The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-09-19

schwab,s success was apparent To him the whole
thing sort of mystery. Il cannot for the life
of me understand it" he said "All I do is
to wonder how it all happened. Here am not
over-good business man, second-rate engineer. 1
can make poor mechanical drawings. I play the piano
after fashion. In fact, of those proverbial
jacks Of all trades who usually failures Why
am not can't tell"
Sehwab insisted that luck opportunity chance,
whatever wishes to call it. gives some men more
than even break. In his lifetime he said he had
known thousands of with more ability TINA he
had Some were better executives others much
ADLER engineers, but things somehow other just did
go with them Associates of Schwab in the bust
world however attributed his success to the man
himself his personality, which went far to keep the
workers good spirits his kindly treatment of them
which made them feel that they were something more
than ordinary laboring men, his untring energy and
his confidence in himself
Schwab's interest in business and industrial con-
ditions was worldwide BY frequent trips to Europe
he kept close touch with affairs of the countries OF
that continent as he did with those of the United
States BY 1929 his trips across the Atlantic in both
directions numbered nearly $50.
From his huge resources, Mr. Schwab made many
gifts always without announcement and without pub
licty far possible.
With keen sense of humor, Schwab enjoyed a
good story and was fond of telling An incident
involving himself was he appeared to take deligh
in repeating He was preparing to go on a trip ano
was being aided by old valet who had been IN his
employ a number of years The valet had been down
on his hands and knees for several minutes making
search of every nook and corner of the room Mi
Schwab paid no attention him until the valet arose
with the declaration Mr.. Schwab I'm going to quit
my job"
WHY Sam what's the matter?" asked the steel
magnate Il thought you pretty well satisfied
1T amt that Mr. Schwab" said the valet, "bu'
here we are gettn ready to go out and give away
100000 building and there's only one collar buttor
in the house and that's lost"
Although his wealth increased rapidly after he
arose to commanding position in the steel industry
Schwab cared little for money such Speaking Oh
that on one occasion he said:
Il have never started done anything just tof
the sake of money 1 would be very much weather.
man than am had I done Take the companies
that Bethlehem has bought up, such for instance
Cambria 1 could have purchased it personally and
sold it to Bethlehem at profit Instead let Beth
ehem by it itself Never in all the years have been
connected with corporations have sold anything to
one of them"
1t was at the same time that Mr. Schwab told OF
refusing Germany's offer of $10000000O not to sell
ordnance to Great Britain. At another time he was
offered S50O00000 for half interest in the Bethlehem
Steel Company. Discussing the proposal with MS
wife whom he always took into his confidence he
said:
.e1hat is big sum. Half of what I have is yours.
What shall we do? If sell, your share invested at
five percent will bring you an income of more than
500 600 month for the rest of your life.
I'VE wouldn't sell for five times that amount
Mrs Schwab replied. What would do WIN Ihe
money and what would you do without your work.
The offer was declined