The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-03-19
COLOSSAL WEALTH.
Millions Held by the Few Said
to Threaten Prosperity.

Millions Held by the Few Said
to Threaten Prosperity.
Men Who Operate the Trusts by Con-
soIidations the Combines are Doing
Away With Competition, Except Be.
tween Wage Farmers.
London Mail.
When the United States abolished
slavery they did not do away with
the slave driving instinct of their
people. For years the shareholders
had stolen the result of the labor
which their slaves did. It was such
pleasant, easy way Of getting
wealth that the recollection of it is q
relish in the months of the coVetous.
The slave drivers of today in
America are the millionaires and the
men who operate the trusts. They
are the fattening ogres whom the
people will have to destroy or be de-
stroyed by. They are the Simon
Legress of the hour. They operate
within the law, for they make the
law.
The American people have some
pet phrases with which they like to
describe England. They say it is
feudal, king-ridden, helpless tool of
the aristocracy, and that sort OF
thing. They do not see the beam in
their own eye.
The United States is millionaire
ridden.
The millionaires start and operate
universities, discharging professors
who teach economic doctrines of
which they disapprove. The million
aires operate the legislatures. and in
some cases the courts. They run
congress, and they are quartered in
the White House at Washington,
where the President, whom they
elected, does their bidding.
Every year greater percentage of
the wealth of America goes into the
pockets of the millionaries. It is a
fact that the second million is more
easily made than the first, third than
the second, and so on. By the force
of attraction, dollar naturally graV-
itstes toward the largest pile.
The Rockfellers, who control the
Standard Oil Company are ab-
sorbing the wealth of America at an
enormous rate. With the wealth
come political power and social pow
er. Social prestige is obtained with
startling rapidity. Thirty years
ago the Vanderbilts had no social
position in New York, and their
chances of ever getting any were
looked upon as poor. In few short
years they have bought social
prestige-sant round the corner for
it as one sends to the grocer's.
This is stated not from any oppo-
sition to the Vanderbilts, but to make
the point that what they can buy
any one else can buy. If money can
be exchanged for anything on earth,
it is natural that it should be morein
demand than anything on earth. If
it will purchase disregard by the
people of how it was obtained, what
matters it how it was obtained?
By consultations the American
trusts are gradually doing away with
every competition, except that be-
tween men who want jobs. The
result of this, of course, must be
raising in price of the commodities
and lowering of the wages. What
has prevented both these things be-
ing done in excess has been the force
of public opinion. Sugar, coal, meat
and other necessities which have been
cornered by the trust have risen in
price through artificial reasons to an
extent that has put extra millions in
TO the pockets of those who control
them and who have so much property
already that they suffer from a sort
of financial indigestion.
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