The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-10
GO SLOW, SAYS ROCKEFELLER
DON'T DEST ROY THE WHOLE FAB
nc TO ROOT OUT EVIL.


Must work for the Mest-NO wealth
Hts Goal. nut Business success He's
willing 10 DO Ills sliare-Not Bitter.
CLEVELAND, Aug. g.-John ID. Rocke-
Teller took occasion to-day to discuss the
speech by Judge Grosscup IN which the
Judge said that the wealth Of he country
was 80 widely distributed that IL was really
in the hands OF the moderately we'll to do.
They can hardly accuse Judge Grosscup
Of Partially TO corporations OF railroads."
said Mr.. Rockefeller, sic has shown very
we'll indeed how widespread is the damage
resulting from the persecution. through
prejudice. of the country's transportation
lines. The same applies to t~houghtless
attacks on other lines Of industry.
at is worse than thoughtless to say on
hand that the wealth and the industries Of
tho country are in the hands Of a few rich
men. who alone will SUM- There 10 a direct
loss TO thousands Of frugal people who have
invested small savings In these enterprises,
and the indirect effect reaches still other
thousands who depend. in one way or an
othe,. upon the success OF every industry.
The business OF the country il interwoven
until u is something Like the circulation Of
the blood In the body. An Injury or an
operation At one point shocks and weakens
the whole"
Il am harnessed TO a cart in which the
people ride" said MIR. Rockefeller. "Whe-
Their | like il or not, I must work for the
rest. ! n evade this responsibility
II ! would. But l do not complain OF this:
l am willing to draw my share Of the load
as long as I am able"
He said he should be considered as an
investor and stakeholder rather than as a
proprietor. Hardly any business could
experience hard times without loss TO him.
Would l permit any harm TO come to any
line OF business il l could help it," he asked.
The first step l took he said. meant
~obligating myself to the workingmen. who
henoeforward looked TO me for employ
ment, and investors who put in their money
and looked to me for results. Al every
step forward the load was heavier. h
workingmen numbered q few score first,
then a fewFhundreds, then thousands. There
was a similar increase In the number OF
investors who could hold me to account.
While worked for myself l had TO work
for them whether or no. To-day. retired
from active business-retired that is, from
business for myself-the capital I have in
vested makes work for thousands and opens
opportunities for other Thousands to place
their savings profitably. No man with
money can escape this responsibility or
loosen this yoke from his neck
w are servants and no masters. we
who nre or have been engaged in large
business affairs. II il to our vital interest
that the country prosper. that the people
prosper. They can destroy us, or our
N'hNNf ~ ~ ''' y C1A IEp"ON VI
serving them. We would probably suffer
the least.
The men who nave acquired the largest
fortunes have not pursued wealth. but
business success. They continue to toll
at their desks because they love achieve
ment. for the keen delight in creating
where nothing was. and some time, I be-
lieve, people will be convinced that they
are toiling for love Of country as well"
Mr.. Rockefeller does not show bitterness
toward those who assailed him. He said
he had no wish TO escape his responsi-
bilities. II suppose" he said. Il might
have converted my interests into gold
at one time and have taken my money to
England or some pleasant part Of Europe,
where life liz organized to make things
comfortable for the man with money to
SPEND. But. DO you know hat way of
escape from the responsibilities and en-
barrassments that wealth brings to an
american never occurred TO me.
The United States cannot develop
enough drawbacks TO make me lose the
feeling that there is no place like home,
and that this is home. in what I firmly
! believe is the greatest country OF the world"