The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
AN VIEW.
American Business Morals and Methous
Discussed in Australia-Barbaric Mag
Influence at Newport Mainly to Blame.

l AhApt oet NC-N
Discussed in MISUNDERSTANDING Mag
Influence at Newport Mainly to Blame.
From the Meibourne Acc.
For wars the world has been amazed at
the riot of wealth in America, at the spectacle
OF hundreds OF predatory mlnlonaires eeizmg
their vast riches without one modicum OF
public service rendered, and would-be mill
ionaires BY the hundred thousand making
their raids wherever capital could De cap
tured by the tricks OF the professional epeou-
lator. The marvel was that so much I'M
scrupulous roeuery could be carried on with
90 little conflict with the law and so few public
scandals. Recent events begin to throw a
lurid light on the cause Of this immunity OIL
wealthy rascaldom from disgracefui eN-
posture. The boldest Of these plunderers
made II their first business In any enterprise
to get the law under their control. me
agents specializing in this form Of crlminality
having become a large professional body.
growing greedier every year. the situation
| has now been reached when the blackmau
| they exact Ia equal to the whole possible proht
of any nefarious deal for which their services
are engaged. Such O position could not
exist indefinitely. A rupture was oouno 10
come. just as 1t must. between payer ano
payee Of hush money. The man VINO mas
once successfully drawn hush money from
a victim 10 never twice satisfied with the
same sum: he always sucks a bigger gorge
OF blood at each return till his prey ID ory'
Such a rupture between millionairea and their
parasites has been taking place pretty freely
in America. thus preclpitatinR a rush OF those
scandals which were avoided as LONG as both
classes Of rogues could agree in their division
OF the spoils.
The revelations now made correspond
exactly with what was expected from the
symptoms. The aggressive luxuriousness OF
wealthy, Americans In a resort IKE Newpore
Il lie nnanIhla ~ lis aTnnnD nannIn 10 fllH
money by a hard ferocity. Americans them.
selves describe the magnlneence Of Newport
an sie Of d cH added. because the dis
play Is organized With the ruthless AZ srt ksenngsts
Such famboyant extra va gance once. ruled n
Babylon and Tyre: it is impossible to match
It IN modern We outside ! q 20 Of AMER r Cei w l. IL
country have so many wealthy men at one
time been under examination nS G0ur'S nr anu
Perhaps the worst symptom of all is that
such corporations, dealing with so vlrtuousa
S4idS,HsS and a f afse ps s ssGcordins to the careful
unbiased calculations of the actuary. would
be expected to be on the highest plane. Yetthe
all forms Of commercial immortality at their
pitrefaotive work among the dlrectorates
can Ointment. II is impossible to give an
idea OF the numerous individual exposures
Of rich men With which n the ap ne cons, 59sPie5s
in detail a typical instance,
Under cross. examination Mr.. Jordan. the
comptroller of the Equitable, admitted that
his society kept a permanent staff OF oboyists
at Albany. with a large building as central
s erge tho for PROPOSED Legislator was, organ
lied. according as it seemed likely TO threaten
or to favor the ,nt ss + s6 6i fh ye T socie 10 ,s or g sne
This lobby gang had orders to Kill az sight any
bills for taxing, real property. banks or trust
PROPOSED in the interest Of labor. OF course
the bullets for killing a bill had to be made
Of gold. A certain type Of American Pol,
fact tSs& so { they make a profession Of, initiatIps
legislation hostile to the rings, only for the
ceived enough Doodle for doing so. In this
way American capital has grown upon itseli
tTos sets Of perasitesIthe lobby gEsnGG oo taae
squad that sucks like q vampire,
In New York state the insurance ring made
hitting Governor odell to the charmed circle.
i made the mistake take hi Of pH M6inSS d n1m !nto
little bill for repeating the charter Of the iMeT,-
OF the shipbuilding concern and useful to the
ring. The insurance lobby gang understood
this gentle hint moI perisGatiyf; Tor and mit 9 IFssinS his q
regrettable losses. When balm to the, amount
Of ~ 1000 had %o,,n been ssIi1sa t Upon d ne b6 pGiGe
to the Mercantile Trust Company was quietly
While the insurance ring was busy getting
we're raidIng the insurance funds. These
got 50 audaelous that one Hartman psed ms
Invest $1,000, 900 of the .society's funds n a
wild railway gamble which Vas to siren sthen
To get an idea OF the extent Of this sort OF
financial depravity in the United states II
would be necessary TO multiply the petty
The hopeful sign about the whole business
begun at last. These have been struggling
their shoulders for two generations. without
any eject @gtb on the pa %a Sess fbsv 'E Eswe m nt
Length e = IIsssT n Up ot tG begin t t6s Dig tS tax fse Of su ShSf-
belong. After talking for a long while about
tainted money. they are beginning TO act
resides in that bIoatcd humanity which under
q Uriah IHeep stimulation Of democratic feel;
Ing builds barbaric palaces at Newport ana
righteous element, in France rose at last in
time TO prevent the DreyfHs pTfGse eli ion, be- :
good and true in America has risen against
so cynical an abuse OF trust 9s the raidlng Of
the Insurance funds provided by the prudent
I lar e0e A m,aGM sH elt ies IRON from St. Louis 70
Philadelphia. revolt against the municipal
been raised in earnest. On its successful
prosecution the foreign reputation Of Amer
culture, as tested by that OF its leading men
Of action and letters, will compare with
that OF. any, country, but hitherto II has failed
TO lead public opinion TO hold in contempt
that worship OF the dollar which crates on
the sen7ibilitles of, the most sympathetic
visitor to the United States.
Mere money making is q low enough ma
tional ideal, but when the grabbing Of money
BY craft and corruption. comes to be both
tolerated and admired 1t is quite time that. a
moral uprising enabled the conscience OF the
honest majority In, America to check the
further spread of the mania for money and
to reduce aoguisitiveness to its right proper
tion in a we'll balanced character.