The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
FAVORS EQUALIZATION OF NATIONS WEALTH

That is what I mean by saying agri>
culture is denied the treatment so freely
given to other industries. One Of these
days the lowly farmer will arise in his
wrath and something will happen"
Have you said that 200 year would
keep a family in comfort and even
luxury?'' I asked.
Il may have done so in discussing
modern life, especially as It is carried
on in large cities. People are living from
hand to mouth. They buy half a pound
of butter and 10 cents worth of pota-
toes at a time. Many women have
ceased to be good ana prudent house
keepers. A girl, living in a little viii
lage or the country. may have milked
the family cow twice a day, fed the
chickens, and weeded in the garden.
Honorable tasks and necessary. But
when she marries and moves to a city
she often imagines her days OF work
and responsibility are at an end. She
turns her children owe. TO a nurse girl
and her kitchen over to a domestic.
Waste and neglect follow. and probably
petty larceny II man turned his busi-
ness over to boys and ignorant men he
would be a bankrupt inside OF six
months.
twenty-five dollars a week can't hope
to initiate 5000 a year, but persons with
such an income can live comfortably
and save a little money as they go
along. Extravaganza is a national vice.
Individuals spend more than they can
afford, unless they want to depend on
charity in their old age. Most cities arc
squandering public funds; so are. many
States. 1 should like to run the national
nually voted by Congress In 4 few
years my fortune would make RcckefeI-
ler's look insignificant"
What is the most important question
of the day?''
Would Attack Swollen Fortunes.
'T am a Republican and not a Social
ist. I believe in property. I am bound
to say, however, that the present proc
esses or practices or ways Of distributing
wealth should be changed. To me. tina.
is the most vital question of the time.
Division. understand me, is not IN my
mind. Divide this year and there will
be paupers and millionaires a year
hence. Nor should the talent for max
ing money be discouraged or restrained.
What 1 am getting at is just this: Tho
wealth of the country is estimated at
1371s billions OF dollars. Our railroads,
owned by a comparatively small number
of people, are valued at one-seventh OF
that amount. The 6, AZ. 600 farmers in the
United States, representing Bile, 600 OF
only twenty-five billions OF dollars.
Therefore, the farmers who are work.
ers, have less than their share, II the
owners of our railroads have no more
than Justly belongs to them.
I'VE find, once We think on the subject,
that certain industries are much more
profitable than others, and, also, that
in the most profitable of the Industries
labor makes its loudest and most fire.
quent complaint / am not stating
causes. 1t is enough to give the facts.
How would / break up the abnormal
fortunes which some men have gained
by hook or crook? That Is a difficult in
quiry to answer. AS start I should
vote a tax on incomes. Exempting the
little man, should raise the rate on
multimillionaires by grades, until the
tax became SO. burdensome on such per-
sons as John b. Rockefeller. J. p. Nor
gan. Andrew Carnegie. and James J.
Hill that they would DO glad to make a
grand distribution Of what they have
and cease from the worry and toll OF
grubbing for more"
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