Richard T. Crane was a captain of industry who ventured to think for himself upon many subjects. He was a strenuous advocate of the right of the poor to have education for their children. He saw the shameful inadequacy of common-school education, even in our richest cities, and he resented the idea that the sons of the rich should receive a fancy education at public expense while the sons of the poor were neglected. By all means let the rich give their sons all the education these latter could be persuaded to accept; but let the rich pay for it themselves. So Mr. Crane objected to the lobbying activities of college presidents and administrators with state legislatures, on behalf of our so-called “higher” education.
It was to be expected, of course, that this point of view should be misrepresented by the newspapers. They sought to make it appear that Mr. Crane was opposed to “higher” education altogether; he was the first to start manual training schools, so they said that was the only kind of education he believed in. College presidents denounced him, and he gave them as hard knocks as he took. He called it absurd that professors receiving a salary of two thousand dollars should advertise themselves as able to teach young men how to go into industry and business and earn salaries of ten thousand. He was so cynical as to believe that if the professors really possessed any such knowledge, they would apply it for their own benefit. He took the trouble to investigate conditions in American colleges, and in newspapers he would make such statements as this:
“An outsider scarcely can realize the amount of drinking that goes on in the clubrooms of the colleges. Referring particularly to Harvard, the average of students who combine in a mild degree wine with bad women is 65 per cent; men who drink heavily, 35 per cent; and who have but two or three ‘bats’ a year, 45 per cent. In Princeton it is beer, beer, beer. The town is ‘license,’ and the students drink even more than Harvard men. On one occasion there must have been more than three hundred students dead drunk. In Yale drinking is recognized in so great a degree that clubs have their tables in the barrooms. I found New Haven a dissolute, debauched and whiskey town. Some time ago the statement appeared in a New Haven paper that there were two thousand fallen women in that city.”
Mr. Crane thought it was foolish for the Field Museum to spend great fortunes collecting curios in the South Seas, while saloon-keepers and grafters were allowed to prey upon the poor in Chicago. He gave his money lavishly for such humanitarian enterprises as Hull House; also he gave great sums for playgrounds, parks for poor districts and day nurseries. He spent eighty thousand dollars on manual training schools alone, purely for the purpose of demonstrating to the Board of Education that the place for this work was in the low-grade schools instead of in the high schools. Early in the history of the Crane Company he established sick and accident benefit funds and pensions for workingmen and their families. During his life he distributed three million dollars above their wages among the workingmen of his company; and after his death his heirs, in accordance with his wish, gave one million dollars as a pension fund for Crane Company employees, one million dollars for support of deserving widows and children, one hundred thousand dollars for support of the Mary Crane Nursery, twenty-five thousand dollars to the Visiting Nurses Association of Chicago, and ten thousand dollars to the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association.
But he was no mere philanthropist. His thinking went deeper than that, and his courage was equal to his beliefs. He was a strenuous advocate of income taxes—not merely for revenue, but for the radical purpose of making impossible the accumulation of great fortunes. It is claimed that America owes all her prosperity and world power to the efforts of her “captains of industry.” As far back as the beginning of this century, Mr. Crane decided that America owed other things to them, and he said so with great plainness. “We cannot close our eyes to the fact that in many cases the wealth of the rich has been wrung from the poor.” And again: “In these days we hear a great deal about Anarchists and what terrible people they are. As a matter of fact, I imagine that the conditions in Paris at the time preceding the Commune did not differ widely from the conditions with us today. And the men of vast wealth, dishonestly acquired, are, in my opinion, the real breeders of Anarchy—and yet they will put on an innocent face and say: ‘We cannot understand why there are Anarchists here; we have stolen only a hundred million, and we see no cause for protest and dissatisfaction on the part of anyone.’” If all our captains of industry had agreed with this man, what freedom from poverty, unemployment, crime and war America might now have, and what a beacon of light we might be to tortured Europe!
Extract from the autobiography of R. T. Crane:
“An interesting event of that period was the visit to this country of Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot. In New York he was given the greatest demonstration and reception that I ever saw, the entire military force turning out and filling Broadway for miles. The great ovation received by him there and throughout the country generally shows what intense interest this nation then felt toward people struggling towards their liberty.”
On the margin of this page Mr. Crane’s daughter has written a comment: “And now we put them in jail.”
Richard T. Crane passed on his tradition to at least three of his children, Charles R. Crane, his son, and a brother of Mrs. Gartz, was United States minister to China, and president of Roberts College in Constantinople; he was one of the principal backers of the Progressive party, he contributed large sums to the campaign funds of Senator LaFollette, and sustained Norman Hapgood in his editorship of “Harper’s Weekly,” Mrs. Gartz’s sister, Mrs. Frances Crane Lillie, of Chicago, has also been courageously active in opposition to the common American assumption that great wealth is entitled to rule the community. During a big strike in Chicago, she came to the defense of pickets who were being abused by the police; so she gained the educational experience of being arrested. Recently, during a strike of seven thousand employees of the Crane Company, she came to the support of the strikers, declaring that they were unable to live upon their wages, and that the dividends of the company were too high: this despite the fact that she was one of the receivers of the dividends! She was denounced in the newspapers by her brother, the present Richard T. Crane, head of the company, as being “radically socialistic and harmful to labor.” It is a pleasant thing to receive large dividends without having to do any work, and in Chicago, as in Southern California, the prosecuting authorities are sure there must be something morally wrong with a woman who objects to sharing in such good fortune!
Mrs. Gartz maintains at her own expense an open forum, at which speakers of all shades of liberal opinion receive a hearing. As this book is printed, she has taken up the work of agitating for the repeal of the Criminal Syndicalism law of California, a statute which was forced through the legislature by the chambers of commerce and merchants’ and manufacturers’ associations, and is used by time-serving officials to crush every kind of working-class agitation. The last of Mrs. Gartz’s letters given in this book was offered to the Pasadena “Star-News” and “Evening Post,” and refused publication by both papers, but finally accepted as a paid advertisement by the “Evening Post.” As the manuscript is sent to the printer, Mrs. Gartz is one of a delegation from Southern California attending the legislative hearings upon the repeal of this .Criminal Syndicalism law. I read in my morning paper that an attorney for the shipping interests of San Francisco is defending the law, and “a woman” rises in the audience to ask him why, if he believes that it is the duty of the state to detect and punish criminals, he defends the practice of the State of California employing at high salaries paid witnesses against the I. W. W., who admit that they themselves have committed numerous crimes of arson and destruction. We do not need to ask the identity of this unnamed woman, who puts inconvenient questions to those who employ provocateurs and inciters of violence in the labor movement.
Mrs. Gartz does not approve of the title of this book. She wants to call it “Letters of Protest,” or something else which is dignified.
So I have stolen the book, and given it a title which I think will cause people to talk about it, and read it. It is my hope that this “parlor provocateur” may provoke many of her own class to think seriously about their duty under our present system of privilege.
TO KATE CRANE GARTZ
By M. C. S.
“Have mercy, God, upon the poor tonight!”
And shuddering, she drew the blind and crept
To where her softly nestled babies slept.
“Thank God that mine are safe!” She laid the bright
And down-filled covers close. The youngest sighed,
His cozy dream disturbed. She soothed with touch
And murmurings: “The wind is ice! How much
The poor are suffering! Some must have died!”
With pity that is swift and short they pray—
And leave the poor to God. In selfish peace,
Oh, hear the mothers of the sheltered say:
“What can we do?” But you! Maternal ease
Has not sufficed for you! Oh, wide and free
Your pity flows, a world-maternity!”
THE EVOLUTION OF A “PARLOR BOLSHEVIK”
As Revealed in Newspaper Headlines
(The following items are from newspapers of Chicago and Pasadena, the earliest dated 1896 and the latest 1922. Selected by M. C. S. from a family scrap-book.)
RECEPTION AT MRS. PALMER’S
Hostess to Entertain for Club Benefit
Club women are looking forward to a reception at the home of Mrs. Potter Palmer, in the Lake Shore Drive, next Thursday afternoon, from 3 to 5, and in the evening from 8 to 10 o’clock.
The patronesses and reception committee are:
Mesdames: Potter Palmer, Marshall Field, Jr., Cyrus H. McCormick, Harry Gordon Selfridge, Frank O. Lowden, Carter H. Harrison, K. C. Gartz, etc.
THE LATEST SOCIETY NEWS
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Gartz, the eldest daughter of Mr. R. T. Crane, gave a tea at her residence, 2641 Prairie Avenue.
There seemed to be innumerable teas up and down this particular avenue. However, Mrs. Gartz’ house was most beautifully lighted; one room in yellow, one in green and the dining-room all in crimson. Mrs. Gartz wore a black satin gown with a white, lacy waist and much jet about it. Miss Frances Crane wore lavender crepe. In the dining room Miss Parsells and Miss Emily Hutchinson poured tea and coffee.
It seems to be a late fad to have tall bunches of American beauty roses in the center of the table, and the particular bunch on this table reached away up and in among the bulbs of the electric lights. The several candies, cakes, punch, etc., were all of this beautiful crimson shade. Mrs. H. N. Hall was present, as was Mrs. Martin Ryerson, in a beautiful gray broadcloth trimmed with chinchilla. Mrs. Matz and also Mrs. Fred McNally were among the guests, etc.
CRANES RETURNING TO AMERICA
Other Chicagoans—for we claim our sons and daughters no matter how far they roam—who went to Oberammergau were the Richard Cranes 3d. They spent a few days in Paris on their way from Czecho-Slovakia before going to Germany. They had a most interesting sojourn in the Prague, where Mr. Crane was the official representative from this country to this young Slav republic. His father, the “traveling Crane,” as some wit calls him, or the “wandering Christian,” as another admirer dubs him, Charles R. Crane as you and I know him—was an old and devoted friend of the great Bohemian patriot, Masaryk, who, on the birth of the Czecho-Slovakian republic, was made its first president. In fact, Mr. Crane had given substantial aid to him in his struggle for the independence of his nation. So the appointment of young R. T. Crane was especially acceptable to the new president.
Prague, like every other city, was overcrowded, so the Cranes could find no suitable habitation. With the magnificence which generally marks the movements of this distinguished family they were not dismayed; they simply bought an ancient and well-known castle, Schoen-born, and fitted it up in a semi-royal style. Their successors were glad to get the castle, but having their own furniture, did not want that of the Cranes.
The latter therefore have packed it up and are shipping it to their new home in this country, the famous Virginia place, Westover. This lovely estate on the James River, they acquired while they were still in Prague by cabling Mr. Crane’s father, Charles R. Crane, who was then American minister in Peking, who cabled back, “Buy it.” Thereupon still another cable message accomplished the purchase. How much this hurrying world owes to Benjamin Franklin! The young Cranes and their child are returning to this country and will spend the summer months at the C. R. Crane place in Woods Hole, Mass., before settling down in “ole Virginny.”
California Papers Please Copy.
MUSICAL TEA AT ALTADENA
Mrs. K. C. Gartz was hostess at the largest social function of the day, a musical tea given this afternoon at her beautiful home on Mariposa Street and Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, etc.
RECEPTION AT VALLEY HUNT CLUB
Mrs. Belford and Mrs. Neff Entertain in Honor of Mrs. Gartz
The most noteworthy social function of the day and one of the most handsomely appointed of the season was the reception and afternoon tea at which Mrs. Helen Belford and Mrs. Edwin D. Neff of Altadena were hostesses this afternoon at the Valley Hunt Club when nearly three hundred guests were entertained in compliment to Mrs. Gartz, a charming woman who has recently taken up her residence in Altadena.
MRS. K. C. GARTZ GIVES TEA THIS AFTERNOON FOR HOUSE GUESTS
Mrs. K. C. Gartz was the hostess this afternoon at her handsome home on Santa Rosa and Santa Clara street, Altadena, in honor of her three sisters, who are visiting her, Mrs. Lillie of Chicago, Mrs. Russell of Lake Forest, and Mrs. Chadbourne of London, etc.
LONDON SOCIAL LEADER REVISITS FORMER HOME
Several interesting visitors in town and country, are helping to brighten up the social calendar and to make things generally more lively than they have been since the hot weather arrived.
One of these is Mrs. Emily Crane Chadbourne of London, a daughter of the late Richard T. Crane, who is at the Blackstone for a brief stay and who spent the last weekend in Lake Forest, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Edmund A. Russell.
Mrs. Chadbourne, a brilliant and charming woman, has of late years made a most important place for herself in London. Prior to the war her house in Mayfair was the gathering place for several groups of fashionables, notably those with a literary or artistic bent. All the great literary lions were to be found at her soirees and she entertained with great distinction. Naturally since there is no longer any social life in England, she turned her thoughts in other directions and like many another great London lady devoted herself to war relief work. She has been in Paris for several months.
SOCIETY NOTES
Mrs. K. C. Gartz and Mrs. F. C. Melton of Altadena have returned from a visit in San Francisco. They went North especially to attend the banquet given at the St. Francis last week in honor of Charles Crane, ambassador to China, and to bid Mr. Crane farewell at the time of his departure for the Orient. Mrs. Gartz is a sister of Mr. Crane.
QUITS THE HORSE SHOW
Herbert P. Crane, Exhibitor, Takes Prized Animals Away
All Herbert P. Crane’s string of fine animals entered at the horse show has been withdrawn and sent to his stables at St. Charles. It was shipped home yesterday, much to the disappointment of Mr. Crane’s friends and the management of the show. Mr. Crane, too, regretted he was compelled to take such action, but nearly all his horses are sick, he says, and rather than have anything serious happen to any of them he would miss a hundred chances of winning ribbons.
When it became known that the Crane horses had been withdrawn the report was started that the owner was disgusted because his tandem team had not got better than third Tuesday night. Mr. Crane emphatically denies this. He says his animals are not well, and, besides, are tired out. They have just come in from a five weeks’ circuit, including the Kansas City and St. Louis shows, and need a rest, he declare
s.
That Mr. Crane was disappointed with the decision Tuesday night, however, he admits. When he noticed how badly the other three teams and how well his animals behaved, sick though they are, he felt that .the event was his.
“If I couldn’t win the event Tuesday night,” he said, “I certainly couldn’t win any of the others. They were in fine form that night notwithstanding their illness. So why should I keep my horses here and risk their health by so doing?”
MOTION PICTURE IN WHICH PROMINENT ALTA-DENANS HAVE PARTS TO BE SHOWN HERE AT CLUB GATHERING
Invitations are issued today by the Altadena Country Club for the unique and most interesting motion picture play ever given in this section. The entertainment is to be given Thursday evening at the improvised theatre on the tennis courts-of the club grounds....Mr. and Mrs. Gartz gave cordial assent to the use of their grounds and have interesting places in the character cast, etc.
GIVE RECEPTION AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mrs. K. C. Gartz Is Guest of Honor at Afternoon Reception Yesterday
At the polytechnic elementary school yesterday afternoon there was a reception given by the faculty with the principal, Miss Virginia Pease, and the eighteen instructors all present.
The reception was given in honor of Mrs. K. C. Gartz, of Altadena, who has just given to the school the wherewithal to erect one of the most interesting buildings of this interesting place, etc.
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