The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-05-31

- I ~ iN' ~
80 feet high and covers a space Of
1,134 feet square. It's minute hand
is 10 IA feet in length. 1t weighs six
tons and the weight that moves the
hands is 1000 pounds.
T. B. KINGSBJRY.
Wilmington, n. c., March 31St, 1910.
THE ROCkEFELLEIs
CHARITY CHARTER.
The People Should Not Pause. Long
Over a Proposition to Hand Politi-
cal Supremacy Over 10 a
Old Regency, Though Its Walls Of
Oil Were Rivers.
(Eew York Times.)
TO the Editor:
1t is reported that Mr.. John d.
Rockefeller, one of the half dozen
w~ealthiest men in the world, is an
applicant at Washington for a char
ter, the object of which is to enable
him to appropriate an underlined pro-
portion Of his vast wealth ito pro-
mote the Well-being and to advance
the civilization of the peoples Of the
United States. Of its territories and
possessions. and of foreign lands"
also to promote, as its charter de-
ciares. any or all Of the elements Of
human progress
In entertaining such an application
it may be prudent for Congress to go
slow. I do not doubt that it is Mr..
Rockefeller's wish Or purpO to do
nothing but good with the money he
proposes 70 invest in this corporation,
but in aSkino a charter for it he is
really asking not only all, but more
than all. the power that has ever been
conferred by its Constitution on our
federal government. He asks the I'M
restrained privilege of bringing his
enormous wealth 10 bear upon any or
all of the elements of human prog
| ress, in any way that he NAV Judge
best calculated to promote them.
The Constitution Of the United
States was expressly framed for prac-
hcaly the same purpose. and SO far as
our people are concerned. to secure
them the power to determine, through
their representatives, what those ele-
ments are and how to secure them.
Mr.. Rockefeller's application contem-
plates practically the substitution Of
himself for the people of the whole
United States. to be himself the Judge
Of what these elements are which he
to cultivate, whether social.
political, scientific or religious.
There in no limit to the caprices in
which any man is liable to indulge
when invested with an inordinate pro
portion OF power, and it is just such
a power that Mr.. Rockefeller is ask
ing our government to give him, a
power, besides, hat is far greater
than the government itself possesses.
Knowing, as We do. from ample ex-
perience, how much influence the
wealth Of four or five muIti-million-
aires has had in past tim s in deter
mining the selection of Presidents,
members OF the federal Congress,
Governors Of States, and ever MAYORS
OF cities, it is impossible to exaeger-
ate the influence which the creator of
the standard Oil corporation his
agents. and their successors could ex-
ert with such a charter from Com
| gress as he s and HON comnla+aIv
the Vox popuii might, under such an
influence. cease to be the vox Del
Quis custodiat custodes? Resides
Mr.. Rockefeller seems to have 90,
looked the fact hat a radically nov,
constitution would be required before
such q charter as he asks for co,,Id
be conferred. He NAV he Gu 49,
people OF our country, who wonI5
have to be consulted for that uo,i3
not pause long over a proDos;tion -
haho thelI political supremacy over
70 q standard regency thoueb 80
Walls Of oil were all Pacto1isn -
Herbert Spencer rarely If
nltted himself to a wiser nt+,s'
than in the following letter ia anr
ago: yediS
Nearly all thinking about
iltcai and social affairs is vi4i.to
oy isnofihg all effects save thoea
mediate contemplated ~
ANXIOUS TO stop an evil or omtain
a good, do not consider. wbat ar
De the collateral results of M
so'erhmenta agencies tho
pioy. or what will be the
results. They do not rraaa emne.e
me 1act that every new instrn
mentality esta blished for contnaa
ing so lnaaa.deal cond let becomes
Hentaiities, and that, nas.ru-
year, phiianthropists with Ter
aims urge on fn.t new