New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-18
PART II.
APRIL 18, 1892.
AMERICAN MILLIONAlRES.
A COMPLETE LIST OF THEM PREPARED BY
THE TRIBUNE.
IS THE TARIFF "EoBBER' TARIFF, AND DOES
IT CREATE "ROBBER BARoNSp'

is THE TAElFF "iSOllbEh' IAhif'' H-'D
IT CREATE "RoBBER BARoNsY'
Prom The Weekly Tribune.
The enemies of the protective system, for several
gears past, have been making the charge tlaV
protective tariff robs the people, and bulids up
class Of lordly manufacturers who become ehor-
mousy rich out of the money extorted by such
revenue system from the consumers oil gooos
here in the United States. They have been
stating, with constant reteratiOn, that, IL 1t was
not for this protective system here i'll the united
States property would be much more evenly DIS
trbuted among people, and that mllllonaires
and men who own colossal fortunes woul1 nc I'M
known in this country.
The statement is, no doubt, outrageousy false.
and men who establish and successfully manage
tie enormous manufacturing industries Of the
United States are not robbers The most of
them are benefactors of the working people, and
do more to furnish labor at good wages for the
toiing millions of the United States than any
other class Of citizens. The great bulk of the
money received by these is paid out for
wages, and for material which is produced
by the labor of other citizens.
The Tribune has repeatedly stated such TO be
its belief during the last two years. 1t has fire.
quenty stated that large majority of the large
fortunes of the United States have been made in
the pursuits of life which are in no way affected
by protective tariff.
1t is a simple method of stating that the very
rich men of this country have become rich by fol-
lowing business that is not in the slightest degree
either benefited or injured by tariff laws. Early
in 1891 The Tribune published short list or
wealthy men, taken from the columns OF Inc
World,' and pointed out the fact that not one IN
five of them had become wealthy through the pro-
tected industries. Soon after the publication OF
that article The Tribune resolved to ascertain as
nearly possible the exact facts OF TINS whoie
matter. 1t determined to try and secure an accu-
rate list Of the mllionaires of the United States.
This inquiry begun over year ago, and has
been carefully and diligently prosecuted up to the
present time. The list is nearly complete, and II
is proposed in short time to give 1t entire to the
readers of The Tribune. The undertaking has
been of great labor and very careful investi-
CATION, and while get such list that
will be absolutely correct, still enough is already
ascertaincd TO enable me to state with perfect
truthfulness that many of the notions SO preva-
lent among the people who always talking
about the rich barons and immense fortunes ac
cumulatcd by many American citizens are sim
ply wicked eXaggeratiOns.
II is only few days ago that The Tribune
published a letter from one of these modern advo-
Gates of calamity and distress, asking how it hap
pens that there $1,000 milionaires IN this
country. In reply 10 that question | stated that
/ did not know how many there were, but that
q careful examination would show that there are
by no means nearly many that number. The
list which has been prepared with so much care
is now so nearly complete that | am permitted 10
state that instead of there being 81 900 actual
milionaires in the United States there really
not 1000, and of those 2. 700 made their fortunes
in business not affectcI by the tariff. and the
dter 200 secured their. fortunes in part through
business which is aided by the tariff, and many
of them partly by otheri kinds Of employment.
When this list shall be completed, it will be
found that large majority of fortunes of the
rich men of this country have been made in the
mining Of silver and gold, in railroad transac-
TONS in dealings in bonds and stocks, in specula-
tons on Change, in patent medicines, In inven-
tions secured by patent rights. in the enormous
increase in the value Of real estate, by dealing in
groceries and dry goods and other merchandise by
foreign commerce and by various other occupations
which depend in no way for their success
upon tariff laws except as the tariff has
duced 50 largely TO the general prosperity Of all
kinds Of business in the United States
Very few of the men who have become con-
spicuous in the United States during the last thirty
years as jursts in the pulpit, at the bar in litera
ture or In Journalism, have shown any great
pacity for Inoney-malsing. To manage great bust
ness affairs and 10 run our great corporate en-
terpT1SeS, requires HIgH OIucI vi uNHcCt' Anu
vet the men Of lasting fame produced here IN
the United States Of America have, few of them
been men of wealth. We hear very much nova
DAYS about how many places of position and
power are secured by the use Of gold. Such has
been. no doubt, too often the case but aS q rule
such men have done little in shaping the history
OF this country. Most of the men whom the
people have come to love in this generation have
died comparatively poor. Only think of the list
ton. Webster and Clay. The list among the men
Of letters would be equally significant. But
am depressing. / only aimed in this short aru-
Gle to announce 10 the readers Of The lrpuho
that such list is being prepared and VIII appear
in the columns of The Tribune within fe"
weeks. When that list shall be completed ana
properly classified, | shall hope 10
analyze it and draw from it lessons
Of great value Enough is already
known TO show that the statements
constantly made by the frec-traders that most oil
the fortunes Of the United States have been MADE
by tariff robbers is absolutely false This stale
ment is only one of the many falsehoods manu-
featured and retailed by the members OF the
Golden Club and their American allies TO Drlhg
into dsepute the protective system.
The Tribune started in on this work to get az
Us nearly as possible the bottom facts. The work
has been very labOrious, but tho result is already
so nearly determined that | am now able TO stare
in advance Of the full list that another pet HOBBY
of these tariff refonners will be utterly ruined
nv the facts r. G.. HORR