Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-06

all those forms of investment known
as personal property inevitably tend to
dissolution and redistribution in the
generations following that Of the orig
fnal accumulator; and that landed es-
tates, held with constant accretions IN !
the same family, generation after gen.
GRAFTON, through such devices as that
OF self perpetuating corporation,
tend to establish landlord and ten
| ant" system wholly antagonistic TO
the genius of the American republic.
| This subject of tie accumulation OF
wealth one may say has come upon
this nation suddenly. The great for
tunes that are known to exist In the
hands of different men and different
estates have been OF comparatively
recent production. 1t is not strange
then, that there Is much discussion
as to what the future Of the nation is
to be with them in existence, and what
shall be the nature of the fortunes and
estates themselves.
| 1t has become so prominent in the
discussion of affairs that President
Roosevelt took it up in one Of his COM
munications of the last year. 1t was
his suggestion that there be maxi
mum fixed on the amount that would
be inherited by tie relatives of the ac-
cumulator of the fortune when he died.
This. it was believed, would be lawful,
in that it took from no man that
which belonged to him, for law, and
law only determines the inheritance.
II the statute says that when a man
dies certain portion of his estate
goes to the state, then property Is
taken from no man, because by the ac-
ton of the law the state is the heir.
/ But the danger in large fortunes, ac-
cumulated or inherited, Is taken up by
other writer's from other viewpoints.
! An article, the author not given, re-
Gently appeared in the North Ameri-
can Review, and purported to be but
a friendly remonstrance with the null
IT, millionaires urging them In their
own interests, no less than In that Of
the public. to reconsider the weak or
Objectionable points in their position,
J and so come to terms with those who
at present are their only critics, but
may otherwise turn into disastrous.
even if ultimately defeated, enemies
1t may be gathered from the produc-
ton of this author that it is his belief
that fortunes. on account Of their mag
nitude become legitimate objects Of
criticism when they exceed the possi-
bilities Of even the most lavish ex-
penditure, and thus leave in the hands
Of their possessors an enormous sur
plus power, which is believed to be
dangerous to the political rights and
economical freedom of the majority.
Another writer goes farther on this
line and then takes Up the manner
; in which 1t is expended for pleasure.
This one. who Is an Englishman,
treats it from view from across the
water He terms it new phenome-
non" Of which its American possessors
have no inherited culture and no in
herited positions to guide them in
their personal expenditure
It may seem an unkind cut to us to
have an Englishman talking Of our
, lack of culture and inherited position
but what else are they to think when
they read Of Americas monkey parties
and dog dinners. In contrast to the
+ reckless expenditure of money for the
gaining Of notoriety. the production OF
!. something new. although vulgar. anG
! the lack even in decency in the faunt
). ing of wealth before the people, he
shows how and why 1t is different n
England. He says that such fortunes
would be less injurious in old England
n where ideas of birth and breeding an6
!. a sense OF class obligation are still
= largely operative, than it is in America
4 where it is deficient in historical ira
4 ditions.
s It is observed in this connection
/ that the obtrusion of mere wealth ir
an aristocratic society in that country
d is recognized by that society itself az
g essentially vulgar, while such person
, al displays of state as are made by
q it's richer members are rather histor
!. ical symbols than outbursts of person
:. al ostentation. He says that more
3 over, the spirit Of aristocratic classes
v has always been largely tempered b.
+ spirit of consideration for others, ,
spirit which finds expression in thu
6 letters of the great Lord Chesterfield
a The latter subject is discussed il
!, connection with the running of moto
4 cars on the streets at 1awless speed
= with no consideration for the pedes
+ trian, his observations being that thu
- more highly placed owners of such We
lClGS are Cuc llS6C COuSlucld tO Ill III
= use of them. 1t is stated that one O
the greatest English ladies, in point o
= rank, family and wealth, has refused t.
e make any use Of motor cars herseli
=. - on the ground that they are an incon
y venience to the humber class of way
o farer.
= = While the reckless, dog dining mul
;, y timillionaires are not to be found il
= our cities of the middle west, the lat
: ter is lesson that may be taken b.
= many out here who desire to follow
3 the way of the real aristocrat. Run
= ming down pedestrians with motto
!. car is not aristocracy by long ways
"a and here is an humble beginning t
:, learn how to use wealth.
u
WATTERsoN ON HEARST.
II Henry Watterson in the Louisvill
- Courier Journal.-It goes without say