The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-07-09

kN 1I regularly meets ON
MI Saturday evenings
in the rear room of
Lincolnyille's post
office. "One hundred thousand dollars
for flowers"
why shouldn't they spend their
money any way they want tor" de-
handed Jenkins, with defiant look at
Flanagan. It's their money, and
they have a right to do what they
want 10 with II. There's lot Of PEG
pie In this country that have an idea
that they should have something to
say as TO how rich people must spend
their money. And you are one OF them.
Flanagan. You don't know enough
about such subjects TO know that the
more money the rich spend the better
you are OF suppose they kept all
their money locked up and kept adding
TO IL, what would become of you? IL Il
wasn't for the extravaganza OF the
rich the poor would starve."
Il don't notice you squanderinS
much OF your enormous wealth" re-
torted Flanagan. The only way |
can get money IS by working for IT,
can't figure out how the extravaganza
OF those New York dudes adds one dol
lar TO my payroll"
"Of course you can't" said Jenkins
scOrnrully. Just because you do not
get IL directly you cannot understan nd
how you are better of You are not
the only man who works In this coun-
try. There are other jobs besides rail-
reading Look at the work that that
wedding made and the money that 1t
put Ia circulation, The flowers cost
$4,000. so they say. Well. that was a
good thing for the men who raise dow
ers FOR living wasn't it, For all
know or care the dresses cost another
100000 That's good thing for the
dressmakers, isn't f.? The presents
cost $4,000 That's good thing for
the jewellers, isn't il? In other words.
that wedding put more than half d mil
lion dollars into circulation where you
and l viii have a chance TO get some
Of It. Do you understand now. Elan
Ragan?" asked Postmaster jenkins
who was Modified by his own eio-
quence.
81 don't" said the brakeman stub
bornly 4 don't raise flowers or make
dresses or sell jewelry twist brake
for living, aud not one cent Of that
money Will come my way What do
you think about Il, colonel"
It's an involved question" said
Colonel Monroe after pause Our
friend Postmaster jenkins has sta ted
the popular view. which Is TO the effect
that the extra yagances of the rich are
a blessing 10 the community AZ large
by reason OF the fact that their II
eesses put idle money into general cir
culatlOn. Thousands Of papers, ed Ted
by intelligent men, and as many public
orators have recently expressed the
same views. can imagine no more
scathing indictment Of existing eondl-
tons OF society than an admission that
such a statement = true IL extrava-
gance, eGeesses and wastefulness have
become virtues, then Il Is talr to as
sumo that economy, temperance and
frugaity have become vices. / cannot
believe this. Il IS generally conceded
by political economists that there Is no
compensation for extravaganza. 1t
means an absolute loss either IN money
or in labor
But how do you refrte what the
postmaster claims FOR the florists,
dressmakers and Jewelers:" asked
Judge Sawyer. You surely must ad-
nit that they receive a direct benefit
from these eKtravagant expenditures
Mind you am not defending such eE-
cesses. but It seems 10 me thar certain
individuals are gamers in the process q"
40 subject IS Jess understood than
this one" explained Colonel Monroe
There Is a popular belief that the
spendthrift millionaire Is doing his full
duty 10 the community and that the
misery millionaire + a burden by rea
son Of the fact that he withholds his
money from circulation. That is your
idea, Is Il not. Jenkins %
Exactly" answered the postmaster.
The more rich man spends the bet
ter the working classes are on %
In other words, the more a man
costs the community In labor and serv-
Ice 10 administer 10 his comforts and
Injuries As better It Is for the com
munlty - suggested Colonel Monroe
jenkins looked doubtfllly hrst at
Judge Sawyer and then ~ the colonel.
but made no reply.
Lets see II can make this clear. -
unused Colonel Monroe We will take
two very wealthy men as examples.
We will call one 81 them Rockefeller
and the other we'll well call the other
Castelaue. Wen suppose that each
Of these men Is worth sjO0to0 90 and
that Rockefeller IL a man Of modest
personal habits aud that Castellans Ia