The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-02
DISTRIBUTION or WEALTH.
Confined FROM First PnHeD

C1c space occupied ~ the mlOQle
class in both of the above diagrams
would so expand as tu-occupy almost
all the srace in eacbdiagram: Then
we would hear very little complaint
Of bad debts, poor collections and pau
profession would remain practically
the same, for all the people, rich, mid
die class and poor, demand the SER
vices Of the physician. So, while the
physicians work would remain the
same, his patrons not only would be
able to pay him, out also be able to
command good hygienic conditions
and carry out all the directions of the
physician. resulting in much more
gratifying success ia every physicians
practice, both from a financial and
medical point of view. Now, look once
more at the above diagrams and
imagine what they should be. The
above portrayed condition suggests a
suspicion that our so-called states
men have been Quacks. Ii medical
man would do as bungling work, and
show results as bad, he would certain
ly be considered quack. A large per
cent OF the population OF the most
productive country in the world is re-
duced to want. Physicians must
study social questions.
My medic Il brothers, does the above
presentation interest you? l might
as we'll ask you if you care anything
about making living for yourself
and families. The fact is, we must
care, and we have right to do So l
am In a position to know that the
medical profession is not making as
much money as it ought. The doc
tors earn enough money, but they do
not get 1t. The above diagrams show
why. Look at the last pair of dia-
grams. How much OF your practice
comes from the one per cent, and
look at the wealth they control-over
half the wealth of the country! You
don't get much Of it for your services,
do you? Many Of these people live
abroad, and draw upon our resources
for their eXtravagant expenditures
When they get sick abroad what good
does it do US? Yet we have to minis
ter to the poor here all the time
made poor by the unjust conditions
that give so much property to a few.
DO you see our position in the matter?
Aren't you getting a little tired of it?
Our chief income comes from the mid
die class; yet see by all the above dia
grams how small a part Of the popula
tion the middle class comprises. II
right conditions prevailed nearly all
would belong to this class. Then
how the doctor would prosper. They
would not have to work any harder
than they do now-tf1ey would not
earn any more money than they do
now, but they would get what they
earn. And, as the patients would be
able to obtain the comforts of life and
the necessary medicine and appliances
during sickness, we Would get much
better therape utica1if3Su than are
possible now 139
Mr.. Pomeroy proceeds as follows:
"Noah Webster. one ,Uf the fathers
Of the republic, wrote oyer a century
ago: An equal distribution Of prop
erty is the foundation of the repub-
lic::' and later, his nanaesake, Daniel
Webster, said: Liberty can not long
endure in a country where the ten
dency is to concentrate wealth in the
hands Of the few Such is the test-
mODy Of the wisest of mankind from
the days of the Mosaic law down
through the Grecian aud Roman law
giverS to the thinkers Of modern
times Such is the lesson of history,
emphasized in the downfall of Egypt,
when two per cent Of its people own
NO tlIuCuJ -SCNCu DCi NCHU VI luS WCdlUl,
of Persia, when one per cent owned
all the land: of Blbylon. when two per
cent owned all the wealth; of Greece
and Of Rome, when 1900 persons owned
the then known world: emphasized in
the sack of Consta tinople, in the
slow drying up Of SPANS magnificent
empire, in the lurid fires of the
French Revolution.
''How will you remedy this concen-
tration: This question is put bitter
ly, repeatedly. vehemently. 1t de-
mandS an answer, and wee to modern
society If it does not answer. The
Sphinx destroyed every one who could
not or would not answer her question.
History has done the same with every
nation that did not answer this cues
ton.
THE causes which have permitted
and produced such enormous fortunes
should be stopped. They are class
legislation, indirect and inequitable
taxation, and special and monopoly
privilege. But the removal of the
causes will not remedy the present
evil.
"Can the money be taken justly and
equitably from its present owners? A
certain very wise Hebrew, some near
~ Two CnOuSanu years ago, spoke
parable about tares being soWn in a
field Of wheat. He advised the hus-
bandman not to pluck them up when
growing, lest the wheat also be pulled
up with the tares, but to let all wait
till the harvest. There is only one
remedy for the present condition,
which is to take the property when it
has no owner, its former owner being
dead This will gradually, but surely,
produce a more uniform distribution
of wealth, kill the vain ostentation
of enormous riches. check improper
and harmful power, and help to re
move the discomfort now fostering SO
sorely in our fertile land
Then follows an able argument for
National Graduated Inheritance
Tax, from both a legal and histori-
cal standpoint. Such tax is both le-
gally and ethically just; other coun-
tries have it; in Queensland, Aus
tralia, it goes as highi as 20 per cent.
In the case of some of our multi-mil-
lionaire fortunes, it shbuld go as high
as 80 per cent. This would divide up
the immense fortun4sL that threaten
us most, and in few generations mil
lionaires would become scare.
Prof. N. D. Flores, of San Diego,
Cal, with his wife, arg on the stump
as volunteers for the Populist cause.