Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-08-26

nothing away. He would laugh at the
mere suggestion that it is his duty to
that he holds
his money in trust for the people or
for society at large. What! he would
cry, My money is mine! ! made 1t,
or | inherited it. 1t is mine, mine, my
very own! To do with as like! And
everybody would agree with him No
one in Europe would suggest that
millions entail duty to society. Yet
here such notion is quite prevalent.
1t is even put forth gravely by mil
lionaires themselves. Mr.. Carnegie
expounded to me this very, theory,
which to. a European sounds so ex-
traordinary. that the community at
| large has an absolute right to share
| in a mans millions--that he is mere
! ly trustee of his wealth.
"In Europe, as l said, millionaires
do not give away their money. At
least not while they are alive. When
| they die they may have trifling sum
to charity; and the general public
/ will exclaim: How generous!' In
England this is not so much SO as on
the continent for the British aristoc
racy, whose wealth is largely inner
tied from long generations, has always
been taught and has always recog
nized that it has certain duties to so
ciety at large. This is not so on the
continent | can think of only one
millionaire in Europe who is public
spirited in his muniticence, and this
one is the French Baron Rothschild
In America your millionaires give
away vast sums, but l do not believe
that even they give altogether because
they love giving. No millionaire
likes to give up his money!
A broad, quizzical laugh put the ex
clamation point at the close of THU
sentence.
The Fundamental Difference.
But! Although your millionaire
allow them to do some things which
q we would never allow them to do il
Europe You allow them to found uni
versities! You allow them to devot
their millions to founding and supper,
ing vast establishments in which tn
youth Of the nation is to acquire it
ideals. If the millionaires themselve
cannot teach the rising generation tn
ideals they would like them to az
qiure, they can at least select the me
who are to teach them. May Their
not be some method in this kind {
giving?"
"Why do you say that mill1onair
could not found a university in e,
roper" asked the writer.
The state would not allow it!
came the reply, like shot from a rapit
fire gun. eff a millionaire started t
do anything Of that sort the stat
would instantly step in and say I
him: No, my dear sir; do what yo
like with your money, but leave tn
training of our youth to me. /, tt
state, have charge of that It is fl
me alone to say how the young me
and women are to be brought up;
will place before them the ideals tn;
think they should have. / will allo
of no interference on your part SUE
an institution as Chicago universi
is unimaginable in any country of e
rope 1t would not be tolerated Fl
j. one moment. 1t is beautiful plac
e was glad to lecture there, but cou
n not help thinking what peril
IS America it might become, what 81
If lister possibilities are latent within
s. Mr.. Rockefeller, 4 understand, do
e not interfere at all in the manae
IL ment of that university; he does n
,e dictate the professors who shall Il
ture there nor the curriculum tn
shall be followed; and from what
8, have been able to learn 70 him dol
If think he ever will. But some succ,
" sor to mis- millions might choose.
e. WELD the power which Mr.. Rocket
So Ter has thus far let alone. Think
re the power such a man would have
is he wanted to exercise It: Think
lie the ideals that might be set before t
is youth of America by an unscrupulo
le millionaire controlling a univers
re through his donations. 1t is too gre
a power to be permitted to any M,
es and I am amazed that In Ameri