Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-08-28
PRIVILEGES AND Policies.

An eminent educator suggests tha
Andrew Carnegie could make no better
use OF the wealth that he is striving to
give away faster than the men employed
in the acel industry can earn it for
him than to found u school Of pol.
itics.
The suggestion Is belated. When
MIR. Carnegie was n young man building
the foundation Of his fortune he per.
ceived the value Of contributing TO
a school OF politics. He contributed and
he contributed literally. 1t profted him
much.
MIR. Carnegie Is -capny." He was not
slow in recognizing that by donating
100000 to a Republican campaign fund.
to promote the cause of protection,
American labor would be greatly en-
c%ouraged. Tie greater the encourage
ment given to labor, the greater the
protits Of MIR. Carnegie.
Mr.. Carnegie's wealth increased and
his campaign contributions became
larger. He financed Republican cam
paigns, and i'll return was privileged to
write the steel schedules when the Re-
publican party resrondedto the demand
oil the people for a revision OF the
tariff.
For every dollar that Mr.. Carnegie de-
voted to his school Of politics. he was
in excessive profits.
Shortly before Mr.. Carnegie retired,
n 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 IN exaggera-
ton.
When Mr. Carnegie turnel his prop
critics over to the steel trust, it is under
stood he was given s300, 0Oo,CO in the
bonds Of the trust-a first lien upon its
nseets.
y large part Of the 5000, COO COO paid
MIR. Carnegie rel resented the value OF
the monopoly which the tariff gives the
steel industry.
In other words, Mr.. Carnegie was
paid a vast fortune for the privilege
which the tariff gives the steel industry
TO mulct the people.
Mr. Carnegie had paid for that priv
ilege. lie continues to profit from
il.
The interest that is paid on the steel
trust bonds held by him is largely the
fruit OF the privileges.
The Libraries, the phiIanthropies, the
castles i'll Scotland, the outpourings,
large and small, from the Cuiuegrc cof-
fers. are monuments to the Carnegie
school OF politics.
MIR. Carnegie is one % many, fife is
more conspicuous han other benefciar.
les OF privilege, but he is not alone in
enjoying its fruits.
The value OF privilege was early learn
ed by the ruling classes Of all n%ations.
1t solved the problem OF living on the
sweat OF other mems brows.
When William conquered England
he distributed among his retaincrs the
privilege Of collecting rent Tor the use
of the soil by the conquered.
The successors OF william we're keen
to discover other privileges that might
be granted 20 their favorites.
One noble lord was given the privilege
to collect "A tax upon every pound of
coal brought into London.
Even the water was taxed that II
court ~favorite might have a source OF
income.
Tho descendants Of these holders OF
privileges claimed them ia -vesled
rights" and the people OF London have
been mulcted to indemnify them.
Modern civilization, with its wonder.
ful mdus'r rial development, has greatly
enlarged lie possibilities OF priv.
lege.
The court iavoritc has been displaced
by the "captnius OF industry
Tho people, however, continue Ia pay
the tax-to carry the burden. Tho
methods are different, bnt the result ia
the same.
The holder Of privilege, wherever he
be found, whether il Jc the mar ut III,
toll gatc or the beneficiary OF II tariff
schedule, In commissioned to take fro N
the hand 0i labor the wealth II hrs
created. Milwaukee News.