Willmar tribune., 1915-09-08

IQl0 class, farmers, manufacturers.
merchants, professional men. skilled
artisans, and salaried officials whose
incomes are more or less adequate for
their legitimate needs and desires. and
who are rewarded more or less 81.
actly In proportion to service. They
have problems to meet IN adjusting
expenses to income, but the pinch Of
want and hunger is not felt, nor Is
there the deadening, devitahzing ef-
feet OF superfluous, unearned wealth.
Parasites Infest All Society.
From the top to bottom Of society.
however, In all grades Of incomes are
an innumerable number Of parasites
OF every conceivable type. They per-
form no useful service, but drain or
from the income Of the producers a
sum whose total can not be esti-
mated. a.
BESIDES the economic significance
OF these great inequalities Of wealth
and income there is social aspect
which equally merits the attention Of
congress. 1t has been shown that the
great fortunes Of those who have pro-
nted by the enormous expansion of
American industry have already or
Will in 9 few years pass by right Of
inheritance to the control Of heirs or
to trustees who act as their vice re-
gents. They are frequently styled by
our newspapers, 'monarchs Of indus
try, and indeed occupy within our re-
public a position almost exactly anal
ogous to that Of feudal lords.
These heirs, owners only by virtue
OF the accident OF birth, control the
ivelihoods and have the power to die
tate the happiness of more human be-
1ngs than populated England in the
middle ages. Their principalities, it IS
true, are scattered and, through the
medium Of stock ownership, shared in
part with others; but they are none
the less real. In fact, such scattered
invisible Industrial principalities are
greater menace to the welfare of the
nation, than would be equal power
consolidated into numerous petty
kingdoms in different parts of the
country. They might then be visual
lied and guarded against,-now their
influence 1nvisibly permeates and con-
trolls every phase Of life and industry.
Compares John D. Jr., and Louis XVI.
The king can do no wrong not
OH~AS q W.
because every function is either per
formed or responsibility assumed by
his ministers and agents. Similarly.
our Rockefellers, Morgans, Fricks.
Vanderbilts and Astors can do no in.
dustr1al wrong because all effective
action and direct responsibility is
shifted from them to the executive
officials who manage American indus
try. =.
"The similitude, indeed, runs even
to mental attitude and phase. Com
pare these two statements:
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.-My ap-
probation Of the conditions surround
| ing wage earners and my sympathy
with every endeavor to better these
conditions are as strong as those Of
any man. Z.
Louis XvI-There is none but you
and me that has the peoples interest
at heart. cn ny a que vous ct moi
qui aimions le peuple.O
THE families of these Industrial
princes are already well established
and are knit together not only by COM
merctal alliances, but by net work
OF intermarriages which assure har-
monious action whenever their COM
mon interest is threatened.
Hereditary Aristocracy 10 Threatened.
Enective action by congress is re-
quired, therefore, not only to readjust
on a basis commensurate in some
measure to the service performed. the
existing inequalities in the distribu.
t1on OF wealth and income, but also to
check the growth Of an hereditary ar
1stocracy, which is not only foreign
to every conception of American gov
ernment, but menacing to the welfare
OF the people and the existence of the
nation as a democracy.
"The objects to be attained In MAX
ing this readjustment are: to reduce
the swollen, unearned fortunes Of
those who have q superfuity; to raise
the underpafd masses to q level of de-
cent and comfortable living: and at
the same time to accomplish this on a
basis which will, in some measure.
approximate the Just standard of in.
come proportional to service"
Tax lnheritances Give Heirs Million
:: . Only. a..
AS a remedy for the UNEQUAL distrf.
button of wealth and income. the re-
port urges "the enactment Of an in
herltance tax so graded that while
making generous provision for the
support of dependents and the educa-
tion OF minor children, it shall leave
no large accumulation of wealth to
pass into hands which had no share In
it's production. The report suggests
that limit Of $1,00O, 900 be fixed on
the amount that shall pass to the
heirs. It recommends that the rev
enue from this tax be reserved by the
federal government for three principal
purposes:
/. The extension of education.
2. The development Of other impor.
tant social services which should prom
erly be performed by. the nation which
are discussed In detail elsewhere.
8. Development in cooperation with
states and municipal aHties OF great con-
struct1ve works, such as road build.
Ing, Irrigation and reforestation, which
would materially increase the eficien-
cy and welfare Of the entire nation.
There is no legislati ion, says the
report, which could be passed by
congress, the immediate and ultimate
effects Of which would be more salu-
tary or would more greatly assist IN
ltempering the existing spirit Of un-
rest."' 57.....54.
Ito be continued
Arthur Sletten visited a couple Of
days the middle OF last week with
relatives at Granite Falls.
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