Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-15
INVESTIGATING RICHES


In spite OF our democratic theory that all
men are born free and equal. there is an ir-
resstible glamour about great wealth. The
Federal Industrial Commission has been hold
ing hearings all over the United States for
over year. but not until 1t began to call
our superlatively- multi -milionaires to the
stand did II step into the full glare Of the
limelight.
In addition to quzzing our "malefactors Of
great wealth" on how they treat their em-
ployes and how they interpret that maxim
about being their brothers keeper the COM
mission has decided that the several founda-
tions established by these same men are also
proper subjects for investigation in It's quest
Tor the causes of industrial unrest"
Nine current periodicals comment on vari-
GUS aspects Of these rich men and their
cainels as they try to get through the eyes of
needles. Five defend the foundations and
tnelr founders. One is neutral Three are
antagonistic In tone. One of the most en-
pertaining articles is description Of young
Mr.. Rockefeller on the stand by Walter Lipp-
man in the New Republic d):
Mr.. Rockefeller seemed terribly alone.
iLnere was an atmosphere of no quarter A
IaIse crowd watching intensely every express
sion OF his face, about 20 cameras and a
snlai s regiment of newspaper men, a short
nand reporter at his elbow, and confronting
MN nun the commissioners, led by the no means
.StSSuilHB Nr. WalSh--eNCeDt for inde-
Latlgaply kindly police sergeant who gave him
one glass of water after another not much
was done to pamper the witness
FROM the first Mr.. Rockefeller was on the
aeIenslVe To the charge that he has en-
forced an industrial absolutism in Colorado
ne replied with much feeling:
While 1t has been said that I have exer-
cised an absolute authority in debating to
the management of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron Company, 1t has also been said that L
nave been too Indifferent. and that as di-
rector should have exercised more authority.
Clearly both cannot be true"
Yet 1t seemed TO me as 1 listened to him
that both could be true, and that in fact it
was just such a dilemma which was the truth.
For 10 years Mr. Rockefeller had not seen
his property his relation to 1t was by letter
and by conference with the officials. What he
knew of 1t must have come to him from them
and, as he has confessed, he trusted their
word. Now when we speak of the despotism
of the Car of Russia we do not mean that
he in person acts despotiCally in every prov
ince of his empire. We mean that des-
potic hierarchy exists owning allegiance to
him it's titled head. We know that If the
Car wished to liberalize his government he
would find himself hampered by his subor-
dinate officials. But he has to bear the re-
sponsibility for the things that are done In
his name, and because he has potential power
he is blamed not only for what he does but
for what he doesn't do.
If first impressions count for anything, L
should describe Mr.. Rockefeller as a weak
despot governed by private bureaucracy
which he is unable to lead. He has been
thrust by the accident of birth into q posi-
ton where he reigns but does not rule. Ills
intellectual helplessness was the amazing part
of his testimony. Here was man who rep
resented an agglomeration of wealth prop
ably without parallel in history. He Is thG
supreme negation of all equality ana syinpo
| of the most menacing fact in the life OF the
republic Yet he talked about himself on
the commonplace moral assumptions OF a
small business man.
While not going into details about It, Town
Topics suggests the opposite point OF view
in a paragraph (2)
Lawson, a strike leader under Ia lndlct-
rents for murder, two for assault with IN
tent to KILL one for arson, one for conspiracy
in restraint of trade and eight for contempt
of court was permitted to TESTIFY before the
Federal Commission on Industrial RELATIONS
and described j. d. Rockefeller, Jr, as IN
competent, insincere and reckless" lnsln-
cere?" That is a matter of opinion, ana Law
SONS opinions have no value. Reckless!
That is the weeks best laugh. But lncohn,
netent'-would Lawson have blackguarded
him in this way If, in their interview ne mao
not found Mr.. Rockefeller fully competent 70 70
| take care of himself and his property Let
Mother Jones and Rockefeller, Jr. settle IT.
Whose Money Is 1t?
The Survey quoting from speech made
by Frank Walsh, chairman of the cominls-
sion. gives some interesting figures (S)
The benefactions of the world last year
amounted roughly to $500, 100000, principally
gifts made in the United States. me income
OF one great foundation was Sl4'OOouoo' OF
four times more than the appropriation spent
by the Government of the United states III