The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-02
Circulation Statement.
The Prosperity of The Few.


Today. the first business day of the
twentieth century. will be marked by the
payment of interest and dividends by the
great financial and industrial corporations
of the country, and a sum aggregating
one hundred and seventy-ffve million dol
lars will be disbursed. The sum total is
the largest ever paid out on one day in any
country or in any time. 1t exceeds by
ten million dollars the hitherto unprece-
denied figures of 1900, and is the most
striking evidence of Americas wealth.
producing power that has ever been
brought forward.
But the important fact does not appear
on the surface. That fact is that while
eighty-six million dollars is divided be-
tween six million savings bank depositoTs
eghty-nine million dollars goes to about
four thousand individuals. In other words
the frugality, self denial. and thrift OF
six millions of toiiers will be rewarded
by less than is given to few thousand
who hold blocks of stock in protected
monopolies and subsidized corporations.
The average share of the savings bank
depositors is about fourteen dollars and
fifty cents apiece. The dividends received
by this oligarchy of four thousand will
range from five thousand dollars to
Roekefeller's enormous rake-of, which
must be computed in millions.
What more stunning proof of the cen
tralization of wealth could be adduced?
The contrast is sharp. but it is fair
one. The line is drawn, not between the
INDECENT, incompetent poor and the plu-
tocrats, but between the sober indus
trious. frugal neutrality-suspicious. and these
who gather the fruits of their toll. The
starving, anaeInic tenement dweller, the
tramp. the spendthrift, the man who viii
not work, and the man who will not save,
all these are eliminated. and yet the
many, by carefully hcarding their earn
ings. are not able to balance the unearned
increment Of the few.
The figures given above are not garbled
campaign compilations. prepared with
to engendering class prejudice or
me poor against the rich. They
lily gathered estimates of
'-dustrial corporations
for the purpose
OF 5Ho -osperity of
She Lul. ear9aet they
i1u utterly. T-a rate that the
Repu.iis has great potential y pros
perity. Th,y show Ja1f SIC have & wealth.
producing capa-i. tlat Is slualed by
any nation on the l.. OF fr aarth But
still they fall short OIL Fishing the
fact which they were intenued to prove.
Wealth and prosperity are Synonymous
only when wealth is distributed equally
OF all the problems which the TWEEN
tieth century will have to face this one
of the Capitalization of wealth is the most
serious. 1t is a question to be approach
ed by all with thoughtful consideration
Some Observers profess TO regard it with
comDlacency and say that it will right
itself, that trust will fight trust, monop-
oily fight monopoly. and that legitimate
competition will be restored. There is
little to warrant this optimism. So long
as there is party in power that persists
in enacting class legislation. making
trusts possible and giving subsidies to
corporal tons already rich the trend to-
ward the Capitalization Of wealth will
continue unchecked.