The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-05
MONEY BLIND.

The possession of millions OF money
seems to warp otherwise sound minds when
questions come up affecting their especial
interests Even SO astute man as Coils Z.
Huntington declared that to be wise and
iudcious will which gave solid thirty
millions to a single individual. Probably
Mr.. Huntington's thoughts in the matter
did not 90 farther than to consider what
was best for the railroad company which
he represents. But a man who was not alb
sorhed as Mr. Huntington is in piling up
millions would have taken broader view
of the question. BE would have asked
himself if it is for the good of society that
vast sums of money should be concentrated
in a few hands. He would have consid-
cred the temptations such concentration of
wealth holds out to its possessors to control
legislation in their own Interest. He would
have taken look backward and reviewed
the effects Of snch legislation in cOmmuni-
ties with which he was familiar. When a
citizen of California INDUCES in such
retrospect he traces to the concentration of
wealth in the hands OF n few men, whose
interests ale Identical, the decentralization in
politics. which is the greatest blot upon the
history of this State. Why has California
no representative of influence in either
House of Congress? Because no man can
get into either house except with the con-
sent of the four owners of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. No man who was too
much of a man to receive instructions from
the inner office of that company can raise
his head in politics. The more prom
Using the man, the more stalwart his
manhood. the greater the exercise of
power to keep him down. California
has OF hands of
who by one means and another have OBJ
tanned possession of the natural channels
Of travel and used them solely for their own
enrichment. To obtain and retain control
of the railroad system Legislatures and
conventions have been debauched; political
bosses have been created and endowed with
power 10 select candidates from both parties,
and when United States Senator was TO be
elected there has been shameless use of
money with hardly a pretense Of conceal
ment Surely these people must be money
blind not to comprehend that there must be
a day of reckoning for such misuse of
power But apparently they do not look
farther than the day that is passing They
still seem to believe that they can control
the community by further concentrations of
wealth in the hands of three or four men.
The will which places a comparatively
young man In possession Of the millions a
former generation had acquired is declared
by the bead OF the company judicious and
wise. Why judiciOus and wiser Because
it continues the concentration of wealth IN
impaired. 1t postpOnes distribution for at
least one generation. II one person may
dispose by will Of $50, 600, 600 the successor
may dispose of S6o,OOO,00o or 500. 600, coo,
according to his ability to make money out
OF money, and the third generation may do
the same. a sum of money not drawn upon
for the ordinary expenses of living easily
trebles itself in lifetime. No one can
measure the effect of such transmission
of money. The money-blnd millionaires
should not delude themselves with the hope
that the people will much longer submit to
their Vaccinations.