Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-19
THE AMERICAN PLUTOCRACY Congressman Towards SenSa-
 tiOnaI Book Ready. LABOR CALLED TO BATTLE Millionaires, Corporations Trusts and Gold bugs Assaed From Grover to the
 HumbleSt Cuckoo.

The long-threatened book of Congress man M. w. Howard of Alabama will be given to the public this week. "The American Plutocracy" is the title of the book. It will be issued by a New York publishing house, and the New York World thus notices it:
 The book will unquestionably create a sensation, particularly among some of our richest and most influential men, whom the author denounces bitterly. No one is spared, from Grover Cleveland down to John D. Rockefeller. The work may also be looked upon as expressing the latest opinions and views of the so- cialists. and particularly of the populists, of which party the author is an acknowl- edged leader.
 M w. Howard was born in 1862 at Rome Ga. He grew to manhood on a farm where he filled very humble po- sition He educated himself during h1s hours of leisure. He studied law, and at 19 he had graduated and begun to prac- tice at Fort Payne, Ala In 1894 he was elected to congress from the Seventh Ala bama district
 MT. Howard declares himself to be a re- former, to be entirely independent of party politics and to be in congress the champion of the American constitution and of American freedom. At the opening of his book he apostrophizes Lincoln thus:
 "Ah, noble patriot, Americas great commoner divinely appointed and di- vinely inspired, today we are living in the epoch which thy prophetic soul foresaw. We are entering the sombre shadows Of doom and impending dissolution which thou didst predict would hover over the nation, and unless God speedily raises up from the ranks of the common people a leader with thy greatness of intellect. thy goodness of heart and grandeur or soul. the people from whose ranks thou didst spring and whom thou didst love, even in thy years of glory, will De Tn a bondage far more oppressive more gall ing and cruel, than were the poor black men for whom thy great heart did bleed.
 Mir Howard in physique is almost a giant His face Is almost classic in it's lines and he has great width or brow, crowned by mass of brown, unkept hair He is always dressed plainly, even to the point of shabbiness. In his wide brimmed, black sombrero, black tie and ill-fittng frock coat, he looks just what he is--a countryman, an enthusiast, all most a fanatic.
 MT. Howard went to Washington with two fixed determinations in his head first, to fight the trusts in the name of the people; second, to impeach President Cleveland on charge of conniving at and countenancing the trusts. The bill 10 impeach Cleveland he expects to in- troduce this session.
 He dedicates his book "to the toiling masses of America. to all who love free dom, to all who oppose plutocracy, to all who favor a government of the peo- pie. for the people and by the people"
 The work is divided into eighteen chap ters, entitled respectively as follows: ''The Rise of Plutocracy," "The Money Power" Plutocracy vs. Democracy" rI,a T,atl nf "The Hermitage of Death" "The Sound Money Fanatic" Modern Brigands' ' "Easter Morning" "Blind Followers D '"rhe Impregnable Intrenchment," "Slav- cry" "The Canker Worm' Not Charity, but Justice" '"rhe Twelve Apostles of Wealth." "How Plutocracy Enslaves," "Prnces and Paupers," "The People Tri- umphant."
 An Army of Millionaires.
 MT. Howard declares that the masses are growing poorer every year. while the rich people grow richer. Today" he says, "there are in the city of New York 1157 individulas and estates worth $1, ,0O0,- 900 each. There are in Brooklyn 162 in dividuals and estates worth at least $1.0000O0 In the two cities there are, therefore, 1919 millionaires But many of these are worth q great deal more than $1, ,000, ,000. For instance John D. Rocke- feller is worth 125.000,0 900; William Wal uOfI AStOr, AlzU,OOU,UUU, Jay GOulQ eS- tate, $100O00000; Russell Sage, $9O, O0O, 900; i; Cornelius Vanderbilt. $80, ,000, 900. It Is es- timated that there are now in this coun- try $500 millionaires
 Let 1t be understood" continues the author, that where one of these men ac- cumulates his ten, twenty or hundred million dollars he does so not by his own labor in producing the wealth. but by some legalized method of robbery by which he steals what others have earned
 This organized band of plutoerats has managed to control legislation and to get possession of every avenue of com merce and trade and crush the life out of competition and opposition, and now plutocracy reigns supreme. From 1860 to 1890 this country accumulated $100, ,000. .000, ,000-enough to secure a com petence for every man, woman and child in all the land; enough to provide a com fortable home for every family; enough to educate every child. clothe every half naked little body
 'Where Is this wealth today? Where have gone the earnings of almost TO- OOO.- 900 people? Half of 1t into the coffers of 25,000 men. Eighty per cent into the cof- fers of 250.000. Prior to the fall of the Roman empire the entire wealth was in the hands of 1900 men. How long will it be- if the present ratio of gain be main tained. ere few hundred men will own