The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-03-04
DON'T WE GET EXCITED
ABOUT MONEYED MEM

Mr. John Jacob Aston, a New York
citizen worth, perhaps, two or three
hundred millions Of dollars. was out en-
ioying himself on his yacht. His wife
had Just divorced him, and Mr. Aston
was keeping out Of painful notoriety in
the middle of the seclusion Of the At
lantic ocean.
Mr.. Aston IS a lucky individual Ev-
cry time a baby il born in New York
that baby makes him richer. For it in
ereases the value Of land
Nr. AstOr il lucky individual, for
the United States government spends
hundreds Of millions on a navy. The
navy Is maintained largely to protect
from injury by foreign foe Mr.. Astors
hundred million dollars worth of build
ing on Manhattan island.
The man who smokes pipe in Mon
tana, or drinks glass Of beer in Mon
tana pays a tax to the government to
help build the navy.
Mr.. Aston doesn't pay a cent Of in.
come tax to the federal government, or
any other kind Of tax. But, Of course,
what the government gets out Of his to-
baeco and beer would not 90 far toward
meeting Astor's normal share Of the
navy expenditure
While 5fr. Aston was out enjoying the
solitidue Of a big Yacht on big ocean
there came up very big storm. No
news Of Astor's boat or Of Aston, and
the people became alarmed.
Thereupon revenue cutters. manned By
Officers and sailors and propelled By
coal paid for by our pipe-smoking beer
drinking friend in Montana we're sent
in search Of Aston. Gables were sent
also paid for By the little man with the
glass Of beer and the pipe.
There wasn't anything the matter
with Aston; he was comfortable and
his yacht vas safe
Some person got up in the United
States congress and wanted TO know
WHY government boats had been used
10 hunt mp Astor on the oceans sur
face and whether there was any special
reason for using the peoples money
steaming around in search Of a private
Yacht.
The man who asked was told politely
Fat it vas none Of HIS business. and
the sending out Of the government boats
was all right.
As matter Of fact nobody viii Oh
iect very much to sending those boats
in search Of John Jacob Aston. Az very
rich men 60, Aston IL good sample. He
did volunteer in wartime; unlike his
cousin, William Waldorf Aston, he at
least stays and spends and invests his
money in this country where he was
born. That he should make a profit
on every infant that comes 10 life IN
Manhattan island il, Of course. prepost-
reOus. But that is not his fault. he
simply accepts conditions az they are.
There was no harm in sending our
ships out to hunt up Astors yacht. In
the first place. of course. this is a coun-
try Of rich men. with q government FOR
rich men. It Is just az natural for one
IF our government officials to get ex
.ited when millionaire il lost as it Is
or New York magistrate to send
DOR shirtwaist maker to the workhouse
rbere she has the effrontery to ask for
lore pay.
The trouble with Us here is not that
re do 80 much for the rich. The real
-ouble is that we do 40 little for the
5Of.
When big storm threatened the life
John Jacob Aston at sea, it also, OF
urse. threatened the lives Of tbous-
de- OF immigants-future working
ople-aIso at sea. Nobody in our gov