Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-23
MULTIMILLIONAIRE
AT FORTY FOUR
SchwabDOer of Deeds That His Friends DO
and Sunshiny That They
Wonderful Power of the Former
Steel Trust n Handling MenAways Good
a Liberal Spender

"T'hey are all grumbling except one, "
was the reply.
''Who Is that one?"
"Schwab."
Then Schwab's my man." said Cap
tain Jones.
AS q result the boy, for he was little
moro. was rapidly advanced, was sent
for q time to an engineering school in
Pittsburg and soon became head engi-
neer and Captain Jones right hand
man.
Andrew Carnegie wished personal
reports from his mills at Braddock.
Captain Jones objected that he had
not time to run up to Pittsburg, but
said he had bright young assistant
who knew as much about the work as
he did and besides was q good per-
former on the organ, of which the steel
king was very fond. Carnegie asked
that the young man be sent along.
Schwab, with the assurance which has
been one of his chief assets in life,
went to the ironmaster's PittSburg res
idence and surprised and captiyated
Mr. Carnegie by his thorough knowl-
edge of the business and his sunny dis
position. Before he left, the steel mag
nate asked the young man to play on
the organ Charley was somewhat diff
fident about this. as 1t took him by sur
prise. but he had played often for the
monks at Loretto and therefore COM
piled. He gave old melodies, Scotch
songs and other airs that he knew the
old man loved and still further cap
tured his heart. From that day for
ward Andrew Carnegie was the sworn
friend Of Charley Schwab.
This was the beginning OF the young
mans fortune His first point was
gained, popularity. The second was
made when he showed an aptitude for
the steel business, amounting almost to
genius. The third was reached by
hard work He never watched the
clock. The fourth was attained by his
wonderful power of handling men.
Soon he made many improvements
about the mills, built new blast fur
naces and succeeded so well at all he
was set to do that he was made super
intendent of the works. Then he was
sent to Homestead, where he made like
improvements. At the death of Cap
tain Jones he was called back TO Brad
dock as manager After the disas-
trous strike at Homestead his jurisdic
ton was extended, and both plants
were placed under his management
1t was difficult task to organize order
out of the chaos at Homestead, but he
succeeded. 1t Is worthy of note that
Charley Schwab has never had strike
of the men under him.
Partner of Carnegie.
1t was at about this time that a for
eign steel mill offered him position at
a largely increased salary. He not on
ly declined it, but said nothing about
the offer. Carnegie came to hear of it,
however, and it so impressed him that
he made Schwab n partner in the busa-
ness and soon after had him elected
president of the Carnegie company.
Just what part Mr.. Schwab took in
organizing the steel trust will never
be known, but it is certain that he was
an important factor. 1t has even been
stated that he originated the scheme.
However that may be. Mr.. Carnegie in
sisted that his young assistant be made
the first president of the gigantic con-
Germ, which then had the largest capt.
tai stock of any company on earth.
The very qualities that had made
Schwab proved in the end his undoing.
He had always been a hard worker,
never sparing himself. and in his new
position his unfiagglng industry soon
led to q nervous breakdown. a Euro
pean trip followed, and here his good
fellowship and open handed generosity
caused his plunging at Monte Carlo
and his lavish spending of money that
subjected him to worldwide criticism