Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-08-31
CARNEGIE GIFTS
POLITICS AND SPECIAL PRlW-
LEGES. BUSINESS MATTER.
The Milwaukee News on the Subject Of
Casting Your Bread Upon the Waters. -
Captains Of Industry Have Replaced the
Court Favorites.

An eminent educator suggests that An
drew Carnegie could make no better use
OF the wealth that he is striving to give
away faster than the men employed in
the steel industry can earn it for him
than to found school OF prlitics.
The suggestion is belated. When Mr..
Carnegie was young man building the
foundation OF his fortune he perceived
the valne Of contributing to a school OF
politics. He contributed. and he con.
tributed literally. 1t profited him much.
Mr.. Carnegie is "canny." He was not
slow in recognizing that by donating
800, 900 to a republican campaign fund,
to promote the cause Of protection, Ameri.
can labor would be greatly encouraged.
The greater the encouragement given to
labor, the greater the profits Of Mr..
Carnegie.
Mr.. Carnegie's wealth increased and
his campaign contributions became larger.
He financed republican campaigns, and
in return was privileged to write the
steel schedules when the republican
party responded to the demand Of the
people for a revision OF the tariff.
For every dollar that Mr.. Carnegie de-
voted to his school OF politics, he was
pc rmitted to extort from the public 500
in excessive profits.
Shortly before Mr.. Carnegie retired,
one of his partners swore that the Car
negie steel mills were paying annual
profits double the actual cost OF the
plants. 1t may have been an exaggera.
ton.
When Mr.. Carnegie turned his proper
ties over to the steel trust, it is understood
he was given $500, OOO, 900 in the bonds Of
the trust-a first lien upon its assets.
A large part Of the $500, 1000, 900 paid
Mr.. Carnegie represented the value OF
the monopoly which the tariff gives the
steel industry.
In other words, Mr.. Carnegie was paid
vast fortune for the privilege which the
tariff gives the steel industry to mulct
the people.
Mr.. Carnegie had paid for that privi-
lege. He continues to profit from it.
The interest that is paid on the steel
trust bonds held by him is largely the
fruit OF the privilege.
The libraries, the philanthropies, the
castles in Scotland, the outpourings. large
and small, from the Carnegie Golfers, are
monuments to the Carnegie school Of
politics.
Mr.. Carnegie is one OF many. He is
more conspicuous than other benefciaries
Of privilege, but he is not alone in enjoy
ing its fruits.
The value Of privilege was early learned
by the ruling classes of all nations. 1t
solved the problem OF living on the sweat
of other mems brows.
When William conquered England he
distributed among his retainers the priv.
lege OF collecting rent for the use OF the
soil by the conquered.
The successors Of William were keen to
discover other privileges that might be
granted to their favorites.
One noble lord was given the privilege
to collect tax upon every pound OF coal
brought into London.
Even the water was taxed that court
favorite might have source Of income.
The descendants of these holders OF
privileges claimed them as "vested
rights" and the people of London have
been mulcted to indemnify them.
Modern civilization. with its wonderful
industrial development, has greatly en-.
larged the possibilities OF privilege.
The court favorite has been displaced
by the Captains Of industry"
The people, however, continue to pay
the tax-to carry the burden. The
methods are different, but the result is
the same.
The holder Of privilege, wherever he
be found, whethe: it be the man at the
toll gate or the beneficiary of tariff
schedule, is commissioned to take from
the hand of labor the wealth it has ere.
ated,-Milwauke News.