The sun., 1919-09-07


whether rulers or noted statesmen in
or out of office. The objections are
manifold. Where monarchs are con-
cerned in the role of legatees there Is
always disposition to believe that the
testator has permitted the extrava-
gance of his loyalty to the crown, or
his desire to attract public attention
60 his name. to get the better of his
obligations to his relatives. In the
case of statesmen, such as those of
America and Great Britain, who fig
ure as benefciaries in the will of the
late Andrew Carnegie, the disadvan-
tages are still more numerous.
In the first place, there is a distinct
SAVIOR of charity in annuities such as
those directed to be paid by the exec
utors of the ironmaster to William
Howard Taft, former President OF the
United States; David Lloyd George,
Prime Minister of Great Britain; to
the Right Hon. John Burns, former
Minister of Commerce in the Asquith
Cabinets; to Thomas Burt, NJ. p, one
time parliamentary secretary of the
same department. and to John Morley
Lord Morley of Blackburn-who was
Secretary of State for India and Lord
President OF the Privy Council
Where the pensions to the widows
of Theodore Roosevelt and of Grover
Cleveland are concerned, the requests
constitute a reflection on the Govern
ment and people Of America for their
failure to make adequate provision for
of xxr1lo -
of the United States sacrificed their
cwn material interests and those of
their families for the nation.
Why Not Corporations Toof
Then too there is this consideration.
If millionaire private citizens make a
practice of bestowing annuities upon
former Presidents and upon statesmen
in or out of office, why should rich
corporations and great financial and
Industrial trusts be debarred from fol-
lowing their example? 1t would be
difficult to draw a line.
And yet the popular sense Of pro-
priety would be shocked If, for in
stance. President Wilson were either
during his sojourn at the White House
or after the completion of his term to
accept an annuity from the Carnegie
foundation; IL former President Taft
were to become a pensioner on the
bounty of the Standard OIL Company,
or II the British Prime Minister, David
Lloyd George. were to become an an
nuitant either of the United States
Steel Trust or of the great financial
dynasty of the Rothschilds.
1t was bad enough, In all conscience,
that Theodore Roosevelt, after retiring
from the Presidency of the United
States, should have been Obliged to &C
cept position on the staff of a maya
zine owned by a very popular Long
Island sportsman for the sake of a
living and in default of the pension of
$4,000 which national policy and pro-
prtety demand to be paid to those who
have served their country in the ex-
allied Office Of Chief Magistrate. But
at any rate, Roosevelt worked hard
Tor the money paid to him for his
writings. There was no suspicion of
charity In the matter. He was able to
preserve in the fullest measure his
Bef-respect
1t Is difficult to see how this can be
retained by President Taft, or by
Premier Lloyd George, II either of
them accept the annuities from the
huge Carnegie estate. The fact of
their being on the roster of the boun-
ties or the late author of "Triumphant
Democracy" would, In the opinion of
most or their fellow citizens, consti-
tute an obstacle TO the reelection or
reappointment OF ex-President Taft to
any public office, and to the continu-
ance Of David Lloyd George as Prime
Minister.
Legacies to the Pitts,
1t may be argued in behalf of such
bequests that they have been bestowed
TO relieve these statesmen of all cares
and anxeties concerning their private
financial resources, and to enable
them to devote their lives, sans
drTtere pensee, to their country. 1t
was with this purpose that the mas
terful Sarah, widow Of the first Duke
OF Marlborough. bequeathed $50, 900 to
the elder Pitt, Lord Chatham, "for his
noble defence of the laws of England"
knowing that he was harassed by
troublesome debts and monetary
troubles. His son, William Pitt, the
younger, even still more celebrated in
80 WdS
recipient not Of one. but of several
handsome legacies. In spite Of which
he died not only a poor man but also
heavily in debt.
Lord Beaconsfield was on the point
OF being driven out Of political life and
was face to face with bankruptcy
when an old lady of the name of Mrs
Bridges Willyams, the Spanish-Jew
widow Of a Cornish squire, developed a
great admiration for him without ever
having seen him, thereupon was Wis
tied by him twice at her request, and
on her death was found to have left to
him her entire fortune, which was
considerable, merely STIMULATING that
her body should repose in the church.
yard at Hughenden. where he himself
would eventually sleep his last rest
No one ever dreamed OF blaming Hea-
consfield for accepting the legacy Of
old Mrs Willyams's fortune, since 1t
was SO obviously bequeathed without
any expectation Of return.
Loubet Refused Fortune.
When Emil Loubet retired from the
presidency Of the French Republic in
relatively straitened circumstances
owing to the fact that by reason of
State visits OF foreign rulers he had
been compelled to dip heavily into his
own modest private fortune TO supply
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