The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-06
Cranks Trouble oould.

The cranks don't get anything from Jay
Gould, but they cause him a good deal of
annoyance. They have ell sorts of schemes
for making money, and they want Mr..
Gould TO provide the money for launching
them. They are willing for him TO have a
share Of the profits. The most of these
cranks are harmless, but now and then one
makes his appearance who is dangerous. A
few years ago Mr.. Gould was not alarmed
by these cranks. He avoided them when
ever he could, but when they succeeded in
getting into his private Office he managed to
get rid OF them without much
trouble. Now. however, they make
him nervous He never permits one of
them to see him, anG when it is known that
there is one at his office he remains at home.
He doesn't want to have such an experience
as Russell Sage had, and he doesn't intend
to.
Wednesday a crank from Millville, n. j.,
named Ephraim Pine, appeared at his office
quite early In the morning. Mr. Gould's
clerk telephoned to his residence that
New Jersey crank was waiting co see him,
and he decided to stay at home. George
Gould, however, went TO the Office, but
he declined to allow the crank to have
an interview with him. The crank carried a
carpet sack much like the one that Norcross
carried into the office of Russell Sage, and
it called to his mind visions of dynamite.
One of Mr., Gould's clerks had talk with
the Millville man and found out that he
wanted 81 500, 900 from Mr.. Gould in order
to buy the lower part of New Jersey and
establish a number of factories and build
three or four railroads. He declared that
he could make a vast amount of money for
Mr.. Gould and himself. When he found
out that the prospect of seeing Mr.. Gould
that day, or any other day, was not promis-
ing he gathered up his carpet bag and
started back to Millville.
1t is evident that the number of crauks is
increasing greatly. a dozen years ago only
now and then one was heard Of. Almost
any day now the papers contain an account
Of at least one in New York or some other
large city.
The curious thing in connection with
these cranks Is the fact that they all want
to be millionaires without much delay.
This shows that the large fortunes which
have been accumulated since the civil war
have had a bad effect upon the people. They
have made the poor dissatisfied with their
| condition. Vast wealth in few hands has
| filed their minds during their working
| hours with impossible schemes for making
great fortunes. The minds OF the majority
of them are not seriously injured by these
Visions but those of a few become unset
tied. Some become so crazy that they have
to be confined in asylums, while others be-
come what are known as cranks. There is
no doubt that the millionaires are indirectly
responsible for the existence of most of the
cranks, and, therefore, it seems only right
that they should be annoyed by them, if
anybody is to be. 1t is to be regretted, of
course, that there are any cranks. and it
would be better if some way could be found
for relieving society of them, but as long as
they are permitted to be at large it seems
but just that the rich, who, to a great ex-
tent, can avoid them, rather than the poor,
should be the subjects of their attack.