The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-01-02
Brieandaee Of the rust.

BrtganuaEe OF the LEuEts-
From the kansas City Star.
The Methodist church has received a
CONSTITUTION Of 100000 from a "mys-
terious source. It is limited that the
''benefaction" came from John D.
Rockefeller, the multi millionaire. This
theory is plausible. Rockefeller and his
fellow stockholders in the STANDARD Oil
company recently raised the price Of
their commodity one cent per gallon. an
advance that means an increase in their
net earnings Of about s16,OOOOOO in one
year. As Rockefeller is the chief owner
il the STANDARD Oil stocks his individu-
al profits viii represent a very large
portion of this gain.
And whence come these additional
riches for those already possessed OF
vastly more of this worlds goods than
they know how to use for the worlds
good2 From the consumers Of oil; from
those who use the earth's fluid for light
and fdel; from many who are obliged to
resort 60 oil because Of the excessive
price and scarcity Of coal; from many
who are poor and oppressed. Yet the
Standard Oil company is held up as a
good t1ust for the reason that the retail
price OF oil is less than it was before the
oil trust was formed. This cOmpany's
stocks range around $500 per share. a
price that is within itself a standing
monument to the greed Of the stock
holders, for it represents the system Of
brigandage that Is carried on continual
ly at the expense Of the consumers. 1t
matters not in principle what saving
there has been in the cost of production
as a result of consolidation so long as
the people are not given an equitable
share IN that saving. The profits of the
company for the past year were 45 per
cent dividends on their capital and con-
sidering the amount of watering that
this capital has already undergone the
Lord only knows-if He keeps track of
the greedy pillagers-what the profits
would be on the actual investment.
1t should be remembered too that the
oil interests are only a part Of Rookie
feller's sources OfincOme. He is inter
ested largely in railroads and is the
chief financial hacker Of the sugar trust
the latter an institution that has pre-
vented the congress of the United States
from redeeming the pledges to Cuba.
Yet in spite of the lust for money the
feverish intoxication of wealth for
wealth's sake Rockefeller seems to have
feeble inverted conscience and when
he appropriates additional millions be
usually gives a small portion to some
church or educational institution. Al
most Immediately after the last Stand
ard Oil hold up ne gave another million
to the Chicago university to which be
had already given something like a doz
en- millions.
The monstrous greed of the trusts OF
which Rockefeller Is at present the CHIEF
exponent would be more tolsrabIe if
this Unsuitable capitalist" was not con.
tinually posing as a philanthropist and
a truly good man; if he were not by his
contributions, demoralizing men and
moral standards; if he were not so gen
orally accepted by the recipients of his
guerdons at his own estimation of him
self.
The impositions Of the trusts are the
most monstrous crime of the time. The
men who have by governing nationa
legislation secured gross advantages
over the people as a whole are the worst
enemies of the social and material life Of
the country. If the people cannot
through the slow process of political ed
ucation effect the reforms that are need
ed through their representatives in con
gress the churches and the educationa
Institutions at least can refuse the offer
eriDgs that come from the brigand trusts
If the excessively rich are honest II
their desire to distribute their super
flous wealth let them show their honesty
BY making reasonable concessions t,
the consumers Of their products and t,
the workmen who help to make theil
fortunes. 1t is time that other forms Of
distribution we're resented. The sell
respect OF the American public demands
that there shall be an end of the hypo
critical sttitudinizing of the merciless
extortionists.