New-York tribune., 1906-05-13


''Mr Peabody has always been interested IN
the negro problem. Being southerner oy oli
ana a Northerner by life and ancestry he has
gelt that he was especially qualified 90 assist In
bridging over the chasm between the North and
The south IN the efforts OF the North 20 help
solve that problem. The Southerner is anxious
20 solve the problem himself. II requires a man
Of great tact 70 apply the funds provided BY
Northerners in such way that the South VIII
not be offended. That is why he has accepted
the position OF treasurer OF the General and
Southern Education Boards.
'TIe tells this story as an illustration Of one
OF the phases OF the negro problem which make
It difficult 70 solve: On one occasion when IN
the South he met one Of the mem OF the class
who were once considered poor whites. They
were talking Of the negro problem
"T have heard what you say said the SOUTH
erner 20 Mr Peabody, that ought 70 regard
the black man as my brother. That's right but
sust can't do 81 Before the war my brother
and I worked on our fathers farm, which adj
Joined plantation Of a rich man. We did the
ploughing ON one side OF the fence. while the
negro slaves on the plantation ala the ploughing
on the other side Every time we got 70 the emu
Of the furrow next 20 the fence the negroes
would sing out, ''Pd rather be nigger any day
than the po'r white trash" That burned into
my soul. and never forgot it,
'sDIr Peabody Is q great employer Of labor at
his summer place at Caldwell. Lake George. he
has a large tract OF land there which he Is de-
veloping by the construction Of drives. etc.
"some OF his neighbors az Caldwell think he
Is too liberal In his treatment OF labor Last
winter. while az his home there. he observed
some OF the workmen going to their work az
and $50 o'clock in the morning. He thought
howunpieasant it must be for the wives OF those
f,aH 20 n
20 get breakfast for the men. and that perhaps
they would enjoy seeing more OF their husbands
90 he nut his workmen on an eight-hour day
All OF the other employers In the neighborhood
were obliged 20 do the same, for they knew tnat
Mr. Peabody employed more labor than any one
else. and the best would naturally seek employ
ment from him.
''NFr. Peabody believes in the naturalization
Of railroads His general idea is that IN devei-
oping the new country IL was the task OF prl-
va4e capital 70 develop the railroad as private
caratal once developed the turnpike. but that
/ eventually, as has resulted in the case OF the
| turnpike. the State should own the steam high
I way.
'e8e Is tremendously interested IN religion
He Is the most religious man ever knew Re
ligion IS a perfect factor IN his daily life. Re
liefon is as natural TO Mr.. Peabody as finance
or politics. That is not true OF most men,
They take IL off on Monday morning. 1t Is an
| unnatural thing TO them.
"Arr. Peabody is immensely interested in the
Crapsey trial, because he believes there Is
| principle at stake. the freedom Of man TO
follow the truth. He does not agree with Dr..
Crapsey in every particular but he does believe
that Dr. Crapsey is trying to speak the truth
| and therefore he should have liberty to speak.
A DIGNIFIED MIXER.
'He is democratic. albeit dignihed. He ac-
/ cepts man for what he Is. He can meet with
any one. brought dozen young fellows rang
ing from sixteen TO twenty-One years In age
here from Cincinnati where was formerly.
partly to see New York and partly in order 20
| give them an opportunity to mest Mr.. Peabody.
/