The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-23

LincOlnville's post
office. One hundred thousand dollars
for flowers
why shouldn't they spend their
money any way they want to-" de-
manded Jenkins, with a defiant look at
Flanagan. ITS their money. and
they have a right to do what they
want to with it. There's lot of peo-
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 off. Suppose they kept all
their money locked up and kept adding
to it, what would become of you? If it
wasn't for the extravaganza of the
rich the poor would starYe."
Il don't notice you squandering
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
scornfully. Just because you do not
get it directly you cannot understand
how you are better off. 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 it
put in circulation. The flowers cost
100000, so they say. Well, that was a
good thing for the men who raise flow
ers for living, wasn't it? For all
know or care the dresses cost another
100000. That's a good thing for the
ldressmakers, isn't it? The presents
cost $250.00O. That's a good thing for
the jewelers., isn't it? In other words,
that wedding put more than half a mil
lion dollars into circulation where you
and l will have a chance to get some
Of it. Do you understand now, Elan
naganw asked Postmaster Jenkins,
who was Modified by his own elo-
quence.
81 don't" said the brakeman stub
bornly. Il don't raise flowers or make
dresses or sell jeweIry. twist brake
for a living, and not one cent of that
money will come my way. What do
you think about it, colonel?"
ITS an involved question" said
Colonel Monroe after a pause. "Our
friend Postmaster jenkins has stated
the popular view, which is to the effect
that the eXtravagances of the rich are
by reason of the fact that their ex
cesses put idle money into general cir
culation. Thousands of papers, edited
by intelligent men, and as many public
orators have recently expressed the
same views. l can imagine no more
scathing indictment of existing condi-
tons of society than an admission that
such a statement is true. If extrava-
gance, excuses and wastefulness have
become virtues, then it Is fair to as
sumo that economy, temperance and
frugality have become vices. l cannot
believe this. 1t 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 refute what the
postmaster claims for the florists,
dressmakers and jewelers?" asked
Judge Sawyer. you surely must ad-
init that they receive a direct benefit
from these extravaganza expenditures.
Mind you, l am not defending such eX-
cesSes, but it seems to me that certain
individuals are gamers in the process"
mo subject is less understood than
this one," explained Colonel Monroe
"There is 4 popular belief that the
spendthrift millionaire is doing his full
duty to the community and that the
misery millionaire is burden by rea-
son of the fact that he withholds his
money from circulation. That is your
idea, is it not, Jenkins?"
/ Exactly" answered the postmaster.
''The more a rich man spends the bet
ter the working classes are off,
I'm other words, the more a man
eosts the community in labor and serv-
ice to administer to his comforts and
luxuries the better it is for the COM
munity?" suggested Colonel Monroe.
jenkins looked doubtfully first at
Judge Sawyer and then at the colonel.
but made no reply.
: Lets see if l can make this clear"
unused Colonel Monroe. 1--WE will take
two very wealthy men as examples.
We will call one of them Rockefeller
and the other-well, We'll call the other
Castellane. Well suppose that each
of these men is worth $500,000,000 and
that Rockefeller is a man of modest
personal habits and that Castellane is
the reverse. Rockefeller is content to
live in a fairly good modern house and
employs four servants. His expenses
are $4,000 year. Castellane lives in
a number of palaces, retains an army
of servants and expends $1,000,000 a
year in receptions, entertainments and
Injuries. When the Rockefeller daugh.