The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14
Marcus M. Marks,
By JAMEs b. MORROW.

New York, Nov. bat least one man
in New York, with the proved talent for
aggTegating property unto himself. re-
fuses to go mad about money.
It can be said. more. It ought 70 be
said. that Marcus M. Marks is an in
veterate and incorrgible altruist Any
how. 20 the surprise and probable scorn
OF mammon he gives virtually all OF his
time sl1lll. and intelligence 20 the public.
Peace, In its Offices between capital and
labor, is one Of his specialties. So is edu-
cation for the poor SO is a sound moral
atmosphere for everybody So. likewise,
is sanitation in the slums; and hospitals
for those who must work; and medical
treatment for the diseased children Of
tubercular parents. The range might be
wider. but II scarcely could be better or
finer.
Thirty years ago Marcus NJ. Marks
driven from college by poverty, started
a little store at Passaic, n. ]. An in
ventory Of his assets would have shown
putting the items down In the order OF
their subsequent value, : cheerful spirit.
a manly bearing, and 500. which had beon
systematically and sacrihcially saved
from his lean earnings. He slept under
the counter.
DfNeAop& NnE NUN AAaOs
The store developed factory and the
factory developed respectable fortune.
Incidentally. in the passionless and
mathematical aspect Of business, and
perhaps rcproachably. the factory also
developed Marcus NJ Marks himself.
After Marcus A. Hanna became presi-
dent OF the National Civic Federation. an
honor he declared, that gave him more
Joy. comfort. and promise than did his
seat IN the Senate, he brought Marks,
the amateur altruist out Of the seclusion
and restrictions Of local effort into the
power and publicity of a general move
ment. Since then Mr.. Marks has acted,
either as an arbitrator or intermediary.
in one hundred strikes and lockouts.
Socially, In q scientific sense. he is one
OF the most important men IN the cOun-
try. Consistently with his influence.
sympathy. and ability he has been made
a trustee Of the new Foundation for the
Promotion OF Industrial Peace, an or
ganization suggested by Theodore Roose-
Welt, and 20 which he devoted the $4,000
given him under the will Of Alfred B.
Nobel, the Swedish scientist and inventor
of dynamite.
Mr. Marks came briskly into his Office,
far down Broadway. to meet my ap-
pointment lie is tall, slender. and nerv-
oUsly animated First OF all, he has
personality "a hearty handshake, an
eager and cordial eye and smile that
IS pleasant and honest. Again. he knows
his business as an altruist. He knew his
business back at Passaic and sleeping
under the counter did not continue for
long. And he knew, and he still knows,
how TO manufacture clothing. The Jew
IS a mighty man. Tested In the furnace
OF history-toughened. tempered. and keen
he IS a dangerous intellectual adver-
sary. Mr.. Marks told me why.
In a word" I said. what IS the
Foundation for the Promotion OF In
dustrial Peace?"
Nobel Offers Prizes.
You understand. suppose" he an
Ewered. that Mr.. Roosevelt was given
tho Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 When
Nobel died he left a fortune OF 100000
which. by his will, has gone into per-
maneHt fund. The interest is paid an
nually TO the I'VE persons who, in
physics, chemistry. medicine. literature
and the work Of peace among nations.
have the most largely contributed TO
the good Of humanity
MIR. Roosevelt felt that the money
voted to him By the committee in stock
holm ought to be given 10 the public
and that the practice of peace I'm Ameri-
ca would help TO insure fraternity and
tranquility throughout the rest Of the
world. A contentious man at home is
likely 10 be contentious IN the street
The reconciliation Of disagreements. IL
followed for any length Of time, creates
n temper OF mind that makes the preser-
walton Of peace easy and even instinc-
tive. So Mr.. Roosevelt gave his money
and his plan TO the people. hoping that
the United States might learn more
fully the merits Of arbitration. and be
an example 10 other nations in the set
Element OF disputes between the man who
hires and the man who works"
rs it the object" I asked, Ito have
permanent court before which all the
differences Of capital and labor may be
heard and adjusted?"
The word court IS hardly descrlp-
tive or appropriate" Mr.. Marks replied.
THE foundation has been authorized by
Congress, and its trustees are required
10 hold yearly meetings in Washington
OF the representatives OF labor and cap
ital for the consideration Of industrial
problems. Special conferences are 20 be
called I'm case OF great Industrial crises
The foundation as l understand II, has
none Of the functions Of an organized
court"
''Will the trustees give all OF their time
10 the work Of the foundatlon?"
Prominent Men rs Trustees.
Tho sixteen trustees include such men
as the Chief Justice OF the United States
Supreme Court, the Secretary OF Agri-
culture, the Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor. Marvin Hughitt. president Of the
Chicago and Northwestern Railway; Seth
Low John Mitchell. Archbishop Ireland.
Franklin MacVeagh. Samuel Gompers
Lucian futile, president of the Boston
and Maine Railroad. and Warren S,
Stone. chief Of the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers. Manifestly. they could
not give themselves entirely to the work
OF the foundation
"As the objects Of the organization
have taken form In our minds" Mr.
Marks went on to say, I'VE have looked
forward 10 the time when we may be
asked by Congress. the President Of the
United States, or both sides of a dispute
between capital and labor, 10 investigate
the facts OF an important strike-a strike
Of coal miners, for instance. affecting the
public generally and injuriously-or OF
the men on a large railway In such a
case the foundation would ascertain the
facts. or. II desired by labor and capital
Jointly, would arrange for possible set
Element of the controversy by arbitra-
ton.
IF the foundation ever makes a report
concerning the facts of a strike. the
character Of the men behind the report
Will undoubtedly influence public opinion
and public opinion virtually settles al
strikes. II arbitration were ever to be
requested by employers and employees
then the interest that should lose would
hardly dare to reject the verdict The
foundation, by its trustees now repre-