Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
RICH MEMS RESPONSIBILITY
Millionaires the Servants, Not Mas
tiers, of the People.
WRONGS WILL BE RIGHTED
The Magnate Deplores Hue and Cry
Against OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Will React on the Poor.

Will React on the Poor.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, August 1O.-John D.
| Rockefeller, in an interview in the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, discusses the recent
| speech Of Judge Grosscup, in which the
| latter declared that the wealth of the coun-
try was so widely distributed that it was
really in the hands of the moderately we'll
TODD class.
| They can hardly accuse Judge Grosscup
| of Partially to corporations or railroads"
Mr.. Rockefeller said. He has shown very
| well, indeed, how widespread is the damage
| resulting from the persecution through
prejudice of the countrys transportation
lines. The same applies to thoughtless at
tacks on other lines of industry.
| 1T Is worse than thoughtless to say off.
hand that the wealth and the industries OF
the country are in the hands Of a few rich
men, who alone will suffer. There is a
direct loss to thousands Of frugal people
| who have invested small savings in the en-
| terprises, and the indirect effect reaches
| still other thousands who depend, in one
| way or another. upon the success of every
| industry. The business Of the country is
interviewer until 1t is something like the cir
| culation of the blood in the body. An in
| jury or an operation at one point shocks
and weakens the whole"
| Referring to the financial situation, Mr.
| Rockefeller remarked:
who is more interested in the material
prosperity Of this country than I am?
| Rockefeller and Prosperity.
My eggs are not all in one basket, by
any means A good deal of nonsense is
printed every now and then about my
having captured all the railroads of the
%t,o
| The truth Is that 1 figure as an investor
| and stakeholder rather than as a propri-
| etor. But any depression is likely to mean
| loss of values to me. The groceryman
| may not feel 1t If the coal business Is bad
| or the wheat growers suffer If the railroads
| lose. but the man with wider interests feels
| every phase Of depression. 1 do not mean
| that l am in the grocery, or coal. or wheat
business, but l am using this illustration
| 1t is fact that hardly any sort of bust
ness can experience dull times without loss
| to me- 1t should be plain. then, that I have
| the best right to be anxious for good times
| all around. Would 1 permit, then, any
harm to come to any line Of business if
Il am harnessed to a cart in which the
| people ride continued Mr.. Rockefeller
Whether l like 1t or not. must work for
| the rest. l cannot evade this responsible
| ity If 1 would. But I do not complain of
| this. l am willing to draw my share of the
| load as long as 1 am able. The first step
took he said. meant obligating myself
| to working men who henceforward looked
| to me for employment and investors who
put In their money and looked to me for
| results At every step forward the load
was heavier. The workingmen numbered
| a few score first. then a few hundreds then
thouSa ndS. There was a similar increase
| in the number of investors who could hold
| me to account. While worked for my
| self I had to work for them. whether or
not. Today retired from active business
retired. that Is. from buSinpS for myself
| the capital 1 have invested makes work
! for thousands and opens opportunities for
| other thousands to place their savings prof
| itably. No man with money can escape
| responsibility or loosen this yoke from his
| neck.
Capitalists Are the Servants.
I'VE are servants and not masters-we
| who are, or have been engaged in large
business affairs. 1t is to our vital interest
that the country prosper; that the people
prosper They can destroy us or our busi-
ness, or at least destroy our power of serv-
| ing them. We would probably suffer the
| least. The richest man can eat but three
meals day, and 1t does not take a fortune
| to dress very we'll indeed. or to provide real
luxury in living.
The men who have acquired the largest
| fortunes have not pursued wealth. but bust
ness success. Had they desired money for
| the enjoyment of money they would have
| stopped 1dT SNORT Oh spending IuelT uVoS, dS
they have, In the struggle that is business
| The natural ambition Of every man to make
| good provision for his family be settled
! far short Of the point reached by the big
| men Of the industrial world of today. But
| they continue to toll at their desks because
| they love achievement, for the keen delight
| in creating where nothing was, and some
time. I believe. people will be convinced that
they are toiling for love of country as
! we'll"
When it comes to the attacks upon him
| and his associates Mr. Rockefeller shows
! himself the philosopher. He does not pre-
| tend to like the assaults, nor does he pre-
| tend to naughty Indifference, and he is not
affectedly fippant in his comments. But he
is not bitter toward those who assail him.
| He says 1t is misunderstanding that will
| right itself in time. He frankly regrets IT.
| but he seems even more distressed at what
| he considers the danger Of losing a good
| opportunity to capture the trade of the
world than over the personal phase of the
! attacks.
we are proud of our national sense of
good humor," remarked Mr. Rockefeller
III we must have little family Jars among
| ourselves. why should we let the outside
World laugh at our angry faces7 Why
should we waste the energy we need to
oulid up the country In tearing each other
TO pieces! II evils have crept in during the
| periods of marvellous development since the
civil war, and 1t Is not impossible that
some few have crept in, can we not do
away with them without destroying the
| whole fabric? Admitting for the sake of
argument. that the business world is a
patient that needs treatment. must 1t be
said OF the result that the operation was
successful, but the patient died?'
Loved His Country.
Mr.. Rockefeller was asked why he did
not run away from the hue and cry that
pursued him. He laughed:
Perhaps because my favorite music is
Yankee Doodle" he suggested Then,
more gravely:
e"1 suppose I 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 is or
ganized to make things comfortable for the
man with money to spend. But do you know
that way Of escape from the responsibilities
and embarrassnlents that wealth brings to
an American never occurred to me. The
United States cannot develop enough draw
backs to make lose the feeling that
there is no place like home. and that Is
home in what firmly believe Is the great
est country in the world.
The Star Resort Bureau
inf ha hol