Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-20
CHRIST In BUSINESS
Pflndlple to Be Applied In Conduct
rs,.,, of Big industrial Concern =
ATLANTA BUSINESS MAN IS TO DO IT
Experience Has Shown That it Pays
to Conduct Plant in Keeping With
Life of the Savior and His Teachings.


business man, has just been elected, to
take office January l, as president of
the American Cast Iron Pipe company
Of Birmingham, and the platform on
which, the board of directors named
him for this office was that the teach
ings. of Jesus Christ were to be the
ruling principles of the business"
Mr.. Eagan, we'll known locally as a
phiianthropist and prominent layman
of the Central Presbyterian church, as
well as an able business man, has been
connected with the great Birmingham
concern since it's organization in 1906,
and has risen steadily in its service.
. Speaking of his election to the chief
executive office, and the basis on which
the directors chose him, writes o. b.
Keller in the Atlanta Journal, Mr..
Eagan said Monday in his Atlanta Of
fee that it seemed to him rather odd
that such an action should occasion
comment.
'These directors all are church men,
hers,' he explained. "They have elect
ed another processing Christian as
president, on basis that the teachings
Of Jesus Christ are to be the ruling
principles in the business as lacking
faith the action of the directors in our
company will cause other professed
followers of Christ to give this ques-
ton their thought"
-. Guiding Principles.
Mr.. Es gan expressed himself as re-
garding Christians who did not make
the teaching of Christ the guiding prin-
ciples In the business as lacking faith
in the power of those principles to save
the world"
IF they are not to practice Christs
teachings in their business, where are
they to practice them?" he suggested.
About eight years ago." he went on,
"our company erected a large indus
trial Young Mems Christian associa-
tion building and with that as CEN
ter. we have been enlarging constant
~ the scope of the company's services
TO it's employees, until now it has stan
including physicians, surgeon,
dentist and a nurse. 1t has also mu-
tual benefit association operated by the
company and the employees jointly,
which provides for the relief of the en-
ployes in case Of sickness or death,
and for their hospital treatment when
necessary. Recently we established
pension fund for old age or disability.
This work, which we believe to be
al manifestation of the spirit Of Jesus
Christ, has proved itself profitable to
the stockholders as we'll as the en-
ployes, and it has resulted in better
services to the public than would
otherwise have been possible"
Platform Summarized.
This platform" Mr.. Eagan summar-
lied briefly as follows:
A reasonable living wage to the low
est paid workman.
Constant employment to every mem
ber of the organization.
An actual application of the Golden
Rule to all relations between employer
and employe.
The resultant service by the Ameri-
can Cast Iron Pipe company, Mr.. Ea-
gan believes firmly, by manufacturing
an honest product.
Service to employees by the applica-
ton of the Golden Rule and the pay
ment of at least a comfortable living
wage TO each.
Service to the stockholders by earn
ing for them a fair return on their
investment.
81 feel the more confident Of the
success of the application Of these
principles" said Mr.. Eagan. because
they already have been pretty
thoroughly proved in our case. In the
last twelve months we have provided
employment for all employes-and this
has not been exactly an easy matter.
Another thing that take to be sign
of the spirit of Christ, in our plant is
that we are paying wages above the
market. We feel that the first charge
upon an industry should be to provide
such a wage that every employe may
be enabled to live in reasonable COM
fort"
Mr. Eagan, one of the most reticent
of men when it comes TO reference to
his steady and earnest work for
Christianity and humanity, is not pre-
cisely light hid under bushel, at
that.
One of Mr.. Eagan's best friends and
closest associates-a man who possibly
knows him better than any other
Marion NJ. Jackson-said in connection
with Mr.. Eagan's election to the head
of the great Birmingham company:
"AIr. Eagan is one of the most re-
markable men it ever has been my for
tune to meet AS a very young man,
he went through an experience that
would have spelled ruin to most-he
was left a great fortune, million dol
lars, with no strings tied to it what
ever.
John ]. Eagan has said he regarded
that fortune as trust. have heard
other people say that of their money