Evening star., 1939-12-17

body OF John D., sr., sho,Ds, left to
1t was political rally on Chicago's
tough South Side, where Al Capone be-
came famous. The hall was filled with
poor workingmen, and the speeches
bristled with condemnation of the rich.
One spellbinder succeeded another in
long procession and then the chairman
said
Ladies and gentlemen, the next
speaker
David Rockefeller"
Rockefeller? Necks stretched in the
listening crowd. Heads turned. Men
looked at one another puzzled whether
they had heard Alright. They had.
David Rockefeller, youngest of the five
sons of John D. Rockefeller, jr., rose from
chair and talked about unemployment
relief and the advantages and disad-
vantages of pump printing by the
Government.
Answers Barrage Of Questions.
Questions shot at him after he finished
..
Personal questions Pointed questions.
David stood his ground and answered
them all.
Some one asked him afterward which
side he had taken. He replied:
why, didn't advocate one side or the
other. I gave the economic factors on
each side. I had been reading the news
papers and listening to the radio for
weeks, and it made me mad the way
every one who discussed the problem had
an ak to grind. People who wanted to
make an honest decision on the basis Of
all the facts just couldn't do it because
they weren't given the information"
When millionaire goes to workers
forums to discuss workers problems in
workers terms. he is news. This par
ticular millionaire is particular news be-
cause he is one Of the five young men
Who are beginning to take over the task
of administering the once fabulous for
tune built by their grandfather, the late
John D. Rockefeller, ST., known to his
time as "the oil king" and "the richest
man in the world"
Now Only "a.
David Rockefeller is only "a years old
But, in the nature of things, Rockefeller
interests and influence being as far
flung as they are, it is almost inevitable
that before many more years have
passed his ideas and his actions-lke
the ideas and the actions of his four
older brothers-will play vital part in
world affairs
His speechmaking in Chicago, a phase
OF his life as graduate student at the
University of Chicago during the last
year, may open a new chapter in the
long Rockefeller saga. It may prove to be
his first step into political career. No
Rockefeller up to now has been active in
politics.
However unique in that respect,
David's action was, in broader sense
typical of the third generation of the
family. 1t demonstrated characteristic
which each Of his brothers had demon
strated before him-a desire to play A
direct. personal role in community
affairs.
Ter, Sd, tackled prison reform by visiting
jails and talking to prisoners to learn,
nrst. hand, about juvenile delinquency.
Winthrop Aids Idle Boys.
Winthrop attacked unemployment re-
lief by helping run New York's biggest
welfare drive in 1888. Now he is heading
campaign to get idle boys of the streets
and into aviation.
Laurance is absorbed in the philosophy
of democratic action, from education to
business.
Nelson's administration of Rockefeller
Center has produced one of America 8
most advanced experiments in labor re-
lations.
This serious side of the Rockefeller
boys" has up to now been obscured by q
cloud of trivial incidents related to theil
youth:
John, as college student, trying tt
cash a check and being unable to do Sc
because no one would accept the name
he signed to it-"John D. Rockefeller;
Laurance standing in line for his mar.
riage license;
Nelson planting tree in Fifth avenue;
Winthrop winning dance contest will
Mary Martin. the Broadway star;
David arriving at a tennis court with.
out dime to pay his playing fee.
All five have been annoyed and hurt
at, times by this emphasis on the irrel
evant. They fail to 80 why they shouls