Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-13
WEEKS SACRIFICED
FORTUNE R FOR POST
Gave Business to Partners
and Was Noted for Other
Philanthropies.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

i 10y ~ Z " +
/ Few men have ever made the sac
rifiee OF material wealth to enter the
public service which the late John
| w. Weeks voluntarily made when he
entered the United States Senate.
The true story Of the extreme to
Which Mr.. Weeks went to sever all
business relationships 50 that he
might vote with AZ free conscience In
the Senate Is probably unparalleled
in history. s.
| Mr.. Weeks had established one OF
the most successful firms In the in
vestinent business under the. name OF
Hornblower & Weeks. His faith In
the men who helped him build It up
was such that when the time came
for his entry into the Senate he did
| not follow the natural coarse name
/ w, to sell his business but he actual
ly gave 1t to his partners.
Valued at Millions.
II, is estimated that the actual and
potential value OF Mr.. Weeks part
nership at that time was several mil
lions Of dollars. There was no an
nouncement about It; Mr.. Weeks sim
| ply gave notice that he had retired.
| 1t was an act OF philanthropy
i
Mr.. Weeks. In one year, shortly
after his retirement, when business
was not very good. due to an indus
trial depression, the usual Christmas
check was not Forthcoming. but from
his retirment Mr.. Weeks sent $4,000
| to be divided among the employees.
Talking with the late Secretary OF
War few months ago, the writer
was discussing the Importance or
financial independence to men VINO
enter public life. Mr.. Weeks was q
strong believer In the theory that q
man who was not dependent on his
salary thought less about the dangers
Of defeat for reelection than the man
whose personal plans would be yitaliy
Influenced by q sudden retirement
from Office after many years OF serv-
ice.
men do not vote as their consciences
| dictate because they are AFRAID oa
| defeat. Mr. Weeks was never AFRAID
of defeat. He possessed rare couTase
which made him one Of the outstanu'
| ing members Of the Senate, even
| though his service there was brief.
Opposed Own Colleagues.
! Facing his Republican colleagues
nractically. all of whom had decided
Ia vote against the Federal reserve
Art. which created the banking sys-
| fern which has since its establishment
| iyr 1914 received such widespread
| Communication from all parties, MT.
| Weeks announced that there was 50
much good in the measure and 50
| little that was bad he would unhesi-
tatingly vote for the proposal Ana ne
aid The record shows that hardly any
other. Republican at the time apan.
doned their partisanship TO vote TOT
the Federal reserve act.
There were other instances OF the
same independence on the part OF
Mr.. weeks. He regarded the pubic
service as the highest possible trust.
Not only did he retire from business
when he entered the Senata but ne
resigned from every directorate ana
sold every share OF stock winch
might even remotely be affected Dy
pending legislation.
AS Secretary of War MT. weeks
quickly won the affection Of the men
in the Army. This isn't usual, either.
AS q matter of fact, few civilan
secretaries are able to narmonl1e
their views with those Of the oinceIs
weeks found that by tact ana
thorough study Of existing problems
that there could be harmony.
Sought for Other Post.
Tbare was time when Mr.. Weeks
was considered for the Secretary
ship of the Treasury. Il the Penn
svlvaY,ia Senators had not brought the
name of Andrew w. Mellon to Mr..
Harding the chances are Mr.. Weeks
would have had the finance port
folio. It was post he would have
enjoyed, as he was thorough
student of fiscal affairs.
Stories of Mr.. Weeks generosity.
and particularly his efforts TO save
the late Senator Brandegee's tangled
finances, which led to suicide. are
well known among his friends. but
he was not the kind who let his
deeds in this direction become known.
He was one OF the most modest men
in public life and also one Of the
eficient in the present generation OF
public men,
copyright. 1890
PAILBEARERS ANNOUNCED.