The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-03-22

washington Times, Mafcn 10.
Mr.. Rockefeller's income tax is an
interesting milestone on the road tc
industrial feudalism and United States
prosperity.
Thirty-eight millions and four hun
dred thousand dollars is the sum that
the government takes from Mr.. Rock
Iefeller, as his contribution toward the
war.
Not many years ago it would have
been said: "The government, of
course, took every cent he had. How
did he manage to accumulate so vast
a sum-"
The fact is, however, that Mr.. Rock
Iefeller's payment of more than thirty
eight millions represents only part of
the income of ONE year, after deduct
ing two hundred dollars for each of
his children, bad debts, losses, pay
ment of other taxes, payments of in
terest, etc.
This Rockefeller income tax pay
ment reveals the interesting and not
surprising fact that Mr.. Rockefeller
has gross income of at least hun
dred millions and is worth two billions
of dollars-in actual wealth that pays
an inconle-to say nothing of his
wealth not developed that may amount
TO twenty billions and much more,
locked up in oil, copper, and coal un-
derground.
And to say nothing of the possibiliz
ty of doubling his revenue over night
by doubling the price of the necessi-
ties in which he deals.
This interesting tax payment will
be discussed much and foolishly.
The believer in "all things for the
best possible of worlds" will say,
"Well, what difference does it make
if Rockefeller has one, two, or twenty
billions? You see, the more he has
the naare the government III -
"A less chiTdIsn sJarenneht swou1u pes
If we must have our multiple billion
aires, it is well to start with such a
man as Rockefeller.
He does not set bad example Of
extravaganza to irritate the poor or
of vicious living to encourage vice in
others.
He does not establish and patronize
gambling race tracks where thieves
are manufactured.
He does not demand that the weight
of his money shall send him or his son
to sit in bought senate seat.
Above all, he uses some of his mil
lions with admirable wisdom and true
philanthropy, working to prevent dis
ease and human suffering, not merely
trying to cure the individual sufferer.
He spends fortunes on education and
he knows, of course, that education is
the force that will make future billion
aires impossible.
He and his son make an absolutely
earnest and sincere business of wise I
using the great power which they sin
cercly believe God has chosen them to
exercise, including the power of pub
lie taxation by individuals in repub-
lie.
The scientific institute established
by Mr.. Rockefeller will, in it's fight
against disease and ignorance, give to
this nation in the actual cash value
of lives more than all the billions in
the country will have given to the
Rockefeller family in hundred years
from now.
One great lesson Rockefeller teaches
the American people when he says, al
though not in so many words, "See
what can be done, using power and
money wisely, changing national
wealth into national service"
The people will answer, eve see the
point, and shall hereafter keep and use
the national wealth for ourselves
thanking you for the enlightenment
A still greater service the giant of
our day renders the people when he
teaches them that competition is out
of date and wasteful.
He shows that it is possible for one
man to control an entire industry, dc
it efficiently, economically-COMPE-
lTITION NOT NECESSARY.
He can point to the distant parts OF
China, where the only white man is
the Standard Oil inspector and the
family treasure and container the
empty Rockefeller oil can.
The people will eventually say
"Thank you; we perceive that in big
things, especially oil, coal, steel rail
roads, competition is unnecessary
Therefore, we shall end competition
and we ourselves become the owners
War brings out interesting facts
and develops interesting possibilities