The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-27
SURPLUS WEALTH SHOULD BE
DISTRIBUTED.
Andrew Carnegie Says That Son
Who Inherits Money Inherits
Curse.

The problem of our age is the
proper administration of wealth. that
the ties Of brotherhood may still bind
together the rich and the poor in
harmonious relationship, writes An
drew Carnegie in The Delineator for
December. There is only one mode of
using great fortunes. That is one by
which the surplus wealth of the few
becomes the property of the many,
and by which this wealth passing
through the hands of the few can be
made more potent force for the
elevation Of the race than if distribut-
ed In small sums to the people them
selves. The millionaire is but a
trustee for the poor.
The man Of wealth should become,
after providing moderately for the
legitimate wants of those dependent
upon him, the mere trustee and agent
for his poorer brethren, bringing to
their service his superior wisdom, ex-
perience and ability to administer,
doing for them better than they
would or could do for themselves.
Wise men will soon conclude that,
for the best interests of their families
and OF the state, bequests to their de-
scendants are an improper use Of
their means. Beyond providing for
the wife and daughters moderate
sources of income and very moderate
allowances, If any for the sons, men
may we'll hesitate. The thoughtful
man must shortly say: IT would as
soon leave to my son a curse as the
almighty dollar" He must admit to
himself that it is not the welfare of
the children but the family pride
which inspires these legacies.
Rich men have it in their power
during their lives to busy themselves
In organizing benefactions from which
the masses of their follows will derive
lasting advantage and thus dignity
their own lives. In many cases a
mans bequests are so used as to be-
come monuments to his folly. The
day Is not far distant when the man
who dies leaving behind him millions
of available wealth, which was free
for him to administer during life,
will pass away, ''unwept, unhonored
and unsung." OF such the public
verdict will be, "The man who dies
thus rich, dies disgraced."
1t is as important in administering
wealth as in any other branch Of a
mans work, that he should be en-
Enthusiastically devoted to it and feel
that in the field selected his work
consideration should be to help those
who will help themselves. Neither
the individual nor the race Is i'm
proved by almsgiving. The free IL
brary Is the best gift than can be
given tC a community, providing the
community will accept and maintain
1t as public institution as much a
part of the city property as its public
schools. and indeed as an adjunct to
these. 1t is reserved for very few to
found universities. More good is
henceforth to be accomplished by
adding to and extending those in
existence.
have summed up my principles Of
giving in the Trust Deed for the
benefit Of the Carnegie Institution at
washington, d. c., in which I said
/ deemed it to be my duty and one OF
my highest privileges to administer
the wealth that has come to me, as
trustee in behalf Of others, and en-
tertained the confident belief that
one Of the best means of discharging
that trust is by providing funds for
improving and extending the oppor-
tunity for study and research in our
country. Moreover, I gave my trus-
tees full power to modify the condi-
tions and regulations under which the
trust is dispensed, so that these shall
always be applied in the manner
best adapted to the changed condi-
tions Of the time.