The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

your time 10 matters outside OF your
business as a merchant ] said
TO be a consistent and sustained
worker in public affairs one must be
born with the propensity in his blood.
Plenty of men flash out now and then
in behalf OF some temporary reform and
then disappear for years or altogether.
But the person who IS seriously in ear
nest and is concerned naturally in the
great questions Of citizenship will be
steady I'm his application 10 what he
deems 70 be for the public interest.
grew up IN an environment highly
charged with politics. Ny father lived
and died a free-trade Democrat. All
through my childhood he talked tariff
and hard money at home and in public
I have never been enabled entirely 10
separate myself from my training and
inheritance"
IN 1894 YOU campa igned Illinois as the
Democratic candidate for the United
States Senator"
Il was a Cleveland Democrat at that
time. and was nominated at a State con-
ventiOn. Speech-maIing had been nart
Of my business as a citizen. and so
pleaded my own case on the stump
Senator Cullom and William F. Mason
spoke against me. We didn't get into a
joint debate. bat we electioneered pretty
vigorously. and I had good time. even
If I failed 20 persuade Illinois 20 send
me 10 the Senate"
"The cartoonists." I said. took some
liberties with the cut and quality of Your
clothing?"
Did Not Make Good Impression.
oh, yes. IN humorous. good-natured
date, ~but wore the same kind Of cloth
ing was accustomed 10 wear III home.
I remember I was to meet an elderly
man at Peoria who was a power in the
Democratic party. Ny counselors adj
vised me 70 treat him with great r.
spect and consideration. and I tried 70
follow their advice.
We'll Mr.. Smith. he was asked after
he had left my room at the hotel what
do YOU think Of our candidate for Sena-
tori
He is the only man have ever
seen, Smith replied. with an ambiguous
wag OF his head, who parts his watch
chain as well as his hair in the middle
Further than that obscure observation
Smith refused to commit himself. Still,
think he voted for me-"
increment Of private wealth IS the earn
ing Of society. VIII you elaborate your
epigram?"
"A man buys a lot for $500 and then
sits down somewhere or travels in Eu-
rope Merchants and other busy persons
come into the neghbOrhood and make It
a center When the owner again appears
he Gnds that his lot has increased ten
fold in value. Beyond paying his taxes
and holding on he has done nothing.
The difference between $500 and $1,000 is
called an unearned increment Cnder
the law the man is entitled 10 it and
don't imagine that the law viii ever be
reversed. Such instances, however. start
inquiries into the ways of banding
wealth so obtained Some one suggests
an inheritance tax and another person
urges something else. Out of al the in
Quirics, l feel sure, viii come in an or
derly way the solution cf problems con
cerning property. We frequently grow
excited and say that ali men must get
together and act IT will not be neces-
sary TO get together. 10 hold conventions.
to pass resolutions or 10 organize political
parties. Without revolution. without any
disturbance OF society. the veNatious
questions Of the present will be settled
Justly and amicably."
Are multi-mHlionalres a menace to the
country
Money Not a Menace.
NO; we are also in the habit Of be
coming excited over our multi-million-
aires. forgetting that they are the spo-
radio creations of the very recent past.
Within twenty years abnormal conditions
made multi-milionaires both logical and