The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-02-11
TESTIFY BEFORE COMMISSION
ON INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
NEITHER BELIEVES iNSTi-
TUTioNS A MENACE.
DESIRE TO PROMOTE THE
WELFARE OF MANKIND
Steel Magnate Reveals That Donations
Total $324,657,5ee and Declares
His Business Is to Do All
the Good He Can in
This World.

s'fo "Oiids
New York, Feb. 8.-John ID. Rookie
feller, Sr., and Andrew Carnegie have
testified before the Federal commits
sion on industrial relations. They de-
Tended the foundations which they
have endowed with their wealth and
neither would say he believed the in.
situations constituted a menace to the
religious, political or educational lib
.erty of the people of the United States.
A desire to promote the welfare of
mankind and that alone, they said,
prompted them to establish the founda-
tions which bear their names.
Widely different was the manner in
which these two men faced the COM
mission and the audience, composed
largely OF representatives of labor, So
c~ialists, indiyidualists and members OF
the Industrial Workers of the World.
Mr.. Carnegie went to the witness stand
from a seat in the audience.
Mr.. Carnegie enjoyed that. When
he left the stand he said he had not
spent such a pleasant afternoon i'm
many years.
Gifts Total $324,657,5ss.
In his testimony Mr.. Carnegie re-
yealed that up to the close of last year
his donations totalled $324,657 ,599. His
present business, he said, was to do all
the good ne could in this world. He
sketched the growth of his steel bust
mess and said he never had such a
good time In his life as when he was
talking to his employees. The men liked
him too. When they call you Andy
instead of Andrew or Mr.. Carnegie,
you know the boys are your friends
said he.
Mr.. Carnegie referred to an article
which he published i'm 1888, In which
he expressed the opinion that the man
who dies thus rich, dies disgraced."
In this article Mr.. Carnegie wrote that
the day was not far distant when the
man who died leaving behind him
millions of available wealth, which
were free for him to administer during
life. would pass away "unwept, union
ored and unsung," no matter to what
use he might leave his fortune.
True Gospel Of Wealth.
Such, in my opinion" Mr.. Carnegie
said, is the true gospel concerning
wealth, obedience to which is destined
some day to solve the problem of the
rich and the poor and to bring peace
on earth, among men good will"
Since the Carnegie pension fund
was founded by himself and the
United States Steel corporation, re-
tired employees of the corporation have
received in pensions $1.575,021, Mr..
Carnegie testified. Last year the total
disbursements from the fund AMOUNT
ed to $511 1867. There were 1881 bene-
ficiaries.
The hero fund, which I was privi-
legged to found" Mr., Carnegie con-
tinued, has always interested me
most deeply, perhaps because the idea
came to me through personal expert
ence. | could not rest until | had
founded hero funds with a carital of
Sill. 100000.
Rockefeller Testifes.
MIR. Rockefeller was assisted to the
witness stand by members of his per.
sonal staff.
Seating himself with much difficulty
he started to read his answers but his
voice was scarcely audible.
. Mr.. Rockefeller appeared to have
aged considerably since he last gave
tnctfpnnnU In n.hIf. IL -~ ---
slowly and calmly. He declared that
his sole motive was to devote a por-
ton of his fortune to the services OF
his fellow men. He said he regarded
the right to rescind the charters of
the foundations as sufficient guaran-
tee against abuse of the funds. He
told about his meeting with j. y. We'll
born, president Of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company. and w. L. Macken-
zie King at a time when there was
labor trouble in Colorado.
He old how he directed his business
enterprises and the part ho played in
the administration of the foundations.
He said he would accord all men the
right to organize. workingmen and
business men as well, providing they
kept within the proper limitations with
respect to the law and the safeguard
Ing the general interests of the public.
Mr.. Rockefeller said he would be
happy to surrender his holdings either
in whole or in part and let the work
ers have a voice in the board OF d.
rectors just as well as all other stock
k~ll>.. Il 49,.
profits of their labor. He would be
very happy. he said, to see the workers
be his partners in business.
AS for the 500. 000. 900 he had given
to the Rockefeller Foundation revert
'ng to himself or his heirs in the event
Of the legislature resembling the char.
.er of .he foundation. Mr.. Rockefelle,
aid he Had eve allowed himself L,
worry about that"