Topic 34 
MONEY GRUBBERS

I FIND I can work best with those people in whom the money sense is not too highly developed," said Colonel Roosevelt one afternoon in the course of a chat on the veranda at Sagamore Hill.  He had just come in from a tramp about the estate and he was in a speculative mood.  ,

"With the Irishman in whom as a whole it is lacking rather than with the Jew in whom as a rule the money sense is dominant, I get the best results," said he.  "Of course there are exceptions on both sides! — Blank (naming a well known New Yorker) is pure Irish and as keen after money as any man I ever knew, while Oscar Straus, a pure Jew, has the money sense as little developed as is possible in any man — and I would treat every man as an individual.

"The weakness of the Jew, however, is in his lack of national spirit.  I do not like that any more than I like the Ultramontanes among the Catholics, among whom are some of the friends I think most of.  Archbishop John Ireland — what a magnificent American he is! Take Mgr.  Cassidy — a bully fellow.

"Do you know that I often find the impulsive Irishman, who may be depended upon to throw all caution to the winds when he is speaking for himself, more than likely to be the most cautious of men when speaking for or advising another? Why? I presume it is largely due to his delight in tearing an opponent to pieces and his habit of always being on the alert for an opening in the armor of another.  Advising you, he is apt to put himself in an opponent's place and do what an opponent would do — pick holes in your argument.  It is, I presume, one expression of Irish wit, which, after all, is mental alertness."

"Why," I asked, "do you think this type of Irishman fails to exercise this caution in his own affairs? "

"Partly because no man can appraise his own words at exactly the value others may place on them, and partly to the Irishman's proverbial disregard of personal danger.  He is, I have found, as careful of his friends as he is reckless of himself.  It is a manifestation of his loyalty.

Take dear old Joe Murray as an example.  Joe is frankness itself when it comes to speaking for1 himself, in voicing his own opinion.  But he's never got over the fear that I, in my rashness, may say something that may injure me.  More than once I know I have caused him worry.  He's been as worried in my later campaigns as he was when he started me in politics, by having me nominated for the Assembly.  You know that he called my personal canvass off because he thought I was too rash in telling a liquor dealer he was not paying taxes enough? He's always been fearful of like outbreaks.

"Old Joe lacks the money sense.  I can understand that.  But I am frank to confess I cannot understand the man who, having enough for all his needs and those of his family, pursues more money for the mere sake of piling it up.

"Mind you, I am not referring now to the man who, in work that benefits a whole community, acquires a great fortune incidental to his service to the community.  With that type of man, money is not all important — it is not the goal — and he is entitled to what may fairly come to him.  Such men are necessary in great industries — are a natural byproduct, so to speak, of productive industry.

"The man I refer to is the man who piirsues money for the sake of piling it up — the money grubber.  For the life of me, I cannot understand what he wants more than enough for.  Of course I understand that with this type getting money is a game to be played like chess, but what I do not understand is his mental processes.

" Money per se has never meant anything to me.  I have never had so much that I did not have to work, and usually I have had to consider carefully and plan my outlays.  Otherwise I would have become bank rupt.  But I have always had all I needed for real comfort for myself and my family in the modest style we would have preferred to live had we the wealth of Croesus.

"In more recent years I have had a comfortable surplus, but it has meant very little to me except for what we may have been able to do with it.

"Mind you, I do not undervalue money and I am not talking against thrift.  What I mean is that the really wise person is he who tries to see money in its real perspective.  The young man who is careful and thrifty — not miserly, but thrifty — makes the best citizen.  Conversely, the man with a lot more money than he needs who spends it in lavish display is not a good citizen, though he may think he is.  His example to others, not so wealthy as he, is bad; his influence upon others is bad.

" It all comes down to the question of service.  The man with money, in an industry producing wealth and enriching the community, is doing real service.  The man who having money devotes himself to public service, not necessarily politics, because he is free from the need of earning a living, is a good citizen.  His money is a blessing to him and a service to the community.

"But the money grubber — I do not understand him, and I am sorry for him.  I 'm Pharisee enough to rejoice that I am not as he is."