The Washington herald., 1908-06-15

ful philosophy anodyne for her most rest
less moods, in his poetical fervor a stim-
ulant for her duller moments.
But how the strange boy she had known
at Oxford had matured so swiftly into
an interesting personality remained one
Of the mysteries which sent hhat puzzled
look into her wondering eyes.
And Vandraken-poor Vandraken who
was only the victim Of distorted economic
forces, the by-product OF laws made in
the days when men could not. By any
possible chance. have anticipated such
conditions OF life as exist to-day, did not
live in vain.
He had made his material wealth the
common denominator of his life, and
tried 10 square his world as he found IL,
with tha. figure. Who shall blame him?
With his material environment and up
bringing. he could hardly have done
otherwise. His life may have been
hand held up in warning to the genera
tions which followed behind. He himself
seems to have realized this possibility,
for the day which followed the bursting
Of the storm Of consequence. and pre-
ceded his death, had been spent in draw
ing up a Will.
He left the bulk OF his wealth to trus-
tees, among whom were Lord Ancestor
as the nucleus OF a fund for obtaining
legislation, by amendments to the Con-
stitution of the United States, which
should make it impossible In the future
for any man to give in his lifetime. or
bequeath by Will, TO any individual or
corporation, a greater sum than S.000. .000
In order to obtain this legislation he
pointed out that money must be used un-
sparingly to outbld the men who were
interested in concentrating wealth; I'm
their ofrer OF their services OF the legal
talent OF the country. These men, he
realized, had not used their knowledge
OF the laws of their country TO defeat It's
own purposes because they hated their
country but because they loved money.
Through his contact with Won larsen
helm, who knew human nature as only
the Saturn type can know ~, and saw
IL In perspective. and, like that strange
being. having, for a time, no conscience,
MS brain looked az an Unideallzed human
ity in the cold, clear light Of materialism
He recognized the futility of overlook
INK the obvious truth. that the enormous
advance In material creations and COM
forts has TO some extent outbid the spirit
ual forces and their promises which once
held men straight, and urged them TO
self-Sacrince: that the increased level OF
human honesty and principle has not kept
pace with the great bribe fund. OF temptA-
ton, in the hands OF the lower forces.
The solution, as he saw Il. was a corre-
spending increase In the promises OF re-
ligion, or else a material bribe fund IN
the hands Of those who were on the side
.,of law, which could outbid the predatory
class which had sprung up. This fund
his will offered 10 provide.
n oucgpqfpd that fha President ~ tho
republic would be the ideal person 10
WELD this fund, II only the republic could
find an ideal President. He pointed out
in this connection that it was the knowl-
edge Of its own imperfectiOns which had
driven men TO resort TO kings. who should
protect them against themselves, that
certain men, believing that they had out
grown these imperfections, had establish
ed a republic. Being uncertain whether
they really had outgrown their imperfec-
lions, they We're afraid 20 elect one OF
themselves 10 rule. except IN the most
tentative fashion. so that when they did
find an ideal President they could not
keep him.
Therefore. he wished his trustees TO en-
deavor 10 obtain an amendment 10 the
Constitution whicl should give the people
the power 20 make the Office OF President
when they found a man who was fitted 70
rule. When such a man was found. they
were 10 endow him with the vast fortune
/ he was leaving behind
Thus the concentrated wealth which the
death of Standish Vandraken will shortly
put into the hands OF those on the side
Of law and order may yet show that a
great purpose moved through his tragic.
terrible life. and that II was worth re-
cording IN these pages