea appeals to you.
We'll, Prichard came here, saw.
and adopted the idea. Now Benjamin
Franklin's money is to create in Bos-
ton copy of the mechanics ana
tradesnen school.
when Abram S. Hewitt died he
was acknowledged to be the first citi-
zen of America, and yet the first shoes
that Hewitt wore came from the funds
of the charitable department Of this
society.
when I asked If I might join it
some years ago, qualified properly as
a mechanic. showed the horny
hand of toll. I had been tinkering
with a boiler in my cellar I was ac-
cepted as a brother mechanic without
more ado.
"A thought of my grandfather
comes in here. All, never forget your
grandfathers. Mine was not the kind
to be easily forgotten. He published
the first radical paper in Scotland. His
name was Thomas Morrison of Dun
feminine. In one of the articles he
wrote, it was called Headucation VS..
Handication,' he concluded with these
words: I am proud learned to make
and mend Shoes and his grandson is
prouder of that than If he had been
the scion of twenty worthless dukes.
4AIECn CslA , c1Es9 ak1AtS AA45flL All .
Carnegie and I attended your banquet
as we do tonight. I heard your recital
Of your needs and aspirations. Can
I get a chance to do something's I
asked myself. 1 hope there are others
here tonight who will be swayed by
the same emotion.
81 have followed the work of the
society closely When I give my name
to anything I watch what's going on.
It is work that engages my very heart.
/ hope to see in Pittsburg, three years
from now, the biggest trades school in
the world. never gaze upon young
men at work in schools Of this charac-
| ter without thinking that from them
will come the leaders, teachers and ex-
amplers of the future. There is no
I heritage so valuable as poverty, honest
unashamed poverty, no heritage so
/ valuable as to be born in poverty and
| have to get out and dig a pathway for
/ yourself in the world, to go forth and
/ labor for your own support.
! Abolish poverty? Never. Abolish
wealth. Upon such Institutions as
/ these alone, can. the great and benefi-
| cent democracy of the future be
built
/ The POSTMASTER in introducing Mr..
/ Carnegie had this to say:
In 120 years there has never been
a dollar of the funds of the society
! misappropriated. We have never had
/ any life insurance officials in the me-
/ chanics and tradesmen institution
BOARD IS A GOOD ONE.